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Large Portable Craft Bag | Debbie Shore Sewing Pattern

Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps

Sew a quick and easy craft bag with Debbie Shore's photo tutorial and downloadable pattern.

I thought that the Picnic & Storage Bag was so useful that I made a simplified version as well, so if you love the picnic bag but wanted an easier project, this one’s for you! This is a simplified version of the picnic bag, without the zipped lid or binding. It makes a useful craft bag / tote / shopper / storage bag – or you can use it for picnics! It’s a good size to tidy away toys, rolled-up towels to take to the beach or to keep your knitting projects organized. As before, I’ve used webbing for the handles, but if you prefer fabric handles, they are easy to make. Just cut two strips of fabric each measuring 40 x 4in (101.5 x 10cm) then fold the long edges to the centre, fold in half lengthways and sew along each long edge (see How to make bag straps).

This time I’ve used lining fabric for the back of the pocket to keep the quantity of outer fabric needed to under 0.5m.

Do take a look at the video from the Picnic & Storage Bag) for tips on how to sew in the base – although the main construction of the bag is different, the inside pockets and base are the same.

Note: use a ¼in (5mm) seam allowance.

Finished size: 11½ x 11 x 8in (29 x 28 x 20cm).

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You will need:

Equipment

• Sewing machine with a standard foot 
• Strong wet fabric glue: I use HT2 
• Pins and/or fabric clips 

Materials

• 36 x 19½in (91.5 x 49.5cm) of foam stabilizer: I used Bosal In-R Form 
• 44 x 15in (112 x 38cm) of outer top fabric: I used a cherry print 
• 44 x 15in (112 x 38cm) of outer bottom fabric: I used a red star print 
• 44 x 28in (112 x 71cm) of lining fabric: I used seafoam blue cotton 
• 80in (203cm) of 1in (2.5cm) wide webbing cut into two 40in (101.5cm) lengths for the handles 

Cut

• Your pattern piece once from foam stabilizer for the base 
• 36 x 10½in (91.5 x 26.5cm) of foam stabilizer 
• 36½ x 8in (93 x 20.5cm) of outer top fabric  
• 36½ x 5in (93 x 13cm) of outer bottom fabric 
• 36½ x 12in (93 x 30.5cm) of lining fabric for the main bag lining  
• 36½ x 6½in (93 x 16.5cm) of outer top fabric for the inside pocket  
• 36½ x 6½in (93 x 16.5cm) of lining fabric for the inside pocket 

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