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Smocked Slouchy Bag | Bag Pattern to Download

Quick Links: What you'll need Project steps

Smocking isn’t only suitable for cushions, bolsters and bedcovers – here I have used it for the front of a spacious, slouchy shoulder bag with drawstring ties.

If you’re looking for a smocking project you can finish in a day, then this design is for you! The lines to smock are quite far apart so the design comes together relatively quickly. It’s also a great starting project for a beginner smocker as the pattern looks quite random, so any uneven stitches don’t stand out too much.

This smocking design is ideal for large projects such as bed runners, cushions and bags – it doesn’t work so well on small projects as the pattern would easily be lost. If planning to use this design on a different project, note that the fabric reduces evenly in both directions by approx. 20%.

This large, slouchy bag is fully lined with one long shoulder strap and closes with drawstring ties. The strap is long so the bag sits at the hip, but you could make it shorter if you wish. I’ve used cotton canvas for the outer fabric, with interfacing of the same weight as the quilters grid on the back to give it a bit of sturdiness. The strap and gusset are created as one long piece, and I’ve used my bag lining fabric as the outer fabric for this piece to create an attractive contrast. I’ve also used contrasting binding to highlight the bag shape.

If you enjoy smocking, check out my Bricks and Bows Cushion and Waves Bolster Cushion. If you were drawn to this project because it’s a bag, you’ll find many other bag projects on the Half Yard Sewing Club site, including a Simple Quilted Tote Bag, Patchwork Denim Hobo Bag, a Reversible Messenger Bag and Everyday Handbag and even a Weekend Bag. There are lots to choose from!

By the end of this project, you’ll have:

1. Learned some simple smocking
2. Developed your bag-making skills
3. Got to grips with binding
4. Discovered a simple way of adding a drawstring casing to a bag
5. Learned how to make ties from bias binding

Finished size: approx. 15 x 15in (38 x 38cm) not including the strap.

Note: use a ½in (1.25cm) seam allowance.

If you'd like to discuss making this bag further, remember to turn to the member forum or Facebook page!

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You will need:

Equipment

• Sewing machine and standard needle
• Dressmaking shears
• Hand-sewing needle and thread to match your outer fabric
• Pins
• Safety pin or bodkin for threading the ties
• Pencil or fabric marker to draw out the smocking pattern
• Optional: basting spray 

Materials

• 42 x 39in (107 x 100cm) of outer fabric: I used plain cotton canvas
• 23 x 23in (58.5 x 58.5cm) of 1in (2.5cm) quilters’ grid (if not using the quilters grid, you’ll need to draw a 1in (2.5cm) square grid on the wrong side of your fabric and you should interface the front as well as the back of the bag)
• 40 x 30in (101.5 x 76.25cm) of fabric for the lining and the outer gusset/strap
• 160in (406.5cm) of 1in (2.5cm) wide bias binding: I used black
• 6in (15cm) circle template to help you shape the bottom of the bag
• 16 x 16in (40.5 x 40.5cm) of lightweight interfacing for the back of the bag 

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