Vintage Pillowcase Drawstring Bag Tutorial
Handmade Parade is having a Vintage Pillowcase Challenge! Look what I made for my entry!
The Calamity Bag!
Fast and easy!
You can make one tonight to wear out and about.
Can easily be filled with hard objects and overdue library books to double as a lethal weapon should you be suddenly attacked by ninjas ( or piss off Chuck Noris).
In that "case" I could call it the Pillow Fight Bag!!!!!! Now, that's Funny!
It's so pretty and vintage all the girl's will be trying to FIGHT you for it!!
This bag is so easy your sock monkey could do it!
Materials needed:
- Vintage Pillowcase
- Thread
- Double bias tape-1/2"
- Rotary cutter, ruler and self healing mat
Chose your pillowcase.
- Cut out 2 rectangles measuring 24x12"
- Cut out 2 circles measuring 8"
- Cut out 2 small rectangles measuring 10 1/2x 2 1/2" for drawstring casing
Using 24x12" rectangle, sew side seam (12" side) right sides together.
Repeat for both pieces.
One is bag and one is for lining.
Pin and sew circle base to one end of tube.
Repeat for lining.
Turn one inside out for outer bag and place lining inside bag with right side showing.
Stitch around rim- 1/8" seam to hold together.
Open bias tape and pin one side to top of bag edge.
Trim near end leaving a 1" tail.
I turn under the bottom edge of the bias about 1/4" and then lay cut end on top of that. Pin.
Skip ahead about 2 inches and begin sewing 1/4" seam.
The stitching line should be on the 1/4" fold of bias tape.
Stitch all the way around rim of bag.
Clip thread and fold edge of bias inside purse.
I hand sew this edge down.
It only takes a few minutes and looks better than machine top stitching.
Take 2 small rectangles and fold down 1/4" on each end.
Press with hot iron.
Turn down again and then press and stitch.
Repeat for other two sides of each casing.
Measuring down 3" from top of bag- pin one casement to each side of bag.
This will be top stitched down and make a channel for the strap to go through.
Always clip thread ends and make sure you are tacking down when topsitching at beginning and end so that threads won't pull lose.
To make the straps just use leftover pillowcase fabric to cut 3 1/2" widex30" strip.
Put two together if your fabric isn't long enough.
Stitch 1/4" seam on both short ends and down long side until about 2" away from the center.
Leave opening to turn inside out.
I trim corners and then turn and use a chopstick to push corners out.
Then sew 1/4" topstitch along ironed handle.
Feed through casing on bag and tie in a pretty bow.
I would use batting for this bag as a stabilizer and to quilt around the flowers but I am not sure if the challenge allows batting.
I also used some vintage satin baby blanket binding for the pink bags straps.
Just iron open and sew right sides together and leave opening to turn.
Clip corners, trim seams and turn inside out just like fabric straps.
Gives it a lovely shiny girlie girl look.
I also cut out some yoyo's from the leftover fabric. Play with it, kids!
This could easily be made larger using several pillowcases or even beach towels, or tiny for coin purses!
Thank you to Handmade Parade for Hostessing a wonderful Challenge that gave me the perfect excuse to finally do something with some of my vintage pillowcases!
