Featuring: Studio E Fabrics Hothouse Magic by Chelsea DesignWorks

Pattern Design by: Karen Montgomery

Sewn by: Karen Montgomery

This fun travel bag and its interesting shape will set you apart from the crowd.  The roomy interior is perfect for holding everything you need.  Make it a shoulder bag or a cross-body bag with a custom-length strap.

Skills Learned: Working with interesting shapes, inserting a gusset

Skill Level: Confident beginner – intermediate

Finished Size: 9” wide, 8” tall, 4” deep.

Fabric Requirements:

1/2 yard (.46m) of fabric for the outside of the bag. I used:

• 7376-99 Black || Hothouse Magic10 Inch Blocks (fussy cut)
• 7372-09 White || Hothouse Magic Newsprint

1/3 yard (.30m) for the bag lining. I used:

• Bias Plaid Basics Teal 9611-76 || Gnome Town Heroes by Whole Country Caboodle

1/3 yard (.30m) of foam batting (12" by 20)

3/8 yard (.34m) of heavy wt. fusible interfacing 20" wide.

Additional Supplies Needed:

16" nylon dress zipper

2 decorative buttons

Hexagon pattern (DOWNLOAD HERE) or Hexagon Trim Tool from Creative Grids, CGRJAW4.

Decorative zipper pull

Basic sewing supplies, including a rotary cutter, mat and ruler, removable marking pen, pins,

thread for quilting and assembly.

Pinking shears can be used to finish the seams.

Cutting:

From the fabric for the outside of the bag cut:

1 strip 3 ½" by the width of fabric for the strap.

1 rectangle 12" by 20" for the front and back.

2 rectangles 4 ½" by 14 ¼" for the zipper.

1 rectangle 4 ½" by 15" for the bottom gusset.

From the lining fabric cut:

1 rectangle 12" by 20" for the front and back.

1 rectangle 4 ½" by 15" for the bottom gusset.

Instructions:

1. Layer the foam batting with the fabric for the outside of the bag on one side and the fabric for the lining on the opposite side. Pin or clip the layers together. Quilt as desired. I chose to quilt straight lines 1" apart that run vertically on the finished bag.
2. Using the Creative Grids Hexagon Trim Tool or the pattern provided, draw two of the hexagon shapes on your quilted fabric. Stitch around each hexagon, slightly inside the drawn line. This will seal the edges and make the bag easier to assemble. After the stitching is complete, cut out the hexagon shapes.

3. Prepare the strap for the bag by folding the 3 ½" strip of fabric in half with the right sides

together and the raw edges even. Press. Stitch the length of the strip using a 1/4" seam allowance. Press the seam open, centering the seam on one side of the fabric tube.

Measure the width of your strap. Cut 2 strips of fusible interfacing a scant 1/8" narrower than the width of your fabric tube. Fuse the interfacing end-to-end, centered on

the seam side of the fabric strap. The interfacing should be slightly narrower than the fabric.

Turn the tube right side out and press flat. Trim the selvedge ends. Tuck the raw edge inside the fabric tube on each end and press. Top stitch along all sides. If you have a stretch stitch on your sewing machine, this is a perfect place to use it!

4. Trim the metal zipper stop from the bottom end of your zipper by cutting across the zipper just above the metal stop.

Fold the 4 ½" by 14 ½" rectangles of fabric in half lengthwise, having the right sides together and the raw edges even. Press.

Open one of the fabric rectangles and place the edge of the zipper against the fold, having the cut end even with the edge of the fabric. Pin the zipper in place on the zipper edge opposite the fold.

The zipper pull will be outside of the fabric opposite the cut end. Fold the fabric over the zipper and stitch the length of the fold using a 1/4" seam allowance. Begin stitching at the cut end to avoid sewing near the bulk of the zipper pull.

Fold the fabric back on both the front and back to expose the zipper. Press. Repeat the process to add the fabric extension to the opposite side of the zipper.

MOVE THE ZIPPER PULL TO THE CENTER OF THE FABRIC. Trim the excess zipper even with the edge of the fabric. Top stitch across the zipper teeth on both ends to hold the zipper together. Trim this unit as needed to measure 4 ½" wide by 14 ½" long.

Cut two strips of fusible interfacing 2" wide by 14 ½" long. Insert one piece between the fabric layers on each side of the zipper and fuse in place following the manufacturer's instructions.

5. Cut one strip of fusible interfacing 4 ½" wide and 15" long. Fuse the interfacing to one of the fabric strips for the bottom gusset.

Place the strips for the bottom of the bag on each side of the zipper unit, having the right sides together and one of the ends even. The fabric for the outside of the bag should be on the side with the zipper pull. Stitch across one end using a 1/4" seam allowance. Fold the fabric back on each side and press.

Measuring from the zipper end of the unit, trim the gusset to measure 27 ½".

Fold each end of the bottom gusset to meet the opposite end of the zipper so that the right sides are together. Sew across the end. This will form the zipper unit into a circle.

6. Measure and mark the center of the zipper on each side of the zipper unit. Measure and mark the center of the bottom section. Fold the hexagons to mark the center of the top and

bottom sides on each piece. Mark the 1/4" seam allowance on the lining side on each corner of the hexagon. If you are using the Hexagon Trim Tool there are holes drilled in the corner of the ruler to mark your seam allowance.

Match the top center pin on the zipper section to the top center pin on one of the hexagons. Pin the zipper unit to that hexagon only along that edge. Stitch, using a 1/4" seam allowance from the corner mark to the opposite corner mark, backstitching on each end.

Remove the unit from your machine. Clip into the seam allowance on the zipper unit on each end of the stitching. Pin the zipper unit to the next side, stitch, clip and repeat. The center marks should match up on the bottom edge of the bag.

MOVE THE ZIPPER PULL INTO THE CENTER OF THE ZIPPER. This will be your opening for turning when you have added the second hexagon.

Repeat the pinning, stitching and clipping process to add the second hexagon to the bag.

When the hexagons have been added to each side, you can stitch completely around the hexagon a second time as a reinforcing stitch. Your seams can be finished with an overcast stitch on your machine or by trimming them with pinking shears to prevent fraying.

7. Pin the strap in place on both sides of the bag, just below the zipper. Place a button on top of the strap and stitch the button in place through all layers to secure the strap in place.

Enjoy!

Fabric Details:

To view the complete Studio E Fabrics Hothouse Magic by Chelsea DesignWorks click here.

To find a retailer near you click here.

Learn more about Karen here.

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Nine Patch a Day Group on Facebook.

@Karenquilts on Instagram.

karensquiltroom.blogspot.com