Soft Shoulders

Ahead D e s i g n By Pa m L i n d q u i s t

Choose two coordinating cotton prints to make this easy

little shoulder bag. Wear it across your body to keep your
hands free. Choose quilter’s cottons or heavier decorator
fabrics for this soft tote. Consider other dressier fabric choices
too. Why not use velvets and satins for a totally different look.

Fi n i s h e d S i z e • All-purpose thread to match Instructions

11 x 13 inches, excluding
the straps
M at e r ial s
• 11/8 yards floral print for the
bag body
• 11/8 yards striped print for the
bag body
• 11/2 yards coordinating print
or solid for the lining
• 17/8 yards medium-weight
weft-insertion fusible inter-
facing (see Note below)
fabrics
• Two 28 x 36-inch pieces of pat-
tern tracing paper or cloth
• Air- or water-soluble
marking pen
• Decorative frog closure
• Basic sewing tools and
equipment
Note: For a firmer bag,
interface the lining as well as
the bag fabrics. You will need
additional interfacing.
Project Note: Use ½-inch-wide seam allowances.
Cutting
• Following the manufacturer’s directions, apply the
fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the print and
stripe fabrics for the bag body. If you need to piece the
interfacing to cover the fabric, butt cut edges.
• Draw the bag pattern pieces (Figure 1) on the pattern
tracing paper or cloth and cut out.
• Use pattern piece A to cut one floral body and one lining.
Use pattern piece B to cut one striped body and one
lining.

Place on fold

Bag piece B

Bag piece A

Place on fold

Figure 1
1 square = 1"

From Sew-Easy Designer Bags & Totes, Copyright © 2006 Sew-Easy Designer Bags & Totes
From Sew-Easy Designer Bags & Totes, Copyright © 2006 Sew-Easy Designer Bags & Totes
s o f t s h o u ld e r s a h e a d

Assembly 3. Slip the lining into the bag with right sides together.
1. Mark the dots on each of the diagonal seams of piece Pin the layers together along the strap and upper bag
A and piece B. With right sides together, match the dots edges. Stitch. Clip the curves (Figure 4).
on the diagonal side of piece A to the intersections on
the diagonal side of piece B. Pin in place. Stitch the seam,
beginning and ending at the dots (Figure 2). Repeat
with the other half of the bag. Press the seam allowance
toward the floral print (Figure 3).

Figure 4

4. Turn the bag right side out, pulling it all out through
one of the straps. Press all edges flat, making sure the
lining doesn’t roll out at the edge.
Figure 2
5. Turn the bag lining side out. Turn under and press 5/8
inch at the lining lower edge. Fold the lower edge of the
lining up around the bag and out of the way so you can
stitch across the bottom edge of the bag body (Figure 5).
Trim the seam to ¼ inch.

Turn
under 5/8"

Figure 3

2. Repeat step 1 with the lining pieces, but turn the lining
right side out.
Figure 5

From Sew-Easy Designer Bags & Totes, Copyright © 2006 Sew-Easy Designer Bags & Totes
 s o f t s h o u ld e r s a h e a d

6. Turn the lining back down over the bag and tuck the 7. Turn under and press ½ inch at the end of one
bag up inside so you can edgestitch the turned lining shoulder strap. Tuck the raw end of the remaining strap
edges together. Be careful not to catch the outer bag in into the turned edge and sew by hand or machine
the stitching (Figure 6). (Figure 7).

Figure 7

9. Optional: Edgestitch around the straps and upper

edge of the bag.
10. Attach the frog closure at the center of the upper
edges of the bag with hand or machine stitching. l

Figure 6

From Sew-Easy Designer Bags & Totes, Copyright © 2006 Sew-Easy Designer Bags & Totes