Sewing Pattern: Small Project Bag for Knitters

Free Sewing Pattern: Small travel bag for your knit and crochet projects.

At the beginning of the year I started attending a monthly sock knitting group at my local yarn store. It is so refreshing to chat with other knitters, see their projects and share tips and ideas. Of course having a small project bag dedicated to my sock club projects is handy, so I raided my fabric stash to stitch up a cheery tote.

Small Project Bag Sewing Pattern

Materials

1/3 yd each of 2 coordinating fabrics (one for the bag and one for the lining)
Dritz 1/4" eyelets and setting tool
hammer
1 x 2 inch piece of fusible interfacing
iron
2/3 yd of 1/8-inch elastic cord
cord stop
compass, paper, pencil
sewing, measuring and cutting supplies

Directions

Before you start cutting your fabric, you'll need to draw a template for the bottom piece of the bag. Using a compass, draw a circle with a 3 3/8 inch radius on a piece of paper and cut out the circle.

(A printable version of my 2 Skein Sock Bag is available in my pattern shop and includes all of the pieces needed to create this bag so you don't have to do any measuring or drawing.)

	Cut a rectangle that's 19 1/16 inches wide x 11 3/4 inches tall from both the outer and lining fabrics. Use your circle template to cut a circle from both the outer and lining fabrics.
	Before sewing, the eyelets need to be attached to the outer bag fabric. Fold the outer fabric in half width-wise and finger press the center line.
	Using a fabric marking pen or pencil make a mark 1 3/4 inches below the top edge of the fabric and 1/2 inch to either side of the center line.
	Attach a piece of fusible interfacing on the wrong side of the outer fabric behind the eyelet marks according to the manufacturer's instructions.
	With scissors or a hammer and the eyelet tool, cut/punch 1/4 inch holes centered over your marks. (Note: As I was writing this post I discovered that my style of eyelet tool is fairly old and may not be available anymore. Some of the newer tools only secure the eyelets and can not be used for making the hole.)
	Insert the eyelets into the holes from front to back.
	Use a hammer and the other end of the eyelet tool to flatten and secure the eyelets.
	Fold the top edge of both the outer and lining fabrics over 1/2 inch and press with an iron.
	Now it's time to sew. First assemble the outer portion of the bag, then repeat the same process for the lining. Unfold the top edge of the bag. Fold the bag in half width-wise, right sides together and stitch the side using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
	Attaching the round bag bottom can be a little intimidating so it is helpful to make some temporary guidelines to help with the placement.
	Fold the bottom piece in half and finger press the center line.
	Fold the piece in half again and finger press the center line.
	Unfold the circle and you can see the quadrants nicely marked.
	Next, finger press the fold opposite the seam on the side of the bag.
	Fold again so that your finger pressed line is even with your stitches and finger press.
	Now the bottom of the bag is also divided into quadrants.
	With right sides together, align the quadrant lines of the circular bottom with the quadrant lines on the bag and pin in place.
	Carefully align the edges and pin around the remainder of the bag bottom. Stitch around the bag bottom using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
	Turn the outer bag right side out. The lining can remain wrong side out. Make sure the top edges are folded down.
	Insert the lining into the bag. With wrong sides together, align the side seams of the outer and lining fabric. Pin around the top edge of the bag.
	Stitch around the top of the bag 1/8 inch from the edge.
	Create a channel for the drawstring by stitching around the top of the bag approximately 1/4 inch above and below the eyelet edges. Pull the cord through the channel and secure with a cord stop.