Tutorial: Anne’s Carpetbag

Remember the Anne-of-Green-Gables-inspired doll carpetbag I made (and gave away) earlier this month?

Wanna try to make one of your own?

It’s really quite simple.

First, print off the pattern. For best results, select “none” for page scaling.

Second, cut out the fabric.

For the outer fabric, I used a heavy upholstery fabric. If you want the bag without the “carpetbag” look, you could use any heavy-weight fabric. Alternately, you could use felt or felted wool (accidentally washed wool sweaters, maybe?) and leave it unlined.

• 1 bottom piece
• 2 front/back pieces
• 2 side pieces

For the lining, I used a lightweight dress fabric. The fabric I used was pretty slippery–I’d recommend that beginning sewers try quilting cotton or broadcloth for lining. If you’re making a felt or felted wool bag, you can skip the lining.

• 1 bottom piece
• 2 front/back pieces
• 2 side pieces

The contrasting handles leave the most up to you. I used a no-fray upholstery fabric that had an almost rubbery back. If you can find something similar, that’s ideal. Otherwise, you could try faux (or real) leather, canvas, or another heavy-weight fabric. If you use a fabric that won’t fray (and therefore won’t need to have it’s sides turned under), cut using the circle template I provided. If you’re using a fabric that will fray, make a circle template about a half inch wider (in diameter) to allow for turning the sides under before applying.

• 4 circles
• 2 strips 1 1/2 inches wide by 6 1/2 inches long

Third, assemble the main body of your bag (using the outer fabric).

Line up the bottom and the front (right sides together) and sew along bottom front seam.

Open up the seam.

Now align the back piece with the other long side of the bottom piece (right sides together). Sew along the bottom back seam.

Press both seams open.

Fourth, put the sides on your bag

Align the side of the side piece with side of front piece (right sides together) and pin in place.

Now align the bottom of the side piece with the bottom piece (right sides together) and pin in place.

Finally, align the other side of the side piece with the side of the back piece (right sides together) and pin in place.

Sew along the pinned portions, making sharp turns in the corners by leaving the needle down, lifting up your sewing machine’s presser foot, and rotating your fabric 90 degrees. Make sure that the extra fabric from the front/back/bottom pieces isn’t in the way before you put the presser foot back down and begin sewing again.

You’ve now got the first side on.

Repeat with the second side piece.

Fifth, stitch along the right side of all the seams you just made.

Notice how the stitching is right on the edge of the seam, going through both pieces of fabric on either side of the original seam. This gives the bag additional form and allows it to stand up on its own.

At this point, if you’re making an unlined bag from felt or felted wool, skip to step 8. If you’re making a lined bag, continue on with step 6.

Sixth, repeat steps three and four with the lining fabric.

Seventh, attach the lining to the outside.

You’ll start by turning the outside wrong-side out and the lining right-side out. Slip the lining into the outside.

Pin along the top edge of the lining and outside piece, lining up corners and the “dips” in the sides.

Sew along the top of the bag, leaving a small section along the back piece unsewn (so that you can turn the bag inside out.)

Turn the bag inside out through the small hole you left between the lining and the outer portion of the bag.

Topstitch along the seam around the top of the bag, closing the opening as you go.

Ninth (and finally), make and attach the straps.

Iron a fold into the long sides of the strap fabric.

Now fold the straps in half longwise so that you have a long narrow strip with the previously folded edges on one side (it’ll look like double-folded bias tape). Sew along the edge.

If your circle fabric has the potential to fray, iron under the edges approximately 1/4 inch.

Now pin your straps to the sides of the bag as shown below.

Layer the circles on top of the edges of the straps and pin.

Now, you’ll stitch around the edge of the circle, securing the straps and the circle to the bag. I made a little “X” through my circles to further secure the strap.

Congratulations, your Anne-inspired carpetbag is now complete!