Using the photo as a guide, iron the appliqués into place using a warm dry iron.  Don’t forget to overlap the appliqué pieces for the lions ears.  Mane down first, then the ears,  then head shape.  The lions head is placed lower on the mane,  so there is more mane showing at the top of the head than below it.

Applique the shapes using your favourite method.  I used 2 strands of matching thread and the button hole stitch technique. 

Using the photo as a guide,  lightly draw the lions mouth with a fine lead pencil or fade away pen.  Stitch the mouth with 3 strands of thread using back stitch and add some little crosses on the cheeks.  Also add a French knot and a stitch in white on the eyes.

Step 3 – Making the bag flap

 

Iron the pellon to the wrong side of the bag flap lining.  Place the bag flap front and lining wrong sides together and base around the outside edge so that all three layers are sandwiched together.

On the right side,  pin the binding around the edge of the bag flaps rounded edge,  carefully easing the binding around the curves and leaving a short overhang at the ends.  Sew into place using a ½ inch seam.

Turn the bag flap over and in the binding into place so it just covers the stiching line.

I prefer to sew my binding on from the right side so that I am top stitching the front as I go.  As I stitch I remove the pins.  Press your completed bag flap and trim the binding overhang.  Set aside.

Step 4 – Bag construction

Take the blue 7½”x 12½” rectangle and sew an 8½” x 12½” rectangle to each side to create the bag panel.

Following the manufactors instructions,  iron the pellon to the wrong side of bag panel,  and to the back of the two red spot rectangles measuring 2½” x 12½”.

Lay the bag panel so it is flat and centre the two binding strips measuring  12½” over the seams and top stitch on both sides of the binding to secure them into place.

Fold the bag panel in half with right sides together, carefully matching the binding strips.  Pin and sew along the long edges.  Pin the short edges of the red spot fabric and sew together.

 

To form the bottom of the bag, fold the side seam across the bottom so it forms a triangle.

Mark the line across the triangle where the edge measures 2” across and sew along this line.  Repeat on the other side.  Trim the corners and turn the bag right side out.  This will create a box shaped base to the bag.

 

Fold the yellow lining fabric in half,  right sides together and the edges aligned. Sew along the sides,  leaving a 3” gap in one side for turning.  Form the base of the lining as you did to form the bottom of the bag.

Step 5 – Make the adjustable strap

 

Iron the two strips of light fusible interfacing to the wrong sides of the red spot fabric, leaving a quarter inch seam allowance around the interfacing.   

Fold the straps in half lengthways with the wrong sides together and stitch along the long edges with a ¼ inch seam allowance.  Turn them right sides out and press with the seam along one side.   Topstitch along both long sides of your straps and two rows a quarter inch in to create a decorative finish.

 

Using the 8” strap,  with the picture as a guide, thread the fabric  through the end of buckle so that the ends meet.  Pin into place.  Sew a row of stitching as close to the buckle as possible to secure the double thickness of fabric.    Open the clip.

With the 30” handle piece, thread the fabric through the slide adjuster as shown.    Using the pictures as reference,  fold the edge of the strap under, covering the raw edge and pin into place.  Top stitch across the raw edge, then up the side for ½ inch,  back across the top,  and then down ½ inch to form a stitched rectangle that will secure the fabric into place.

Thread the other end through the second buckle,

 

 And back down under the buckle attachment and through the slide adjuster.

The back of the second strap will look like this.

 

Step 6 –Attach the straps

 

On the right side of the bag,  centre both the straps  with their wrong sides facing up over the seams and pin into place.

Take the red spot fabric and place it over the bag,  with the seams matching the centre of the straps and sandwiching the straps in between.  Sew along the top edge.

Press the seam toward the bottom of the bag.  Sew a row of topstitching below the seam, flipping the straps upward and out of the way of the machine.

Step 7 –Add a base

 

  

Sew the two strips of your bag base together by stitching around the outside edge.  Turn the bag inside out,  and attach the base by hand stitching the bag base  the seam allowance so the base will sit in the box shaped base of the bag.

 

Step 7 – Finish the bag

 

Make a button loop by trimming ½ from the side of the 6” piece of binding.  Press the binding flat,  then refold the edges into the centre and press.  Fold the binding in half again and press and in into place.  Stitch along the long edge.

Take your bag and your bag flap and mark the centre point of the bag flap and the bag back.  With right sides together match the centre points and pin into place.  Fold the button loop in half and pin to the centre of the bag flap on the wrong side.

Place the bag inside the bag lining with the right sides facing and the top edges and seems aligned.  Stitch around the top of the bag. Turn the bag right way out though the gap in the lining.  Push the lining into the bag,  press.  Top stitch around the edge.

Take your bag straps and place them upwards against the top of the bag.  Pin into place,  ensuring that the lining is smooth inside the bag.  Following the line of top stitching,  stitch a rectangle across the straps to hold them securely in place.  Your straps should be placed so the bag flap is free to drop forward to close.

Give your bag a good press, close your buckle– snap!  Stitch a button to the centre front to close your bag and slip stitch the opening closed. 

Ready for your next adventure!

 

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