Mama's Ruffle Shoulder Bag & Tutorial
I've been wanting to make a ruffled shoulder bag but haven't found a perfect pattern that I wanted to pay for (I'm cheap!) Instead, I came up with this simple pattern using a fat quarter pack I had in my stash. Here's how it came together:
Supplies
7 fat quarters (FQ =18" x 21") or about 2 yards of fabric
fusible interfacing
magnetic snap closure
O-ring or D-ring or handle hardware (optional)
basic sewing notions
Instructions
1. Cut fabric pieces and interfacing:
- Set aside one FQ for the outer bag and one FQ for the lining; cut interfacing for both outer & lining fabrics & fuse together.
- Handles / Key loop: one FQ - Cut 2 - 5" x 21" strips for longer handle section; Cut 2 - 5" x 10 1/2" for shorter handle section. Cut 1 - 2 1/2" x 10" for key loop. Cut interfacing for all handle pieces & fuse together.
- Pocket: one FQ - Cut 1 - 6" x 18". Cut interfacing and fuse.
- Ruffles: I used 3 different FQ. Cut a total of 12 - 3 1/2" x 18" strips. If you want more ruffles, adjust the width smaller or layer them to get the look you want.
2. Prepare the handles: I like to get this out of the way first. Press all handle pieces and key loop in half lengthwise.
Open and press both sides in toward the center crease.
Press center crease closed again.
Stitch 1/8” or as close as you can along each long side.
Sew O-Ring/D-Ring or Handle Hardware to one end of a short strip.
Attach longer handle strip to ring. Sew across strap about 1" below & above ring and set aside.
You can skip the rings and just make longer fabric strips for a shoulder bag or omit the short pieces for a handbag.
Press Key Loop (2 1/2" x 10") as above and topstitch. Set aside.
3. Prepare the bag body pieces:
Fold main FQ and lining FQ in 1/2 so they measure 10 1/2" x 18"w with the fold at the bottom.
Measure in 2" from each top outside edge and mark.
Place ruler on outside edge of bottom and connect to mark on top of the piece; Cut. Repeat with lining piece.
4. Prepare Ruffle Stips: Sew together 2 strips at their short ends to make pieces equalling 3 1/3" x 36"l.
Serge or narrow hem both top and bottom of the ruffle strips.
Gather along top edge of ruffle strips.
5. Placing your ruffles:
Measure down 2" from top edge of outer fabric and draw line across. Measure down another 3" and draw line: another 3" down and draw a 3rd line across main fabric.
Turn fabric over (or open piece) and repeat on opposite side of main fabric.
Place top ruffle wrong-side-up with gathered edge towards the pencil line. The ruffle will be "resting" upside down on top of the line. Pin in place.
Repeat with other 2 ruffles; turn and repeat on the opposite side.
Stitch ruffles in place. Press downward then topstitch.
Baste ruffles down along edges of bag; trim.
6. Assembling Outer Bag:
Place bag with right-sides-together. Pin along sides and sew.
Pinch down bottom corners to make a gusset. Measure across 1 1/2", mark then sew across line.
Trim corner off. Turn bag right-side-out and set aside.
7. Preparing the lining:
Sew the pocket first. Fold in half to form 6" x 9" piece. Sew around, leaving 3" opening to turn.
Turn right-side-out, press. Topstitch one long end.
Place pocket by measuring down 3" from top of bag and in 3 1/4" from each side (or center to your bag's measurements). If you want two smaller pockets (good for a cell phone), measure center of pocket and draw a line. Sew around outer edge of pocket and down center.
Place key loop by measuring in about 3" on opposite side of lining. Sew across.
Place lining with right-sides together. Sew down one side. On the other side, sew down 2-3", stop and reinforce. Leave 4-5" open for turning. Sew bottom 2-3" to corner.
Make 1 1/2" gussets in corners as above. Trim corner off.
Place the magnetic snap by finding the center of the lining, 2" down from the top edge.
Insert magnetic closure.
8. Add the handles.
Measure in 2 1/2" from outer edge of outer bag. Pin handles & baste in place.
9. Putting it together:
Insert outer bag into lining with right-sides-together and wrong-sides out. Pin top edge and sew around.
Turn bag right-side-out, bringing fabric through the opening in side of lining.
Topstitch the opening in the lining closed.
Press top of bag; topstitch.
Do a little happy dance, because you are done! Please email me if you have questions or need clarification. Pattern is for personal use only, please. I'd love to see pictures of your bag!
