Canvas Bag Tutorial: Part 2 - Straps and Pockets

    Not ready for this step yet? Here's last week's post about the pattern pieces, so you can catch up!

     We are ready to sew!

     To start off, I pinned all of the pockets together with the wrong side facing out. For the outside pocket one layer is of canvas and the other is of cotton (originally I had two outside pockets, but one got set aside). You can also pin the two side panels to the top edges of the body and sew those together, but we will be covering assembling the body in the next part.

Originally I had two outside pockets.

     Then, I sewed my pockets, leaving a gap a few inches wide so that I could turn the pockets right side out. I also sewed my side panels onto the main body of my bag and lining. Next, I got out my iron to iron my seams and flatten out my pockets after turning them out.

     While I had the iron going I made the straps and reinforcement strip! For the straps I folded the fabric in half hotdog-wise and ironed it so that it made a crease down the middle.

     Then I folded each edge into the middle, ironing them down to keep them in place. Next, I folded the strip in half, along my original fold. That way the rough edges were safely tucked away inside! Finally I pinned the strip in place so I could topstitch it. I repeated this process with the other strap and the reinforcement strip.

     Finally, it was time to topstitch everything!

Tip of the day: Topstitch EVERYTHING!