Sewing instruction foxbag

Materials needed with fabric width of 140 cm:

• 25 cm, cotton twill or denim, here in grass green – front and back of bag (fabric 1)
• 25 cm cotton, here dots in orange/ white – lining and strips for the zipper tabs (fabric 2)
• Fleece remnant, orange - appliqué (fabric 3)
• Fleece remnant, white - appliqué (fabric 4)
• Batting, for example Vilene H630
• Tear away embroidery stabilizer
• 24 cm zipper per Meter, here light green
• Zipper pull
• Embroidery threads, Rayon weight 40 in black and contrasting colors – here in blue, pink and neon green
• Bobbin fill weight 60, black and white
• Coordinating sewing threads
• Woven ribbon or other embellishments for the zipper pull

• Scissor
• Rotary cutter
• Pins or clips
• Fabric marking pen

Presser feet used:

• Zipper-Foot
• Foot No. 1C
• Embroidery Foot No. 24
• Bernina 790
• Maxi-Hoop

Stickmuster File „Fox Bag“

Embroidering

Front:

Hoop the stabilizer, batting and outer fabric (Fabric 1). If you want to work economically, just hoop the stabilizer and place the batting and fabric over it. Use the basting function of the machine to fixate the layers onto the stabilizer.

The first sequence embroiders the outline of the bag. The color of the thread is not important.

The second color embroiders the body of the bird. Here, it is best to use white bobbin fill underneath and the color of your choice on top.
 
Next, thread the machine with black thread on the top and bottom. The machine will sew the outline for the first appliqué.

Place a piece of the orange fleece over the outline and let the machine sew it in the next step. 

Trim the overlapping edges using a 1- 2 mm allowance.

In the next sequence the machine will sew the next outline for the appliqué of the belly of the fox. Continue in the same matter as described above to complete the front of the bag.

Construction:

Prepare your machine for sewing. We will be sewing with a 1cm seam allowance.

Using the embroidered outline as a guide cut out the front and back of the bag. Use one of the pieces as a template to cut 2 lining pieces out of fabric 2. Additionally cut two strips 7 cm long and the width of your zipper tape out of fabric 2. Those are the strips for the zipper Tabs.

Zipper Tabs:

Iron each short side of the strip for the tab to the left side of the fabric and then iron the pieces in half. Install the zipper pull onto the zipper and slip the zipper tab between the folded piece of the strip. Sew close to the edge and repeat on the other side.

Mark 1 cm on each side of the top of the front and back of the bag. Place the zipper face down and centered onto the front of the bag. Pin it in place.

Now place the lining piece face down over it and pin it in place.

Sew the zipper with the zipper presser foot leaving one cm free on each side. Clip the curve through all layers. Flip the lining piece over and iron well. If you like you can top stitch from the right side.
If you do this, still leave that 1 cm on each side unsewn.

Repeat for the back of the bag. Place the zipper face down and pin,

place the lining piece face down and pin everything in place

Sew the zipper as already described. Your bag should look like this right now:

Now lay the bag so that the outer and lining pieces are laying right sides together on one another. Open the zipper half way and sew from point 1 to 2, 3- 4, 4- 5 and so on. Do not forget the opening for turning in the bottom of the lining!

Square all of the corners. This is done by placing the side seam onto the bottom seam as seen in the Picture.

Turn the bag to the right side and push all of the corners out. Sew shut the opening for turning and work the lining into the bag.

Embellish your zipper pull if you like. Finished!
 
You can of course make the bag and appliqué with all kinds of different fabrics. Here are some examples with cork leather and cotton print,  heavy structured cotton and cotton print, or upholstery fabric combined with Fleece..