The last three
Christmases on the trot have given me a little project to sew, not
just because I like to sew but because it feels like a heartfelt gift
to send something you really had to put some thought and effort into
personally, not just a couple of clicks from Amazon (though I can't
deny I still do this often).
Year one was tote bags
and this was the most complex project but I had an amazing tutorial,
both a blog and a vlog which made it achievable. I wrote about sewing
a tote bag.
Year two I made aprons
which was enjoyable, I looked at my own apron and used a similar
design so didn't follow a tutorial.
Year three I made peg
bags which could either be used on a washing line or hung up in a
wardrobe. I didn't find exactly the right tutorial so I used one but
didn't follow it to the letter. I think my design was superior to the
others I found (ha!) so maybe others would like to see how I made it.
Then figure out how
much material I would need. I struggle with things like this and it
would depend on how wide the fabric was and how deep I wanted the
bags and the width of the hanger and whether the fabric was only to
be used in tone direction. So I guessed high and bought about 5
meters. As it happened, I could fit two bags' worth per meter as it
was about 1.5m width so worked out to be a much cheaper project than
initially predicted but with an expensive tablecloth made out of the
leftover material – but I'll enjoy it so that's not a waste.
Being the basic
creature that I am I spend ages cutting out each piece before C asked
why I hadn't folded the material and cut four together. It didn't
occur to me. I will just add that cutting out patterns is my least
favourite part of any project because you have to get it right but
it's so tedious and loathsome. My advice would be to pick fabric you
like and which is suitable for being a pegbag and use it for all 4
faces to save faffing. Give the fabric a gentle iron it's lively or
crumpled.
Once I finally had the
pieces ready it involved a fair bit of puzzling from my tutorial as
to what the heck to do. Pinning the two front faces together I used a
saucer to mark out my circle then used a close together straight
stitch to sew. I was highly concerned my amateurish lack of finesse
would only produce an ugly, jagged circle so I went incredibly slowly
at first but soon found to my delight that it looked imperceptible
from a perfect circle.
It looks like a
seemingly impossible feat to sew the circle then turn it inside out
but you have to take the fabric through the circle and of course, it
works. I cut the middle section of the circle out to about 3mm from
the stitching and then cut toward the stitches ever 12-15 mm which
required great care as to cut a single stitch would surely unravel
the lot and spoil the piece. Once turned out it needs another careful
press.
Here's where things get
nice and simple. Pin the two pieces together and sew around each all
the way round around 4 mm from the edge. This will keep things simple
for when you pop them good sides together (you'll be turning this
inside out) and pin. Then sew all around except for the hanger head
hole and about 2/5 of the bottom to pull it all through. Sew about
8mm from the edge so all those other stitches wont affect turning it
inside out.
Then turn inside out so
it's the right way round.
As that hand hold makes
an excellent access point for that open bottom of the bag I gathered
it though and machine stitched it instead of having the pain of hand
finishing. What a gift.
PS I think this fabric is gorgeous and reminds me of William Morris designs. I used the remainder leftover to make a tablecloth I can enjoy at the kitchen table.
Sophie
