How Do You Sew a Project Bag in Knitting?
Want to learn how to sew a knitting project bag to bring around whenever you’re knitting? Then you’ll want to take a look at this article.
This project won’t be a piece of cake, though. So you need to be thoroughly prepared with every single necessary item.
But don’t worry. We’re going to show you everything you need. And sure enough, we’re going to walk you through a set of brief and detailed steps so you can get the job done with little effort.
So, are you ready to start making that project bag for knitting? Then keep reading!
Step-By-Step Guide: Sewing a Project Bag in Knitting
So now it’s time to prepare. Below, you’ll find a list of all the items that can’t miss before you start.
Then, you’ll find 5 steps to follow, carefully organized to help you knit that project bag with little effort.
Items You’ll Need
- A sewing machine
- A pair of sewing needles (optional)
- A set of safety pins
- A grommet
- 2 Pieces of fabric at 15 by 10 inches (front & back)
- 2 Pieces of lining fabric of 15 by 10 inches (front & back)
- 2 Pieces of stabilizer at 15 by 10 inches
- A YKK handbag zipper (15-inch long)
- At least 40 inches of piping (for the exterior seams)
- 2 Strips of lining at 2.5 by 40 inches (for bias & straight binding)
- 1 Strip of fabric at 5 by 45 inches (strap)
Be aware that the pieces of fabrics can be of any measurement, but front and back should be the same. Also, don’t overlook the strips for the binding, piping, and the straps.
Once you’ve gathered the items, then you can proceed:
1. Attach the Lining & Grommet
The first step into making your project bag is to sew the lining into the exterior fabrics. Be aware that you haven’t sewn the zipper or piping yet, so you need to leave it unsewn. Here’s how:
- Start by attaching the stabilizer to the exterior fabric using the safety pins. This will make it easy to use the sewing machine. Then attach the lining to the exterior fabric as well.
- The bottom should have about 1/2 inch of seam. This will help you sew the piping later on. But you can leave a little less seam allowance for the sides.
- Finish by securing the two pieces with the clips. You should have the front & back pieces of fabric together. Yet, every side should be unsewn.
- Make a small hole into the fabric, according to the grommet diameter. Then sew into the fabric using thread as necessary.
With this part ready, then you can proceed to sew the piping and the zipper.
2. Cover the Exterior Seams
You will see the stitches clearly in the exterior of the bag. That’s why we recommend covering it all with the piping. Here’s how:
- Try putting the bag inside out. Grab the piping and be sure it goes from one end of the bag to the other. The edge of the piping should match the seam allowance you left when attaching the pieces of fabric together. Make small cuts on the edge of the piping in the curves, so it is easier to operate.
- Before sewing, secure the piping to the bag with the clips. Then start sewing with a thread color that looks as similar to the color of the exterior fabric as possible.
- Stitch only about 1/8 inch into the bag, so you don’t end up shortening it or making it thicker on the inside.
Once you’ve stitched the piping, the exterior seam will be almost invisible. You will only see the piping’s cord out in the edges, making it neater.
3. Cover the Interior Seams
The interior seams will not look too good once you’ve added the piping. That’s why it is recommended to cover them with some binding instead. Follow these tips:
- Start by folding one piece of binding in half, so it ends up at 1.25 by 40 inches.
- Then turn with the bag inside out, start stitching the binding at about 1/8 inch into the seam allowance remaining from the exterior seam.
- If stitching with the sewing machine gets too hard, you can always use a needle. We recommend using a small needle on the borders (close to the zipper).
You should now have a more stylish interior without a covered seam allowance.
4. Sew the Zipper
When learning how to make a lined zipper pouch, it is vital to learn how to sew the zipper in. Without adding the zipper correctly, you may end up with an unusable project bag. Follow these tips:
- Start by sewing one edge of the zipper on the top of the fabric. The zipper should go between the exterior fabric and the lining. Unzip the zipper first so you can work with either side comfortably.
- You should leave about 1/4 of an inch as a seam allowance. This will help you sew the whole zipper more easily.
- Now repeat the same process with the other side. Make sure both ends of the zipper are correctly attached to the fabric so you can get it working.
- Once again, you need to place the zipper ends between the lining and the exterior fabric (that’s why you left the top part unsewn in the first step.)
Now the bag should have the lining and the zipper ready. The bag should work comfortably and effectively. But still, you need to secure it and add some decorations.
5. Make & Attach the Strap
When learning how to sew a knitting bag, you will probably need to come up with an ideal strap. Otherwise, carrying the bag won’t be easy. Yet, the strap won’t be too hard to make, luckily. Here’s how:
- Grab the piece of fabric (5 by 45 inches) and fold it in half. But don’t fold it, so it ends up 5 by 22.5, but fold it, so it ends up as a 2.5 by 45 inches strap instead.
- Then proceed to fold the edges inwards. In short words, hide the edges so you can sew them and make the bag cuter and more comfortable.
- Finish by top-stitching the whole strap. It should be almost seamless and thin but large enough.
- Now, look for the ideal place to install them. We usually recommend on the side where the zipper ends. This way, you don’t make a strap that gets in the way while browsing inside the bag.
- Stitch the strap to the bag from outside. Measure the stitching places well so you don’t make an unwanted stitch that you can’t revert. Once you do that, then you should have a strap on the bag.
With the strap ready, you have almost nothing else to do but to finish the last few decorative touches. You can now enjoy your project bag however you prefer.
Conclusion
As you can see, the process of sewing a project bag for your knitting projects won’t be as easy as it seems at first. But it won’t be the hardest either.
If you follow our advice on knitting a project bag, then you can get this project done in a few hours or less.
Are you ready to make this project bag for your knitting? You won’t regret it – start now!
