Art Gallery Fabrics - The Creative Blog

Hello Everyone,

How is the holiday season treating you? Need any fun gift ideas? Well I have a great tutorial for you that is a perfect gift giving item! It's called the Elise Bag made with Paperie fabrics. This collection is soft, romantic and mix and matches well with our pure elements. The Elise bag is a perfect size bag that any one would love to receive and the best part is it's fast and easy to make. The patchwork in front and back of the bag and the quilted handles add the right amount of detail that play back perfectly with the essence of the fabric collection. 

 Here is what you need to get started: 

Fabric Requirements

Fabric A- PPE-347- 3/8 yd.
Fabric B- PPE-346- Fat Eighth
Fabric C- PPE-344- Fat Eighth
Fabric D-PPE-345- Fat Eighth
Fabric E-PPE-341- Fat Eighth
Fabric F- PE-451-3/8 yd.
Fabric G- PE-420- Fat Eighth
Fabric H-PE-452- Fat Eighth
Fabric I-PE-426- Fat Eighth
Fabric J-PE-410- Fat Eighth
Fabric K -SE-606- 5/8 yd.

Cutting Directions

Two (2) 3 1/2” x 16 1/2” strips from Fabric A and Fusible Fleece
Two (2) 7 1/2“ x 16 1/2”rectangles from Fabric A
Two (2) 4 1/2” x 4 1/2” squares from Fabric B,C,D,E,G,H,I,and J
Two (2) 4 1/2” x 31” strips from Fabric F and Fusible Fleece(Straps)
Two (2) 16 1/2” x 18 1/4” rectangles from Fabric K (Lining)

Additional Material

Fusible Fleece

Step 1:

• Sew the following rows of 4 1/2” squares together following Diagram 1.
• Sew row 1 and 2 together.
• Repeat this step again with the other 4 1/2” squares.

Step 2:

• Sew a 7 1/2” x 16 1/2” to the bottom of the pieces made in Diagram 1. (Diagram 2)
• Iron fusible fleece to back and front pieces made in Diagram 2. Quilt piece as desired.

Step 3:

• Take a 4 1/2” x 31” strip from Fabric F and iron fusible fleece to the wrong side of the fabric. Fold piece right sides together and sew the long sides of your piece.
• Turn right side out using a safety pin to inch your way through. Press flat with seam in the center of your strap. (Diagram 3.1)
• Quilt strap with straight lines 1/4” apart. (Diagram 3.2)
• Repeat this process to get your other strap.

Step 4:

• Take end of straps and sew them 4 1/4” in from the sides of your front and back bag pieces. (Diagram 4)

Step 5:

• Take your 3 1/2” x 16 1/2” strips and iron fusible to the wrong side of the fabric.
• Sew this piece right sides together to the top of your bag. (Diagram 5)

Step 6:

• Sew front and back bag right sides together as well as the two lining pieces at 1/2“ seam allowance.
• We want to box the interior corners to get a really nice flat bottom on the bag; this way the bag will have more body.Take the exterior of the bag (wrong side out) and pinch apart the two layers of the bag to get a little triangle on one corner.
• Flatten it down a little bit and make sure the top and bottom seams are lined up. Hold it tight. Place the bag flat on the table.
• Take the acrylic ruler with the 45° angle and lay it on the corner so that the 45° line is right ­on the edge of the triangle corner. 
• We want to do a 3” gusset for this bag, so draw a line 3" long (with the air-erasable marker) right across the bottom of the 45° corner.
• Stitch on top of the marked line.
• Trim excess fabric if desired, or leave it to add more body to the corner.
• Repeat these steps for the other bag corner and for both lining corners as well.

Step 7:

• Place exterior of bag inside lining making sure right sides are touching and that the straps are out of the way.
• Pin lining to the exterior of the bag and sew all the way around the top of your bag at 1/2" seam allowance.
• Pull exterior of bag through the unsewn portion in the lining.
• Handstitch or machine stitch unsewn portion and topstitch around the top of your tote at 1/4”.

Enjoy making the Elise Bag and for more handmade gift ideas click here to view our Fabric Project Catalogs. 

Happy Sewing,

Melissa