Lesson bag in kitten design fabric 

Size:30cm (H), 40cm (W), 4cm (D)

Neko Funjatta, a fun fabric of kitty and music motifs, is perfect for making items for a new school year. The popular blogger, neige+ (aka Ms. Yuki Inomata) came up with a reversible design bag. A kitten themed charm made from a remnant will be this bag’s cute accent.

Design & work created:Yuki Inomata(neige+)


Fabric shown for this sample:
 (Front/Outer fabric)Neko Funjatta (The Flea Waltz) P25200-202 (A)
(Lining fabric) Neko Funjatta (The Flea Waltz) P25200-201 (D)


Materials:
□ Fabric(Front/outer fabric, Handle, Pocket, Tab):110cm×50cm
    (Lining/inside fabric):90cm×40cm
□ Fusible quilt batting:80cm×30cm
□ Lace: 30cm (1cm width)
□ Tape: 10cm (1cm width)
□ A charm of your choice

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We interviewed Ms. Inomata about her creation:
Kokka Fabric (KF): What did you think about the fabric you used for this project?
I thought, “This fabric is definitely for children” – the cute and playful piano key design makes you want to trace along the keys. Also it will be fun to carry around a bag made of this fabric. Loveable kitties are used as the lining, creating two different ways to enjoy the design of this reversible bag.

KF:Can you tell us about any special elements or ideas that you incorporated into this creation?
Placing the piano keys as a main motif, I came up with a design with a sense of fun. Depending on how you lay out the fabric, the bag will look cute whichever side you choose to use as the front or outer side. The bottom is simple, yet acts as an accent with a triangle-shaped gusset. It is designed to have a similar look when reversed.

KF:What are some tips for making this bag?
Carefully notching the fabric while cutting will help the handles and other pieces to be aligned.

KF:How should we use this bag in everyday settings?
The bag with an eye-catching key pattern is perfect for carrying materials for after school lessons and used as a school music bag. It will also be handy as a library bag.

KF: Thank you very much, Ms. Inomata! Here are sewing instructions along with step by step photos from her. Enjoy crafting!

Instructions: How to make Lesson bag

1.
6-1
First prepare a piece of main fabric cut at 50cm. The piano key design is applied as the width of the bag. Besides the pocket, the width of the cut pieces should be 42cm. From left to right: pocket, handle, handle, tab, front/outer fabric, back fabric.

2.
7-1
Prepare the lining/inside fabric. The size is 32cm x 42cm. The fusible quilt batting should be cut at 30cm x 40cm, excluding the seam allowance. Besides the handle, add 1cm seam allowance to all cut pieces.

3.
8
Make the handles. Fold sideways in half, crease and open it up. Fold the top and bottom edges to the center line, then fold again, to fold in four. Run a stitch at the top and bottom.

4.
11
Fold the pocket in half and sew around the edges, leaving an opening for turning.

5.
10
Turn the pocket inside out. As shown in the picture, fold the corner as you pull out the fabric to finish with a clean edge.

6.
129
Attach the lace to the pocket. When sewing the pocket to the front/outer fabric, tuck the edges of the lace inside. The pocket’s opening for turning should be stitched over during this process. Using the remnant, fold it in three and create a tag to be attached on the side of the pocket.

7.
20
Attach the fusible quilt batting to the front/outer fabric. Make the bottom portion of the front/outer side and the lining side. Sew together the bottom with 1cm seam allowance. Notch the fabric at 3cm (including the seam allowance) from the bottom.

8.
13
Tuck the bottom inside and pin it to make an accordion fold. The spot where it was notched in step 7, should now be the bottom line of the bag. When spread out, it looks like the photo in step 9.

9.
15
Keeping the accordion fold, sew together both side edges of the front/outer fabric with 1cm seam allowance. Also sew the side edges of the lining fabric, leaving a 7cm opening for turning on one side with 1cm seam allowance.

10.
16
Mark a notch at the center of the front/outer fabric as well as at 6cm from both side edges. Using these notches as a guide, baste handles at 0.5cm from the top edge.

11.
17
Turn the front/outer fabric from step 10 inside out, and place the bag into the lining fabric. Put the opening together with front/outer sides facing each other. As seen in the photo, press down each seam allowance to other sides of each other to keep it flat. Pin the fabrics together and sew around the bag’s opening.

12.
18
Turn it inside out using the opening. After closing the opening, run two stitch lines around the opening of the bag to complete.

13.
19
The bottom portion, where it was accordion folded, will end up with a triangle gusset as in the photo. You may put a button or an embellishment there as an accent.

Click here for Sewing Instructions (PDF format / A4 size)
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