My Summer Linen Bag

Everyone needs a carrying bag, especially if you have kids.  My summer linen bag is a great, nifty bag that can fit most of your needs.  With this simple sewing bag tutorial from Lelanie Denso, you'll be thinking it's too easy and too cute to just make one.
 

Materials:

• 15.5" x 15.5" exterior fabric (2 pcs.)
• 15.5" x 15.5" interior fabric (2 pcs.)
• 7.5" x 15.5" (interior pocket) (2 pcs.)
• 10.5" x 7.5" (interior pocket) (2 pcs.)
• 4.5" long elasticized band (2 pcs.)
• zipper
• 15.5" x 1.5" fabric for zipper band (4 pcs.)
• sling of an old bag

Instructions:

1. Get two of your fabric bands for your zipper and your zipper. Place them in such a way that both fabrics have both of the right sides together and the zipper sandwiched between them.
    
2. Sew a straight stitch using your zipper foot as guide.
    
3. Turn your fabrics upright and topstitch.
    
4. Do the same to the other fabric bands and the other unattached side of your zipper. So you'll have what you can see below.
   
   
    
5. Get your larger pocket pieces. With both fabrics right sides together sew a straight stitch on the top longer side of the fabric (you could appreciate the threads of the tag I sewed on front of the my pocket).
    
6. Turn it inside out and topstitch.
    
7. Turn again your piece so your fabrics are right sides together and sew a straight stitch on the other unsewn (yet) side of your pocket. So you'll have this.
   
   
    
8. Turn your pocket.
    
9. And attach it to one of your bag's interior fabric. I didn't want it to be sewn with the bottom part of my bag so I placed it in such a way that I am leaving an approx. "3 allowance from the bottom edge of the interior fabric.
    
10. Sew your pocket on. The sides could be basting stitches only but the bottom part should be a line of straight stitches with backtracks.
     
11. I have decided to divide my pocket in two unequal parts. I just divided it using my centered tag as my guide.
     
12. So, I had these pockets. I assembled my other and smaller pocket by sewing a straight stitch on one both longer sides and just one short side. I turned it and topstitch the part which would be the top of my pocket.
    
    
     
13. I added a tag on the unsewn short side of the pocket.
     
14. I pinned it to my other interior fabric this way and sewn it on the fabric with straight stitches with backtracks for the short side on the right of the photo and the bottom side of my pocket. The side with the tag sewn on was sewn using a basting stitch.
     
15. I added some elasticized bands to hold a bottle of water, the 1.5 liters kind of bottle. I pinned them first.
    
    
     
16. Then I sewed a straight and then a zigzag stitch.
     
17. Fold down your elastic and sew a straight stitch. Do the same to the other elastic.
     
18. Attach the other end of your elastic on the other side of your fabric. So, you have this.
    
    
     
19. Now, attach your bag pieces to your zipper band following these instructions.
     
20. With your zipper band attached, pin both interior fabrics together and exterior fabrics together. Sew a straight stitch on all sides except on the bottom of your interior fabric, leave at least 2"-3" for turning later. You can strengthen your stitches by sewing zigzag stitches.
     
21. Fold your bottom edges in such a way that you get a pointed edge. Draw a line 1.5"-2" from the pointy edge.
     
22. Sew a straight stitch then a zigzag stitch.
     
23. Do the same on all other sides. Turn your bag through the unsewn part and sew the unsewn part close.
     
24. Fold your top edge inwards and pin it if necessary. Then top stitch.
    
    
     
25. I used extra fabrics for my bag's handle and tada! I already have a summer linen bag I really love! Do make your own and share it with us!