This article provides additional information to complement the video tutorial available on YouTube on how to sew a canvas bag.
The trapezoid bag
Here you'll find the measurements and some instructions for sewing a trapezoid-shaped bag.
The method is exactly the same as for the classic bag (the pink one), with just a few minor differences in the measurements.
1. Draw a 74 x 43 cm rectangle on the fabric, then draw a horizontal line down the middle of the rectangle (see image below)
2. Then measure 4 cm on either side of the center line and make a mark (see image below)
3. Then connect the four corners to the marks you just drew (see image below)
4. And finally, cut around the edge of the “hourglass.”
From here on, the tutorial remains the same, except when creating the bottom of the bag: instead of measuring 7.5 cm, simply measure 5 cm. If you’re following along with the video, this corresponds to the measurement taken at 4:18.
Sewing on the sequins
To sew them by machine, you’ll need to use a different technique, which I’ll describe right now, but you’ll also need to follow the measurements below very precisely. Be careful—this requires you to be very, very precise, both with the measurements and the sewing.
1) Same step as before: Heat-set the interfacing to the outer fabric.
2) Cut out and shape the handles
So far, so good, and we have the video ^^
The following steps are either modified or new.
3) Attaching the handles
Draw a line 5 cm from the edge of the rectangle at both the top and bottom.See the dotted lines in the diagram below.
Then pin the handles 11.5 cm from the edge and sew them on.See the blue arrows in the diagram below.
4) Now we’re going to sew on the sequins that go on the handles and on the front and back of the bag.
To do this, place the fabric right side up, measure 28 cm from the top of the bag, and make a mark. Next, draw a very faint line(faint because you’re working on the front of the bag)all the way along the fabric.See the dotted line in the diagram below.
Then do the same thing starting from the bottom.
Next, we’ll take our sequins and position them starting from the handles and running straight down to this line. We’ll arrange everything so there are no wrinkles and the trim runs straight down, then we’ll pin the sequins in place.
And finally, we'll sew them on with a sewing machine. Just use a straight stitch with a stitch length of 2.5 mm and a size 90 needle.
Once both sides are finished, it will look like this: see the diagram below. The sequins are shown in light pink.
5) Attaching the trim around the bag
We’ll simply pin and then sew the sequins in a straight line along the dotted line—but make sure to stay outside of it.
6) And there you go—now you can continue sewing as shown in the video: fold the bag in half, right sides together, and stitch 1 cm from the edge on each side. Then create the bottom of the bag, the lining, and so on.
Note: When sewing on the sequins, there is a small amount of waste, so you should plan on using 3.30 m to 3.50 m of sequins.
How do you sew on sequins?
It's very simple: use a size 90 needle for a straight stitch with the standard presser foot. The needle will simply pierce through the sequins.
When you pin the sequins, thread the needle through the hole in the center of each sequin (a “sequin” is the name given to these pieces of glitter); this will be easier and look nicer than piercing holes.
