On-The-Go Knitting Bag Tutorial

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One of the best things about knitting, crochet and other handiwork crafts is how portable they are.  You can work on them just about anywhere.  But throwing them into a purse isn't ideal and neither are a lot of the store-bought solutions.  Have you seen some of the knitting storage totes?  They're like carry-on luggage!  And you don't always need to bring all your gear with you - just what you're working on.

This little bag is a great way to carry a few crafty items and then have a great workspace wherever you are.  When it's time to pack up, just pull the drawstrings on you're ready to go.  It's also an ideal solution for toting kids toys, use as a lunch bag, etc.

I was inspired to make this bag by the fabric itself.  It's from the Timeless Treasures "Do Ewe Knit" collection.  What better use for a knitting themed fabric than a bag for my knitting stuff?  Ready to make one yourself?  It's super easy.  Here's how:

You'll Need
- Two 3/4yd cotton prints for outer & inner of bag
- One 3/4yd Pellon Shape-Flex® 100% cotton fusible interfacing
- Two grommets
- One yard of cording
- Iron & ironing board
- Basic notions (sewing machine, pins, marking pen, safety pin, shears/rotary cutter. etc.)

Start with cutting two 20 inch diameter circles from your outer & inner fabric and another circle from Pellon Shape-Flex.  The Shape-Flex will give the bag extra strength and shape without being bulky or affecting it's "cinch-ability" - don't you like that totally made-up word?;)

Cutting the circles is easy if you fold the fabric in half lengthwise and then again widthwise and draw an arc, then cut along the arc and open.

You'll also want to cut a 5 inch high by 42 inch wide strip from the outer fabric (easy to cut when selvage ends are together):

Fold the strip lengthwise with right sides facing and stitch along the length with a 1/8 inch seam allowance.  Then turn right side out, press and then top stitch along both sides of the strap:



Fuse the Shape-Flex to the wrong side of the outer fabric.  Using a marking pen measure 1.5 inches in from raw edge of the outer circle and mark two points that are 2 inches apart.  This is for setting the grommets.

Set the grommets according to the maker's instructions:

Now, with right sides of the circles facing, sandwich the strap in between them so its ends are in line with the raw edges of the circles and exactly opposite one another.  

Pin into place and stitch around the entire circle with a 1/4 inch seam allowance, leaving a 2 inch gap for turning right side out.  Clip around the circle so it will curve properly when turned:

Now turn bag right side out, press around the edges and then top stitch around the seam (this will close up the turning gap).

Then stitch all the way around the circle with a 2 inch seam allowance to make the casing for the drawstring:

Attach a safety pin to one end of the cording and insert into one grommet, snaking around the casing and coming out the other grommet:

Knot the ends of the cord,



and now the bag is ready to use!

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