GLITTER SHELL HANDBAG

Instructions:

Seam allowance is 1cm unless stated otherwise

Step 1 - Shell bag panels:

Cut four pieces from Printed Mermaid poplin and two pieces from fusible fleece each measuring 21cm wide by 19cm high. Fuse fleece to the wrong sides of two of the pieces of poplin fabric.

Using the shell template provided, trace the shell shape to the back of the two pieces that do not have fleece fused, using a washable marker or pencil.

Place one of the fabrics with fused fleece together with one of the poplin fabric pieces without fleece, fabric right sides facing. Pin together. Sew through all layers along the outer shell marked shape, leaving 6cm open along the base of shell.

Trim seam allowance along the base to 10mm and to 5mm around the shell shape. Trim fleece back to stitching line. Clip corners and clip all curved seams.

Turn the shells right way out and press flat. Press the open seam allowance to the inside of shape. Top stitch around the shell shape 5mm in from outer edge.

Place shell template back onto the shell fabric and mark the vertical lines down the shape as per template. Top stitch the two middle longer lines and the two side shorter lines. Leave the ones in the middle of these sewn lines as this is where the middle of bag will be attached to the shell shapes.

Step 2 - Zipper:

Cut two strips from Glitter poplin each measuring 4.5cm wide by 16cm long. Press under 1cm along one of the longer sides on each strip.

With right sides facing up, pin one of the pressed under edges of fabric to one side of the zipper. Top stitch fabric in place. Repeat on the other side of the zipper with the other fabric strip.

Stay-stitch a line of stitching along each of the long sides 1cm in from the raw edge.

Step 3 - Handle:

Cut strip of Glitter Poplin measuring 35cm long by 6cm wide.

Press under 1cm along both long edges. Press strip in half aligning the two long press edges.

Cut a 2cm wide by 35cm long strip of fleece. Open up pressed strip and fuse fleece to the wrong side of the strip, aligning on one side of the middle pressed line. Press strip edges back under and pin together.

Top stitch along both of the long edges of the strap to secure.

Step 4 - Gusset:

Ensure the zipper is done up and with right sides facing, pin one end of the handle over the end of the zipper aligning raw side edges. Pin the handle in place. Loop handle over and pin the other raw end to the middle of zipper end. Baste handle ends in place.

Cut a strip from Glitter poplin measuring 8.5cm wide by 30cm long. Measure and mark the middle of each of the long edges. Stay-stitch a line of stitching along each of the long sides 1cm in from the raw edge. Optional: overlock all raw edges.

With right sides facing, pin one of the shorter end of strip on top of the beginning top of the zipper with handle, aligning raw ends. Pin and sew through all layers with a 1.5cm seam allowance. Overlock or neaten seam. Press seam towards strip and top stitch seam to strip.

Loop strip around and repeat to attach the other side of strip to the other end of zipper with handle.

Unzip the zipper.

Step 5 - Attaching the gusset to shells:

Lay one of padded shell shapes right way facing down. On the wrong side of shell fabric, mark using the template, the horizontal line on the base of shell shapes, along with the two missing vertical lines in-between the already sewn lines. Draw a slightly curved line between and joining the top of these two vertical lines. Measure and mark the middle of the base horizontal of this line. These lines are where the gusset will attach to the shell shapes.

With the right side of base of the gusset facing down, place one of the side edges along the stay stitching line onto the wrong side of the shell matching the middle markings on the base of the shell and gusset. The raw edge of the gusset should be facing up into the shell shape with the other side of the gusset hanging down. Pin the gusset to the base line marking on the shell. Sew gusset to shell along the marked line. Clip seam allowance in gusset at each end of the base stitching being careful not to clip into stay stitching.

Pivot the gusset at the clip base corner and continue to pin then sew the rest of each of the side gusset up towards the top of the shell along the middle marked vertical lines.

Repeat to attach other side of gusset to other shell shape.

Clip seam allowance in gusset at each end of the stitching being careful not to clip into stay stitching.

Clip seam the seam allowance on both sides of the zipper section of the gusset to almost the stay stitching.

Pin the remaining top of the gusset to the marked curved lines on either side. Adjust curve if necessary to fit in gusset, but ensuring both sides are the same. This last bit of attachment of the gusset can be tight on some sewing machine without narrow arms. If you are not able to machine sew any of final attachment, you will have to hand stitch in place.

Optional: internal seams can be encased using binding or folded cotton tape to neaten or if possible, overlocked.