PACMAN SWITCH BAG

INSTRUCTIONS

Reference the downloadable project sheet for project pattern diagrams.

Option A - Swing Bag

Step 1 - Cut two pieces of fabric for the outer and two pieces of fabric for the lining of the pouch each measuring 30cm wide by 16cm high.

Step 2 - Cut two pieces of wadding measuring 15cm high by 30cm wide. Fuse wadding to the wrong side of the outer fabrics aligning the base and side edges with the gap in the wadding at the top. This will reduce bulkiness at the zipper.

Step 3 - With the right side of one of the outer pieces face up, align the zipper length right side down along the top long edge. Place one of the lining pieces face down aligning all layers together at the top. Pin and then sew together using a zipper foot on your machine close to the teeth of the zipper.

Step 4 - Repeat step 2 for the other side of the zipper and with remaining fabric pieces

Step 5 - Pull fabric right way out away from zipper and press flat. If desired top stitch fabric 3 to 5mm in from zipper edge.

Step 6 - Up-zip the zipper halfway and with right sides facing pin the two outer fabric together aligning all remaining edges. Repeat with the lining fabrics and pin together. Pin the teeth of the zipper towards the lining side.

Step 7 - With a 1cm seam allowance sew around all of the pinned edges leaving a 5cm opening at the middle base of the lining side. Trim wadding in seam allowance back to stitching. Clip corners and pressed seams open at corners and base.

Step 8 - To create boxed-based corners, pinch out each corner to form a triangle with the seams running down through the centre of the triangle. Using a pencil and ruler, draw a line for the base of the triangle 2cm long 1cm on each side of the centre seam. Sew across the line and trim away wadding to seam stitching then excess fabric leaving a 1cm seam allowance.

Step 9. Turn out pouch through the opening in the lining. Press in the seam allowance along the opening and top stitch closed. Place lining back inside the outer pouch and push out each corner and press.

Option B - Switch Bag

Step 1 - Cut three pieces of fabric for the outer and three pieces of fabric for the lining of the pouch each measuring 30cm wide by 16cm high. Two of each are for the body of the bag and the other two are to create the closing flap of the bag. Cut two straight strips of fabric the full width of the fabric measuring 8cm wide. These strips will be used to create a strap and for the edging of the mesh cartridge pocket.

Step 2 - Cut three pieces of wadding measuring 15cm high by 30cm wide. Fuse wadding to the wrong side of the lining fabrics aligning the base and side edges with the gap in the wadding at the top. This will reduce bulkiness at the zipper. Fuse the wadding to the wrong side of the lining of the outer fabric for the closing flap. Ensure that the gap in the wadding is at the edge that will be attaching to the outside of the bag.

Step 3 - Taking one of the two long lengths of fabric you cut for the strap, cut a 8cm x 5cm tab. This will become your zipper tabs. Iron the tab in half long ways. Open the tab and bring each side to meet the middle, press the fold down to create your tabs. Cut this tab in half so that you have two tabs measuring 2.5cm wide for the ends of your zipper. Pin the tabs over the ends of the zipper. Straight seam sew them in place.

Step 4 - Take the remaining strip of fabric that you used to create your zipper tabs and begin to create the binding for the mesh pocket. Fold and iron the strip length ways so you create a 4cm band. Open the folding and fold each of the raw edges in, press with the iron. This creates a binding to support your mesh pocket. Sandwich the mesh pocket edge in the opening of the binding you have created and sew around the pocket mesh piece.

Step 5 - Line up the pocket to be centred on the right side of one of the bag body pieces. Top stitch around three of the four sides of the pocket. Keep the top edge open.

Step 6 - To create the closing flap for the bag, lay the lining and main fabric right sides facing. Ensure that the edge with a gap from the foam is at the top. Sew around the all edges leaving the edge with the foam gap open. Snip corners and turn out.

Tip: If you would like extra structure, top stitch around the edge leaving space for turning the raw edge in.

Step 7 - Line up the closing flap over the mesh pocket and mark where the closing magnets are going to sit. Follow the instructions on the packet to attach the magnets to the bag. It is important that this step is completed before joining the lining and the bag as the back of the magnets need to be concealed within in the bag.

Step 8. Using the strip of fabric cut for the strap of the bag, fold it in half length ways and iron flat. Open the fold and turn each of the raw edges to the middle fold and iron flat. Using a sewing machine straight stitch all the way down the length to create a strap. Trim strap to desired length.

Step 9 - With the right side of one of the outer pieces face up, align the zipper length right side down along the top long edge. Place one of the lining pieces face down aligning all layers together at the top. Pin and then sew together using a zipper foot on your machine close to the teeth of the zipper.

Step 10 - Repeat step 9 for the other side of the zipper and with remaining fabric pieces

Step 11 - Pull fabric right way out away from zipper and press flat. If desired top stitch fabric 3-5mm in from zipper edge.

Step 12 - Up-zip the zipper halfway and with right sides facing pin the two outer fabric together aligning all remaining edges. Repeat with the lining fabrics and pin together. Pin the teeth of the zipper towards the lining side. Insert your bag strap between the two layers of fabric ensuring that it is not twisted and that it is sitting between the two right sides of fabric.

Step 13 - With a 1cm seam allowance sew around all of the pinned edges leaving a 5cm opening at the middle base of the lining side. Trim wadding in seam allowance back to stitching. Clip corners and pressed seams open at corners and base.

Step 14 - To create boxed-based corners, pinch out each corner to form a triangle with the seams running down through the centre of the triangle. Using a pencil and ruler, draw a line for the base of the triangle 2cm long 1cm on each side of the centre seam. Sew across the line and trim away wadding to seam stitching then excess fabric leaving a 1cm seam allowance.

Step 15 - Turn out pouch through the opening in the lining. Press in the seam allowance along the opening and top stitch closed. Place lining back inside the outer pouch and push out each corner and press.

Step 16 - Take the closing flap you created in step 6. Line up the magnets and fold over the open edge to the back of the bag. Tuck the raw edges in and pin the edge closed to the back of the bag. Make sure you are only pinning the back of the bag and not all the way through.

Step 17 - Top stitch the closing flap onto the back of the bag.