Armadillo Sewalong

I have really enjoyed reading the sew-alongs for folks' projects and patterns. It seems to me that I should give proper due to the Armadillo bag. It's one thing for someone to tell you how a bag goes together, and expect you to buy the pattern. It's another to actually SHOW you.

Subtle plug for MightyO Donuts and Dr Who. Not my bottle of wine, tho.

It does hold a ton, and takes about a yard of 44" wide fabric (a yard and a half if you want the pattern to run up and down, but you can make two). Made of thin, rip-stop or the like, it can do it's duty and roll up like a pro. Or just make up out of whatever you have on hand, and have another tote to go. I've balanced the handles and the bottom seams so it carries the weight in the bag evenly, and the straps are long enough to go over your shoulder (but not so long it drags when shorty me carries it by hand).

Nasty animal print silky will find its purpose

I trimmed away the seam allowance for cutting on the fold

Cutting out pattern, leave piece between straps as one piece

Clip to star in corner

Crosswise layout is cut all in one piece

Sew up side seams

Sew to the end of the side seam

Flip over

Coverstitch down seam you just sewed

Sew straps together (NOT front to back)

Fold over raw edges and stitch em down

Some times a clip helps to keep it folded over

Stay stitch at corners

Clip side seam to reduce bulk when you turn and sew it

More corner coverstitch action shots!

Use care at top of handle; fold over the seam and sew on over!

Reinforce at corners with stay tape or scraps (you could make em in contrast and cute)

Open bag out with side seam at center

Pin em out and sew em down!

Stitch and coverstitch side bottom seams

Or you could do a fancy french seam. 

Seam with wrong sides together

Trim seam down, turn inside out

Stitch close to first seam

More Dr Who Magazine in background.....

Trim off the thready excess

Hold up by handle

Fold it over, matching seams

Pin in place

You want to sew two inches from the seam in both directions: 4 inches total folded and sewn shut

To check how big the storage pocket needs to be, do a trial fold up. I'm using the portion from between the straps to make the pocket

Wrap fabric around to see how big it needs to be. When you're stuffing this back in the pocket, you will need more room than you think you will.

That's about right

Pocket in progress; folded and stitched edges before sides

Flap to front, pin to edge between straps

FOLDING! Lay it out  flat with side seams center and bottom folded in to itself

Fold straps down

Fold sides in (see the storage pocket is flipped out)

Roll it up towards pocket

Smoosh and roll to center

Shove

Pull over. Should have made this pocket bigger!

See! It goes in!