Kids can Sew' Handbag by Aurora Davison

The bag pictured was made by Jessie aged 7 1/2. The bag is simple to construct and teaches:

Sewing straight,
Zipper insertion,
Decorative stitching,
Topstitching, and
Seaming/overcasting.

Materials:

Requirements:

30cm wide length of fabric (cotton is good)
Reel of matching thread (Gutermann)
20cm zipper
1m of 25mm ribbon
Universal size 80 needles (Schmetz)
Seam guide
Multi-purpose foot
Zipper foot
Decorative foot
Overcasting foot
Empty bobbin.

Iron your chosen fabric. Fold the fabric in half along the width. Cut the fabric, (using a rotary mat, cutter and ruler will make this easier and more accurate).

2 pieces of 9 inch x 7” (“ - means inches)
2 pieces of 7” x 3”
2 pieces of 7” x 7”

	Step 1: Place the other 7 x 9 piece on top so that fabrics are right side together, with the zipper sandwiched between them. Pin in place with pins going with the sewing direction. Attach the zipper foot on the left side as shown. Select the straight stitch, length 2.5. Align the needle to the left, just inside of the foot.
	Step 2: Use the magnetic seam guide along the edge of the fabric as a help to sew straight. Stitch down the side of the zipper. Repeat the above steps for the 7 x 3 pieces on the other side of the zipper.
	Step 3: Backstitch all the seams: Start with 3-4 stitches forward, then same in reverse, then sew down the seam to the end. Reverse stitch 3-4 stitches, then same forward. This prevents the stitching from undoing. Most computerized machines have a tie off stitch to do this automatically. Press all seams. The 7x7 pieces to one side and the 7x3 pieces to the other.
	Step 4: Sandwich the front between the two 9 x 7 pieces, right sides together, and pin across the seam. Attach the multi-purpose foot with the guide along the right edge of the foot. Select straight stitch, needle centre position.
	Step 5: Stitch down the seam, keeping the fabric edge along the right hand side edge of the foot. Press the 9 x 7 pieces away from the front.
	Step 6: Topstitch: Align the left edge of the foot along the side of the zipper. Stitch down the length of the zipper on each side. You may also do this along the top back seam joining the front to the back.
	Step 7: Fold the back behind the front and press firmly. Use a rotary cutter, mat and ruler to square the bag and trim off any excess including the zipper ends.
	Step 8: Pin the ribbon to the front and back. Align the ribbon to the right hand side, as shown; 1/2” from the side edge. For the front pin up to the zipper only, and up to the seam line on the back.
	Step 9: Attach the decorative foot. This foot has a groove underneath to allow the decorative stitch to form properly and pass easily without jamming. Select a decorative stitch. Lower the top tension to about 3. Normal tensions about 4-5. The lowering of the top tension enables the bobbin thread to pull down the top thread underneath, resulting in a professional finish on the top. Stitch down the sides of the ribbon.
	Step 10: Very carefully open the zipper half way. Line up the sides of the bag wrong sides together and pin. Pull the ribbon out past the zipper; this will prevent it being accidently sewn in. Top tension back to normal. Attach the overcastting foot. Select an overcasting stitch, such as below. Stitch around the sides and bottom of the bag. Turn the bag to the right side and press.