Sewing a lovely bag: it's easy!

In this month of October, we join forces for Pink October. Some of you sew heart-shaped support cushions, others may sew lovely bags so that women who have undergone surgery and have drains can hide them while knowing that others are thinking of them and supporting them during these difficult times.

This year, I decided to collaborate with Lovely Solidarity and to donate part of the profits to the ASBL. It is also an opportunity to become a lovely seamstress and sew Lovely bags; so I offer you a very simple tutorial so that you too can sew and participate in this solidarity chain.

Necessary materials

To sew a lovely bag, you will need:

2 pieces of woven cotton fabric (a poplin for example) measuring 50 X 80cm
of matching thread
a hand sewing needle

to which we will add: the essentials scissors: paper, fabric, and embroidery, a box of pins, a sewing machine, and your best smile.

The pattern

To receive your pattern, go to the ASBL website to register as a lovely seamstress. Once your registration is complete, you will receive the pattern and instructions to sew your lovely bags.

The pattern is very simple and consists of a single piece with 1cm seam allowances included, so it is very accessible.

The tutorial

1. Print the pattern, assemble the 4 sheets edge to edge.

2. Cut the edges of the pattern with your paper scissors

3. After washing your two fabric pieces, fold them in half. Pin the pattern on each fabric piece and cut your pieces along the edges. You should have 4 fabric pieces: 2 in each of your fabrics.

4. Place one piece of each fabric right sides together. You should have one lining piece against one outer fabric piece. Pin the curves of the bag handles except the top of the handles.

5. Stitch 1 cm from the curves of the handles and repeat the operation with the other two fabric pieces.

6. Clip the curves using embroidery scissors to create a nice rounded shape.

7. Turn one of the two pieces you just assembled right side out. Leave the other one wrong side out.

8. Slide the piece you just turned right side out inside the piece you left wrong side out. Slide the handles into the handles, taking care not to twist them and placing the same fabrics on top of each other (lining fabric against lining fabric and outer fabric against outer fabric).

9. Pin the handles together to form a "tunnel". Stitch the seam while turning the circle you created as you sew.

10. Place the two bags flat to assemble the two outer fabrics, right sides together. Do the same for the lining fabric. Align the seams of the 2 outer fabrics and 2 linings. Stitch around leaving a 10 cm opening at the bottom of the lining part.

11. Turn the bag through the hole you left

12. Sew the small hole left by hand with an invisible stitch. This way the bag will be completely reversible, allowing the lady to choose the fabric she prefers or change it by turning her bag inside out.