Hang About Toiletry Bag Sew Along – DAY ONE

Welcome, welcome, welcome! I’m SEW excited to have you join me in this fun little sew along for one of my latest patterns, the Hang About Toiletry Bag. Throughout the sew along I will be stepping you through the construction of your Hang About Toiletry Bag, answering questions, providing a few tips and tricks, and even a pattern hack or two! If you are yet to purchase your copy of the Hang About Toiletry Bag pattern, you can do so here.

DAY ONE

Today is a cutting and fusing kind of day, with a little bit of sewing thrown in for good measure. 😀 We will work through steps 1 – 7 (steps 1-5 of the Andrie Designs-branded version), cutting out and fusing/basting all your pieces as per the pattern and instructions, creating your d-ring loops and swivel hook loop, your handles, and preparing your piping.

If you’re using foam, remember to trim the 1/4″ (0.6cm) seam allowance off one long edge of each piece to reduce bulk when attaching the zipper. I find I get a much nicer result if I use fabric glue or tape to stick the trimmed edge down first, prior to basting – this helps keep everything in place when attaching the zipper later on.

Do you sometimes feel like it’s a waste having to use your good thread to baste the foam to your pattern pieces…? I know I used to… These days I find it’s a great way to use up ‘old’ threads or colours you don’t use any more, without feeling guilty about having to use your ‘good’ threads! Whenever I get low on a colour that I know I’m not going to replace, or completely run out of one altogether but still have some left on the bobbin (or vice versa), I put that last spool or bobbin with that last bit of thread on it aside to use for basting. When basting foam in place, you never actually SEE the thread used so it doesn’t matter what colour you use and it saves throwing it out!

After fusing your fleece or basting your foam on, you may find the fleece or foam overhangs some of your pieces. I like to trim this excess off so the fabric piece that you’ve cut out is once again the actual edge of your overall piece. It may sound a bit fussy but I really do find it helps when you’re lining all the edges up later on.

As you know, the hardware required for this pattern is relatively simple – just two d-rings and a swivel hook is all you need! This time around I thought I would try something different as I was given these little beauties from the lovely Kylie at Betty Box Pleat. The swivel hook is attached as per normal but the ‘d-ring’ is a little different – it’s attached in the same fashion as a magnetic snap or the lock part of a turn lock. It looks super easy and I can’t wait to give it a try!

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of Day One! 😀 By now you should have all your pieces cut and prepped, your d-ring and swivel hook loops made, your handles made, and your piping ready to go. Beautiful!

If you have any questions whatsoever, please feel free to comment below or ask in my patterns group on Facebook. Join me next time for the next part in this exciting sew along – Part 1 of Creating Your Flap (with a pattern hack thrown in for good measure)!

Happy sewing!

Lisa x