The final step is here! Well done if you've been keeping up with the sew along, and thank you so much for taking part. I have really enjoyed seeing your bags come together.
Don't worry if you are worried about losing your place in the instructions: I am planning to archive them all in one spot so that they are easy to find for future reference.
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| barrel bag |
Finishing Touches:
Seam Finishing:
The next thing you need to do after last week is finish the inside of your round seams: I have bound mine using the 4cm bias binding. It is a professional and also pretty finish to have on the inside of your bag. If you want to request a tutorial in how to bind seams please go ahead and use the contact form.
Or, you can overlock the raw edges together- it is quicker and also very strong.
Making the Strap:
Cut 2 x 10cm lengths of webbing, and also 2 x 7cm lengths. Then, have a look at your remaining webbing and decide how long you would like your shoulder strap to be.
Don't forget that the buckles themselves will contribute to the length, and you should also allow about 3cm for the loop of webbing used to attach them (see picture below)- the overall length of buckle plus webbing loop is about 7.5cm each end of the strap.
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| bag strap detail |
You also need to add 1cm seam allowance each end of your strap.
Once you are satisfied that you have identified the correct length of webbing, cut the strap to length.
Take a 10cm piece of webbing, fold in half long ways and topstitch. Thread this loop through your buckle, then sew the loop closed.
Place this loop onto a shorter 7cm piece of webbing and sew them together near the top. Make sure the buckle has its opening side facing down as pictured. The webbing loop should overhang by about 1cm: this is to stagger the bulk of the seam and also to ensure the rivets will go through it.
Then, place the strap onto the buckle to sandwich it into place, and sew, taking a 1cm seam allowance from the strap and the 7cm webbing.
Now, press this seam so that it lays flat, and press the raw edge of the 7cm webbing, turning 1cm over.
Topstitch around the sides and top of this shorter piece, attaching it to the main strap.
Repeat this process for the other end of the strap.
Now, making small pilot holes with an awl or a sharp pair of scissors, hammer the rivets into place, arranging them as you like, but preferably add strength by holding all of these layers of webbing together.
The last step:
One (optional) finishing touch is to sew your handles together longways for strength and ease of use: find the midpoint at the top of you handles, then measure and mark 10cm either side of this.
Fold your webbing in half along this 20cm, and sewing close to the edges topstitch both sides together.
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| love that 'Quink' linen |
And you're done!
Well done and thank you again for joining in the sew along. Don't forget to keep tagging me in your finished results on twitter and instagram!
With thanks once again to Merchant & Mills for kindly supplying the materials for this project.
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| barrel bag from Merchant & Mills materials |
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