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Combine colourful fabric squares to make a stylish carry all With Nancy Zieman's Trace 'n Create bag templates you can stitch a variety of easy-to-make totes, all based on one simple shape. Whether you opt for a straight sided single pocket bag or a curvy, capacious carry-all you'll be delighted with the end result and it's sure to become a firm favourite. Here, designer Corinne Bradd has combined the simplicity of the Key West tote design with a riot of patchwork colour. Team this with a beautiful print for the lining and a strong plain colour for the piping and straps and you've got the ultimate accessory.
Assemble The Patchwork
Select the design of bag you wish to make from the Clover template collection and trace through the relevant motifs onto the reverse of your lining material, marking the position of any closures and straps. Pin the lining material to the inner layer fabric and cut the two materials out together to save time.
Make the outer layer fabric by cutting six 6.35cm squares from each different print in the fabric roll up, giving 180 squares in total. Lay them out in three rectangles of six squares by five squares. Stitch together the squares in each row to make strips using a 6mm seam allowance. Sew the strips together in the same way to make three panels. These should be the same size as the centre panel pieces of lining material.
Lay out two more panels of patchwork, seven squares by five squares, omitting the squares in the bottom corners of each. Sew together as before to make pieces that are the same size as two side panel pieces of lining placed together. Press all the panels on the wrong side to flatten the seams and set the stitches.
Strengthen the outer fabric by layering onto the inner material, pinning and stitching through both layers, following the seam lines between each square. If necessary trim the patchwork fabric to the same dimensions as the inner material to ensure the pieces fit when making up the bag. Cut each side panel piece in half down the centre (longest dimension) and cut one of the centre panel pieces in half across the centre (shorter dimension).
Make Pockets
Cut a 30.5cm length of fusible piping. Wrap a 5cm by 30.5cm length of plain fabric around the piping and iron to secure. Trim the raw edge to 6mm wide. Take one half of the centre panel and pin the piping to the right side of the material along the cut edge,
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