How to construct the draw string bag

Some things you’ll need to make a bag

A nylon or thick canvas twill is ideal for a bag

STEP 1 J oining the two sections together

1. Select your fabric . This should be in contrasting/ complimenting colours depending on the effect you want.

The two pieces of fabric should be the same width

Thispiece

should be longer

2. One piece of fabric should be longer thanthe other this is to create either the top or bottom of the drawstring bag

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. checking that colours of the two fabric selected “work” together, same length and no flaws.

Teachers notes – Construction of drawstring bag

Background – Pupils are given a choice of two main bag styles to develop in their first Textiles unit in Year 7. We have in the past attempted to give them a greater choice of outline shapes but have ended up with various difficulties including the dreaded box of unfinished work. These construction presentation slides have been developed for a number of reasons. They can be run through quickly before the beginning of the “make” sessions, to give pupils an outline of what is entailed in the making of their selected bag.. Presentation slides can be selected and shown at the beginning of a lesson to illustrate a specific process/technique that is to be completed in that session. Or left to “loop”, as semi-self help guides. The available Flash version has engaging animations of the construction process e.g. machine stitching etc

Pin the two fabrics together – why do the pin heads face away from the edges?

STEP 3 J oining the two sections together

Pins

Tacking stitch

Needle

Using a running or tacking stitch. Tack down both pieces of fabric to hold them together. A running stitch is a simple in and out stitch

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. the following aspects are demonstrated or discussed - Safety issues of placing pin heads away from the raw edges of the seams and tacking as a means for temporary stitching.

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. concept on right side and wrong sides of fabric are introduced, the need to match fabric at edges accurately. The definition and function of seams is discussed .

Flip/place the base of the bag on the top section - right side facing – do you know why?

STEP 2 J oining the two sections together

Place the two fabric pieces on top of each other. The ‘right sides together’.

Make sure that the fabric lines up together to create a neat seam.

The top and the base of the bag need to be held together. To do this seams are used. A seam is two pieces of fabric stitched

together.

Place the side of the machine foot on the edge of the fabric and straight stitch.

STEP 4 Stitching the bag together

Pins remove these before sewing

Look at where the sewing machine foot is placed!!You are then straight stitching the pieces together.

Before machine sewing down the two pieces remove the pins.

The straight stitch will now make a seam. This will secure the fabric together and flat.

Tacking stitch

While the material is still folded (right sides together) zigzag the this edge to neaten the raw edges.-

STEP 5 Neatening raw edges

Zig zag top edge to neaten

Look at where the sewing machine foot is placed!!You are then zig zagging the edges of the fabric together.

Why do we neaten the raw edges?

Zigzag the top of the bag to neaten that edge.

1. Possible teaching/discussion point e.g concept of why fabric is neatened and what methods can they use. – a quick look at a garment they are wearing coluld be the clue what stitch is needed. A re-cap on how to set the zigzag stitch might be needed. Neatening of top raw edge.

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. In the department we have varying style of encouraging pupils to attain an even line of straight stitching. One is to line up the edge of the machine foot on the raw edge of the fabric as shown in the presentation slide, or to use the markers on the guide plate. The important goal is to attain a straight line of stitching!

Background – The addition of a pocket serves a number of purposes – it allows for differentiation, as it requires, good manipulation and stitching skills. We have also found that the pocket improves the appearance of the bag considerably. Various methods could be used but at the moment we add a mesh pocket held in place by two strips of reinforced tape or ribbon.

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. the pinning of the tape and the mesh is quite fiddly – help may need to be given here.

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. Issues related to safety rules when using an iron. Possible reference to the importance of ironing seams to improve the finished appearance of a product. Buttonholes are usually completed by a member of staff as we have found them a little too demanding at this stage for Year 7 – we are still looking for a reasonably priced eyelet system.

STEP 6

Once you have zig zagged the edges. Open up the fabric and iron. Be careful not to have the iron to hot on some fabrics (such as Nylon) as it will melt.

Ask the teacher to sew button holes into the fabric

Right side of the fabric

Ready to attach the drawstrings

Ask your teacher to help sew on button holes/ attach eyelets for the draw string to go through

Remember the iron is hot

You must work carefully

STEP 7

Select pocket –place in the middle on base

Pin the pocket both sides

Pin down these tapesMesh pocket. look at it’s position!!

Attaching the pocket

Cut strips of tape/ ribbon to use to attachment the

pocket

STEP 8

Take a needle and thread and begin to run a tacking stitch on both sides of the tape. This fastens down the tape ready to sew . Once you have sewn the tacking stitch remove your pins to machine

stitch.

Attaching the pocket

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. The need to stitch in a U shape and turn sharply at 90 degree angles. The re-cap has been inserted to helps reaffirm this concept.

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. tape requires to be tacked – reasonable sized stitches needed.

STEP 9

With the removed pins you can machine stitch using straight stitch in a U shape. (Look at the diagram.)

1. Bottom to top – STOP & TURN

2. Along the top – STOP to TURN

3. Down the side

Attaching the pocket

Look at where the machine foot is placed

Remove the tacking stitch.- Why do we tack the strips down?

A quick recap!

STEP 10

Turn under 4cms of the top edge. Just below above the eyelets/button holes. Fold over the top edge on the wrong side of the fabric.

Making a casing

Turn the bag over to the wrong side

Fold over 4cm

Wrong side

On the next page there is a Safety Alert –something is wrong and it is an unsafe way to work

– see if you can spot it!

STEP 11

Turn under 4cms of the top edge

Add pins – which way are the pins heads placed ?

Straight stitch on the edge of the edge of the fabric – where should the edge of the machine foot be placed ?

Making a casing

Your stitching should be under the eyelets

Remove pins.

pinsAre these pins the right way round?

The wrong side

Machine sewing foot

Did you stop the

unsafe practice.Yes, your right the pins are facing the wrong

way. Well done.

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. A number of possible aspects to consider, such as the Safety Issue with the pins, the placing of the edge of the machine foot to act as a guide to achieve a straight line. The stitched line should be below the buttonhole/eyelets.

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. Care is needed to assure that the buttonholes are stitched to allow for the drawstring to function. A safety alert is given for the error on the next page in how the pins have been placed in the fabric.

Logo’s Designing a logo for the bag

Because we will be using a hand scanner to create our logo. You will need to remember a number of things:

1. The maximum size of the logo must be:

50mm2. You can only use black ink – why?

3. You must think about how detailed your designs are – the scanner is not able to cope with very fine lines or writing.

Which one of these designs will scan in the best ?

50mm

Background – Probably like most CAD/CAM embroidery systems there are limitations that need to be considered. These are discussed at the outset with pupils to avoid disappointment later.

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. Aspects discussed such as maximum size, the need for all designs in black, and a reminder of “what the scanner see” is what it embroiders. Others aspects considered is the complexity of the designs and pupils are asked to select which design are/are not suitable for hand scanning.

Applying the logo design to the bagLogo’s1. Draw/print the design with plenty of space around it

Consider the position of the logo on the bag –Why?

•check the size of your design before you print it to avoid wasting resources.• print two sizes of the design on one page – one slightly bigger but apartin the middle of the page.

If you are using the computer to design you will need to think about the following aspects: • making sure your designs are not on the very edge of the page. The scanner will pick up the edge of the page and register it as a line and spoil your design.

Background – Ensuring pupils print appropriately for CAD/CAM embroidery task.

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. Outlined on this page is some do’s and don’t of printing out the final logos. They are related to logos at the edge of a page as a resulting line is picked up by the scanner and hence embroidered. Pupils are asked to include two duplicate logo designs on a sheet - one slightly smaller, as sometimes the printed design is too big to scan. If this happens, it avoids wasting time to reprint the logo design. The printed logos can be used in their booklet, one in the product specification, and the other in their final design page. A reference is also made on this presentation slide. to a design page that asks them to consider the most effective position of the logo in relation to their final bag.

STEP 13 Stitching the bag together

1. Fold the bag in half –right sides together & pin –remember the pinning rule

2. Straight stitch – place the side of foot on the edge of the fabric.

3. There is a raw edge to the fabric? What do you think the next step is ?

Straight stitch

Machine foot

pins

seam

Bag inside out

Fold this bag so that it is inside out

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. accuracy to match up side seam, direction of pins, and raw edges.

STEP 12

While the bag is still flat it is easier to apply a logo/decorative feature. The logo is represented by the circle in the picture and can be placed anywhere on the bag. A few ideas are represented here. The logo/ decorative feature can be in contrasting or complimentary colours. It must enhance your bag!!

Applying a logo

Logo can go here. Remember the idea of a logo is to be seen!!

Other ideas for logo placement

Click here for logo ideas

Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. This refers back to a previous presentation slide, asking pupils to consider the most effective position of the logo, in relation to their final bag. It can be interesting to compare what they think is effective on paper to what it would look like on the actual product. Pupils can also give consideration to the selecting of appropriate colours of an embroidery thread, for the logo, and how it relates to the overall design. We have found that it is helpful to remind pupils that “colours need links” i.e. a link with some other colour in the bag – net, base, drawstring or tape. Or a bold contrasting colour could be used – checking possibilities by placing threads against the actual bag.

STEP 14

1. Place back seam in the middle of the bag & ask your teacher to place the cord in position.

2. Pin & straight stitch the seam again neaten the raw

edge with zig-zag stitch.

Stitching the bag together

3. Remove the pins and turn the bag the right way round.

Machine foot

Cord to go into bag to attach the drawstring this goes here

Pin and straight stitch along this edge then neaten with zig zag stitch

STEP 15 Threading the cord

1. Take a length of cord and using a safety pin –carefully thread the cord through the buttonholes/eyelets and tie a knot that the base.

A long piece Cord pulled through the casing, through button holes and then tied at the bottom

knot

Give the bag a quick iron to improve presentation. Be careful ofheat don’t melt the bag

Your finished bag

2. Cut off all excess threads to improve presentation.

3. You have then completed your bag- Well done!

1. Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. Most pupils manage the threading of the drawstring and a quick press if there is time!!

1. Possible teaching/discussion point e.g. Centre seams needs to be in the middle of the bag, the loop is a little fiddly but pupils usually cope. Raw edge needs to be neatened.