5/5

Wax Print Hobo Bag

Budget: $$, Crafts, D.I.Y. Project, Fashion, Sewing, Style
By Rubyellen Bratcher

DIY hobo bag (click through for instructions)Hello, everyone! It’s Rubyellen, and I have had such a busy spring that I haven’t been popping up here much, but I’m back and have some fun projects to share with you.

I was doing some random online window-shopping and came across this really cute bag from Anthropologie, and while I loved it, I knew I could make my own, so I set off to do just that. I love the look of the wax print fabric, so I searched page after page on Etsy looking for the right ones to use. I think searching for the fabric took longer than the actual making of the bag. 
 

DIY hobo bag (click through for instructions) This bag is really easy to make, so don’t get intimidated by sewing. I say if you can sew a straight line, you can pretty much sew anything! So let’s get started on making this bag. 

Supplies:
-wax print slouch bag pattern
-1 yard of wax print fabric for exterior
-1 yard of wax print fabric of interior 
-scissors
-pins 
-sewing machine 
-coordinating thread
-2 1/2″ x 6″ piece of leather
-1/4″ x 8″ strips of leather for the bag tie (I had a slightly larger leather piece that I used to cut out my rectangle piece and strips from)
-iron
-embroidery floss
-hand sewing needle
-four 1/2″ round wooden beads
 
Seam allowance: 1/4″ 
 
How to sew a purse step1Step One: Print the pattern. (Download Bag Pattern)

Since the pattern is larger than an 8 1/2″ x 11″ piece of paper, you may need to take it somewhere that can print oversized documents. Once that is done, using the pattern, cut out the pattern pieces for the bag on the fold of the fabric: 2 exterior fabrics, 2 interior fabrics.

 
How to sew a purse step2
Step Two: Sew together the two exterior fabric pieces with their right sides together along the sides and bottom curve of the fabric pieces, but leave the neckline (and short side of the handle) of the bag fabric open. Repeat for the interior fabric pieces.
 
How to sew a purse step3
Step Three: Sew together the exterior fabric’s handle ends with their right sides together. Repeat for the interior fabric pieces. Note: picture shown is taken after step four when one side of the neckline is sewn.
 
How to sew a purse step4
Step Four: With their wrong sides together, place the interior bag fabrics inside the exterior bag; fold the entire neckline on both sides of the bag in 1/4″, pin, and press. Insert one strip of leather 1/4″ in-between the folded fabrics, centered on the bottom of the neckline on both sides of the bag, and pin in place. Topstitch 1/8″ around the entire neckline on both sides of the bag, and your bag is almost done.
 
How to sew a purse step5
Step Five: Center the 2 1/2″ x 6″ rectangular leather piece on the top handle of the bag, fold so that the long edges are touching, then blanket stitch the two long sides together, enclosing the fabric bag handle inside the leather. Tip: I slightly cut and tapered the ends of the leather rectangular piece.
 
How to sew a purse step6
Step Six: Paint your round wooden beads and allow them to dry completely before attaching them to your leather strands. Add the wooden beads to the leather strips (two on each side), and keep beads in place by knotting the leather ends.
 
DIY hobo bag (click through for instructions) DIY hobo bag (click through for instructions)
And there you go. This will be my summer bag. It’s really lightweight, and it will be perfect for toting around on summer adventures with my girls. If you wanted to add more weight to it, I would add some interfacing or canvas cloth between the exterior and interior fabrics. What’s your go-to bag this coming summer? xo. Rubyellen
 
Credits // Author and Photography by: Rubyellen Bratcher. Photos edited with Spring from the Signature Collection. 
 
P.S. You should totally check out Ruby’s new book: Let’s Sew Together: Simple Projects the Whole Family Can Make. 

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