The small clutch, handbag, make-up bag.......

It comes with all kinds of names, depending on what you do with it I suppose :)

Have a few leftover charms from a charm pack? Or some 5" squares that are in the scrap bin?

Here's a cute little bag to make with them.

You will need:

6 charm squares (or 5" squares)
two- 7 1/4"x 12 1/4" rectangles for lining.
four - 2.5" x 12.5" contrasting strips
 a 12" zipper
a 2.5"x 15" strip for a strap
two- 7 1/4" x 12 1/4" rectangles of batting or interfacing.

Fold your strap in half lengthwise, unfold it and fold each long side into the middle. Then fold in half again and sew a seam all the way down the length.

Iron on your interfacing to the lining rectangles, if using.

Take your charm squares (5"squares) and pair them up, right sides together.  Draw a line from one corner to the other.

 

Sew a 1/4" seam on both sides of the line, on all three squares. Cut apart on the drawn line, making 12 HST blocks.

Trim your HST's to 4.5".

Put three of them in a line, in a pleasing manner. Sew them together. Making two sets of three blocks.

 Add a contrasting 2.5"x12.5" strips along the top and bottom of each set.

Lay one lining piece right sides down, put batting on (if using), then your front piece, right side up. You can put a few pins in to keep everything together.

Put your zipper right side down on top of the front piece and sew on. Open and make a top seam. On top of the zipper, lay your next front piece, right side down. Put on your batting, if using, then the lining piece, right side up. Sew the sandwhich to the zipper. Open and top stitch.

UNZIP your zipper half way. Fold your strap in half, so it makes a loop. Stick the raw ends of it along the side, about an inch down from the top. (Obviously, I forgot to do this before I sewed my bag together!!)

Fold one side over, so both front sides are facing each other. Sew a seam down one side, across the bottom and up the other side. Taking some back stitches at start and stop. I like to use a 3/8" or 1/2" seam on my bags. Gives them a tiny bit extra stength.

Trim your corners.

 

If you don't like the raw edge on the inside of your bag. You can put a binding on them now. Or instead, you can make a french seam (which you would do instead of this sewing and trimming). Whip Up has a drawstring bag tutorial, showing how to make a french seam.

Turn right side out. Carefully poking out the corners.

Hope you enjoyed my quick, easy tutorial. This is a perfect little bag for a quick trip to the store, a night on the town, or to use as a make-up bag.

Have fun! And feel free to email/comment if you have any questions.

Thanks for stopping by!

Dorian