How to sew a chair bag tutorial.

Kaylene
Feb 8, 2016
3 min read

Sewing can be so much fun when you're brave enough to wing it. Thus discovering just how clever (or not...it happens!) you are and creating a unique item in the process.

I recently had a request for a chair bag, and the basic one just wasn't cutting it. With that in mind, I set about making a rough version and then finally a good one. So here it is for you to have a go at yourself :-)

I've added a picture gallery at the bottom of this post to help you out.

Materials ~ You will need approx 1m of exterior fabric, I used a directional fabric and this took up more then non-directional.

1/2 m of lining fabric - I used cotton drill.

3/4 m of lightweight fusible interfacing - I use SF101 because of the great finish but any lightweight interfacing will suffice.

Pins, matching thread, biz label if you use one, sharp scissors, and iron.

Seam allowance is stated throughout this pattern.

Step 1. First you need to cut your fabric, lining & interfacing. The measurements are as follows -

Main Body 40cm wide x 50cm tall - cut 2 main fabric, cut 2 interfacing.

Top Sleeve 40cm wide x 20cm tall - cut 2 main fabric, cut 2 interfacing.

Large Pocket 40cm wide x 35cm tall - cut 1 main fabric, cut 1 lining, cut 1 interfacing

Pencil Pocket 40cm wide x 15 cm tall - cut 1 main fabric, cut 1 lining, cut 1 interfacing.

Step 2. Fuse interfacing to all main fabric pieces.

Step 3. Making the pockets-

With right sides of your pencil pocket together pin and sew along 1 long edge only at 1/2" seam allowance. (if you are using directional fabric like I did, make sure to sew the top long edge so your fabric will be facing the right way).

Turn right side out and press well. Top stitch close to the edge. Repeat with the remaining larger pocket.

Step 4. Lay your pencil pocket over the large pocket and match the bottom and side edges. Your wrong side of the pencil pocket should be against the right side of the large pocket. Pin and sew at 1/4" seam allowance.

Step 5. Now you want to section your pencil pocket. Fold your entire piece in half, long edges matching, and mark the middle. Unfold and pin or draw with an erasable marker the line you just made. It only needs to go 1/8" past the top edge of the pencil pocket. Sew along that line, topstitching through all your layers. Repeat this process to make your pockets, add as many or as few as you like.

If your are adding a biz label, now is the time to do it.

Step 6. Lay your larger pocket, with pencil pocket attached, over one of your main body pieces, again with wrong side of large pocket to right side of the main body. Matching bottom and side seams. Pin and sew at 1/4" seam allowance.

Step 7. Top Sleeve Pocket

To sew your top sleeve pocket, repeat step 3, but sewing along your bottom long edge if using directional fabric. Turn, right side out, press, and topstitch. You now want to lay your top sleeve pocket over your other main body piece,the one that has nothing on. Line up with the top edge and side edges. Pin and sew at 1/4" seam allowance.

Step 8. With right sides together, pin your main body pieces. Make sure that the top sleeve and the pencil pocket are at opposite ends. Sew at 1/2" seam, leaving a gap for turning. Trim your seam allowance down to 1/4" and trim across your corners diagonally as close, but not through your stitching. This will give you nice neat corners.

Step 9. Turn your chair bag out the right way, making sure that your top sleeve is on the opposite side to your large/pencil pockets. Carefully push out your corners so they are nice and square. Press really well and close your opening in your prefered way, I simply topstitch mine closed.

That's it your all done!

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