How to attach magnetic snaps and making the easiest tote pocket ever

I hope you stopped by yesterday to see the beginning of The Library Tote bag, Bosal In-R-Form Adds Great Structure to Bags. Materials needed and cutting instructions along with a great method of making handles for this bag are included in yesterday’s post.

Today, I’ll demonstrate how easy it is to make a hanging pocket, inserting a magnetic snap and finishing this easy, handy bag for busy lifestyles.

Press the fusible woven interfacing, fusible side down to one end of the pocket piece (green as shown).

Fold the pocket right sides together as shown below and press.

Sew the long sides with a ¼” seam allowance, leave the top open.

Turn the pocket right side out and press well.

Once the pocket is pressed flat, measure down 2½” from the raw edge at the top and draw a line with a UNIQUE sewing wash-out blue marker. I use these markers all the time. They are also great for marking patterns for free motion quilting.

Fold the folded edge of the pocket up to the line that was just marked and clip with UNIQUE quilting clever clips, top stitch to close the pocket about ⅛” from the edge as shown.

The pocket is done in 10 minutes start to finish – sew easy!

Place the Bosal In-R-Form one-sided fusible stabilizer shiny side down to the wrong side of the lining, center it and press using a cotton/linen setting.

Find the center top, the right side of the lining and mark with a UNIQUE sewing wash-out marker. Find the center top of the raw edge of the pocket and mark with a UNIQUE sewing wash-out marker. Matching these marks, pin or clip the pocket to the lining and baste ⅛” along the top. The pocket is now attached to the lining.

To add the snap to the pocket and lining, find the center of the pocket and the bag. Measure down 1¾” from the top edge and place a dot at the center top just above the pocket as shown.

Using the washer provided in the UNIQUE sewing magnetic snaps package, lay it on top of the marked dot and draw in the slits of the washer with a UNIQUE sewing wash-out blue marker.

Using a seam ripper, rip into the slits through the pocket layers, the lining and the Bosal In-R-Form (it’s acting as both a stabilizer and interfacing at this step of the process).

Place the prongs of the female part of the magnetic snap through the slits that have been cut in the pocket, lining and stabilizer. Place the washer on top of the slits on the stabilizer side and then bend the prongs towards the center (I use a screwdriver to bend the prongs).

Repeat this snap insertion procedure for the outside of the bag (blue fabric), using the same measurement from the top center (1¾” from the top).

Place a small piece of fusible batting on the wrong side of the outer fabric where the snap will be inserted. Fuse it in place. This will act as a support/stabilizer for the snap.

Mark with the washer from the right side of the outer fabric, cut with the seam ripper and insert the male part and prongs from the right side through to the back through the outer fabric and the fusible batting. Bend the prongs towards the center.

Measure 4″ from each side of the top of the bag (outer blue fabric) and mark, center the raw edge of each handle on this blue mark and pin. Sew with a ⅛” seam allowance about 3 lines of stitching back and forth to ensure they are secure.

Fold the lining fabric in half with top edges and sides matching. Fold the outer fabric up with top edges and sides matching, making sure handles are not in the seam allowance. Pin them individually as shown, leaving a 6″ gap in the lining for turning.

Sew the side seams of the lining and outer fabric with a ¼” seam allowance.

Press the seams open and snip the seam at the bottom of the lining and the outer fabric piece to get ready for boxing the bag corners as shown.

Once the seams are pressed and snipped for the lining and the outer fabric, measure in from the corner point as shown 1½” and draw a line with a UNIQUE sewing wash-out marker.

Sew the line that has just been marked and cut away the excess fabric to the point. Zigzag the cut edges (optional).

The bag is now ready to sew the outer fabric to the lining, first turn the outer fabric to the right side and leave the lining turned wrong side out (Bosal In-R-Form facing out)

Insert the outer part of the bag into the lining, matching side seams and pin the top edge very well. Make sure the handles are out of the way of the seam and tucked down into the bag. Note: The Bosal In-R-Form is not in the way of the seam allowance purposefully to reduce bulk.

With the free arm of a sewing machine, sew ¼” all the way around the top using securing stitches at the start and end of the sewing. Remove the pins as it’s sewn.

Now it’s time to turn the bag to the right side through the opening in the lining.

Once the bag is completely turned to the right side as shown, slip stitch the opening in the lining closed.

Tuck the lining down into the outer bag and press the top edge, rolling the seam towards the lining (finger pressing helps). Press the top edge very carefully and top stitch ⅜” from the edge all the way around, making sure the handles are out of the way of the stitching.

I hope you have enjoyed this bag making tutorial and that you can apply some of my easy techniques to future bag making.

There is more…. check back tomorrow when I discuss how to use double-sided fusible Bosal In-R-Form along with other bag making hardware and I’ll share my pattern for The Date Night Clutch.

See you then!