Thursday, February 2, 2012

It's a Cinch Bag : a tutorial





If you've been following since way back in June (pretty much the beginning of my blogging days), you may remember this post. If you read it then you see that this bag was completely inspired by Dana's bag over at MADE. I fell in love with it, and did my best to come up with my own version.

Somehow this bag became my most requested tutorial. I always told anyone who asked, that I didn't feel comfortable writing up a tutorial for a bag that wasn't my own inspiration. But I'm one of those people that has a hard time saying no. And so I finally had the idea to send Dana an email asking her permission to create a tutorial for my look-a-like bag. Dana, being the awesome lady that she is, said to go for it! And so, long story short this tutorial has been months in the making, and is finally here! 

I really do love this bag. It's one of those that you can just throw anything in. Beach bag, diaper bag, school bag, overnight bag...all of those and more. Mine is perfect for toteing around campus, stuffed with books and binders. 

*Notes*

This tutorial is broken into two parts. This one will you show you how to construct the outer bag portion. I'll link to the coordinating tutorial (that shows you how to add a zippered lining) at the bottom. The materials called for our assuming that you are using both tutorials to construct your bag.

Assume 1/4" seam allowances. 

Fabric- I would recommend using an upholstery weight fabric for at least the straps of this bag. The black fabric that I've used is upholstery cotton. The gray, outer portion of this bag is linen found at Joann. 

Materials:

2/3 yard of the main, outer fabric (gray linen in my case)
1 2/3 yard of the contrasting fabric (black upholstery fabric)
Smaller Zipper(s) for interior pockets (optional)
One 24" Zipper


Tutorial:

Cut fabric as shown below:


Casing/Outer Bag Construction:

The smallest rectangle of your contrasting fabric will be used as the casing. Press about 1/2" down along all sides of both casings. 



Sew in place the short ends of the casing. 


Position the casing onto one of your outer bag pieces as shown below (Right side of outer bag to wrong side of casing) and pin in place. 


Sew only the bottom, long side of the casing to the outer bag. 


You don't want to sew either of the short ends or the top of the casing just yet. Leave it pinned in place as shown:


Repeat with other casing and other outer bag piece.

Now take both outer bag pieces and pin with right sides together. Sew as shown below:


Notice how the casing is not caught up in the seam. That's how you want it at all four ends so that, later, the drawstring can be pulled through. 


Hem the opening of the bag.


Straps:

You should have cut four 31" x 2.5" rectangles to use as your straps. Pair the straps and lay them right sides together. Pin in place. 



Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance as shown. The gap is left so that the strap can later be turned right side out. 


Snip out the extra fabric at all four corners.


Use a (not too sharp) instrument to turn the strap right side out. I like to use the eraser of a pencil. 


It's going to look a little wonky at first..


but give it a good press with the iron and it'll come together



Topstitch all the way around the straps. This will make them look more professional and close that gap up as well. 


This is why we didn't sew the top of the casing earlier. We want the straps to go underneath our casing.  The straps should dip down about a 1/2" below the top of the casing. 



Position and pin straps as shown below:


Sew as shown:





Drawstring:

The lonngg skinny rectangles are going to be the drawstrings for the bag. Take them and fold them in half hot dog style. Pin in place.


Sew as shown below leaving a 4" gap somewhere along one of the long sides so that it can be turned right side out. The angled seam at the short ends gives you a nice little point, if you're into that. 


Turn right side out, press, and top-stitch both drawstrings, just as you did with the straps. 

Now pull the strings through the casing. You can use a large safety pin to help feed it through if needed. 


And just cinch it up! 








You're halfway there. Actually, more than halfway there! Follow this tutorial to add a zippered lining to your bag. You don't have to but, it's going to add so much more stability and practicality to it. Well worth the effort. 







I hope you enjoy! Give me a shout if you have any questions (:

Oh and if this looks a little intense for you but you still love the bag, keep an eye out for the bag I made in this tutorial to be listed in my shop. I just need to add the lining!

....


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76 comments

  1. Gorgeous! You do such a great job creating tutorials, and I can't wait to make this!

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  2. Thank you so much... sweety Verbena!

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  3. Love this and what an easy tutorial to follow! Too cute!

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  4. It is a great tutorial. So cute!

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  5. SO excited you put up this tutorial! I was trying to make it like Dana's, but couldn't find the a couch cushion like the one she used. This looks super easy, and the result is gorgeous!

    Jenn

    passengerseatperspectives.blogspot.com

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  6. LOVE it! :) Thank you so much for making pretty much THE easiest tutorials to follow! :) <3

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  7. Thanks for posting! I just noticed a ring...did you get engaged?! Or have you always had it and I just noticed... :)

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  8. bag is great! thanks for tutorial!

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  9. Hahah I'm not engaged. I think that picture got flipped at some point making the ring look like it's on my left hand. It's just a little james avery ring!

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  10. I'm so happy you did an easy-to-follow-tutorial for this! I can't wait to make one for school! Thanks so much!!

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  11. Thanks for the tutorial! I know I'll be making one in the near future! :)

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  12. so excited! Can't wait to make my own! Thank you!

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  13. this is fabulous! now if i can just be brave enough to pull out my sewing machine and give it a try! thanks for the tutorial!

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  14. Love it! Thank you! If I don't get this made, at least it will hang out on my Pinterest page...thanks again for all of your effort and making this free!

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  15. Thank you for this. I've been wanting to make a cinch bag for awhile and have been rolling the how to around my head but it wasn't quite clicking. This is waaaay easier than what I was thinking! =o)

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  16. I love this tutorial- thank you so much for the detailed instructions and the pictures!

    I'm your newest follower! Stop by and say hello some time!

    -Kendall
    {songbirdsandbuttons.blogspot.com}

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  17. Wauw, wauw and wauw!!!
    I love this, thank you so mch!

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  18. I love this bag! So cute! You have a new follower in me :)

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  19. wow!thanks so much for the tutorial!i will definitely make a bag like this one! :-)
    www.vallys-creations.gr

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  20. I have totally felt in love with your giant bag! Aww, it so cool and great tutorial. I must make one for myself!

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  21. Oh wow, this is absolutely stunning! Thanx for sharing the great tutorial, I totally want to make one now!

    Natalie
    www.projectdowhatyoulove.wordpress.com

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  22. Thanks so much for posting this. It will be perfect for some material I already have. Now I just need to find time to make it (I suppose I should finish some of my other projects first)

    Paige Sweetin
    http://adastra-withherownwings.blogspot.com

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  23. Just made one this weekend. Turned out so cute! Thanks for the easy to follow tutorial! I'm making another one today for my bff

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  24. I love it! I put it on my project list :-)

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  25. I love it!!!! Thanks :)

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  26. So cute!!

    Catherine
    FEST (a new blog about food, style & travel)

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  27. That's a lovely bag!!! The tutorial is really great!!!

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  28. This is awesome! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  29. And my to-do list just grew by one more project! Thanks :)

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  30. I just finished creating my own cinch bag this week and it turned out great {thanks to your tutorial, not my sewing abilities}. You do so many cute things, I don't know how you find the time!

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  31. What a fabulous tutorial!! I just made one and I love it, I added the lining and it was my first time adding a zipper and it worked!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!!

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  32. Loved this tutorial! Thanks for posting!

    Here's a link to my post with my finished bag:
    http://beautifulwhatshedoes.blogspot.com/2012/02/project-cinch-bag-complementing-zipper.html

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  33. Wow, I really want to have a go at this, both my mum and I want one! It's gorgeous!
    Beth
    xox

    http://dreamsinapoppyfield.blogspot.com/

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  34. Thanks for posting this!! I just posted a link to this post from my blog. My bag turned out awesome! Thanks again!

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  35. Can I just buy one from you?? Lol Locke this bag. It's wg
    Hat I've been looking for but asking me to sew is like asking me to rebuild a car engine! Great bag though!!!

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  36. Wow, I love it! It may be just a bit beyond my current level of sewing skills, but I think I'm going to give it a try.

    -Alison

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  37. Love this bag, so glad to see there is a tutorial now. Found you on pinterest.
    We would love to have you link up at our Sunday Round Up. 3 blogs = 1 party
    http://www.heatherlyloves.com/2012/03/sunday-round-up-1_8663.html
    xxx,
    Heather
    Kayla
    Rose

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  38. Oh, I LOVE this bag. It's actually exactly what I have been searching for, without knowing exactly, what I was searching for... ;)
    Thank you very much for sharing this great tutorial!
    I can't wait to sew this great bag! (Unfortunaltely I will have to wait, because I still have so much to do before)

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  39. This bag is so cute! I know I can't make it but am def. interested in buying one!

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  41. Love this tutorial! I have been searching for a diaper bag for my latest baby (#5 and the 3rd in less than 4 years) I need something roomy to carry all the stuff my 3 little ones need when we leave the house and this is perfect! I will be making matching diaper/wipe carriers and a changing pad or two! Fantastic!

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  42. I made something like this the other day after seeing this! My computer is broken so I made up my own measurements. And it turned out great. Thanks for such a wonderful tutorial

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  43. I made something like this the other day after seeing this! My computer is broken so I made up my own measurements. And it turned out great. Thanks for such a wonderful tutorial

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  44. I made this bag- giving it to my mom for Mother's Day! She's gonna love it! Thanks for the awesome tutorial ;-)

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  45. I just finished creating my own customised bags this month and will must buy this pag. You have really very pretty bag.

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  46. Love the look of this bag. I made my own bag for my cousin that was inspired by your bag, hope that's okay. I also posted about it in my blog, if you would like me to take it down please let me know and I will do so!!

    http://tressaswickedlyingeniousmasterpiece.blogspot.com/

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  47. Hi! I love this!!! May I feature it (and maybe some of your other tutorials) on www.sewcanshe.com? Please drop me a line to let me know: caroline@sewcanshe.com.

    Thanks!

    Caroline

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  48. Wonderful tutorial! Very well written and descriptive. Thank you for taking the time to help the world, I appreciate it. This will also be easy to customize which is always a plus :)

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  49. Awesome tutorial. Love the good pictures and how you explained it! Good work!!

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  50. LOVE IT! So darn tootin' cute! Thank you!!

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  51. Love this bag!! I went to Dana's blog too and I love that bag too. I guess my next project needs to be making one for myself!! :)
    Nissa

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  52. Love the bag!! I went over to Dana's blog and I love her bag too. I guess my next project is to make myself a bag :)
    Nissa

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  53. Love this tutorial! Your very talented. =)

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  54. What a sweet and simple bag! Great for toting around my stuff or wrapping a nice gift up in another gift!

    Visit us at www.thesitsgirls.com!

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  55. This bag is my inspiration bag for a personal project of mine! I love the fabric your chose :) Your bag is going to be featured in a post of mine going up later today so please come back and visit to see. Thank you for sharing!

    http://chevronstitches.blogspot.com

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  56. The only thing I did different was to make a "cinch" I wrapped one of the ties all the way through both sides of the casing and then the did the same with the second tie going in the opposite direction so that it would actually "cinch" when pulled . (I'm not sure that is what you meant to do in the tutorial) Great bag!

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  57. Love this tutorial! I finished my purse today and love it. The changes I made were to use a magnetic snap instead of a zipper, since for some reason the extra 3 seconds it takes to zip up a bag is too much work for me. I also added a perpendicular stitch on the bottom to make a rectangular bottom. Neither adjustment changes that fact that the original pattern is fabulously cute. Thanks so much!

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  58. this is so amazing. thank you for sharing!

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  59. This is a totally cute bag. Thanks for sharing your tutorial. My daughter must want to make one because she pinned it for me. :)

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  60. I couldn't wait to make one of these bags and now that it's done, I want to make more.
    Here's what my version looks like:
    http://sunshinesews.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-cinch-bag.html
    Thank you for the great tutorial.

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  61. Awesome tutorial. Sharing on Pinterest and Twitter.

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  62. Loved this tutorial! I linked to it in my wedding blog post for DIY Bridesmaid's Gifts http://mavenbride.com/diy-bridesmaid-gift-ideas/
    Thank you - Have a great day!

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  63. I <3 this bag!! It's so cute and easy to make! I shared it on my facebook. https://www.facebook.com/estheticgoddess?ref=hl

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  64. Just made this adorable bag for a Christmas present this year. She's gonna LOVE it!!!

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  65. Hi, I thought you might like to know I used your tutorial to make a bag for a swap on Flickr and have received lots of compliments.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/liverpool_feminist/13014983233/

    Thank you!

    Georgia (Liverpool Feminist)

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  66. oh goodness, i need a few of these in my life! i checked your shop and don't see anything! do you sell these?

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  67. This is absolutely gorgeous. The tutorial is quite easy to follow.
    Im surely gonna make one or several in contrasting colours.
    Thanks a lot for sharing.

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  68. So lovely! Here is my cinch bag and the link to your blog. Thank you!

    http://www.fetamiques.com/2015/07/bossa-llacada.html

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  69. Thank you for the great tuto!!!

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  70. This is great! It's super simple and gives me an idea for a diaper bag. Instead of (or in addition to) the "cinch" I'd do a cinch on the top using the tutorial for the zippered lining and insert elasticized pockets to help keep it organized. I love the colors you used for this tutorial, they look so universal and clean.

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  72. I'm grateful that you provided this. I've had the want to create a cinch bag for some time now, but I wasn't exactly sure how to go about it. It's far simpler than I had anticipated. Best web deals at Ford Powerstroke injectors

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  74. To make it genuinely "cinch" when pulled, I wrapped one tie around the casing completely on both sides and then repeated the process with the second tie going in the other direction. Internet specials at Black Cloud Dodge South Bend Clutches

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I love reading your comments! If you have a question please feel free to email me at sweet.verbena01@yahoo (:

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