1 Yard Magic Hobo Bag from Lecien Fabrics! (She Sews!)

Summer is flying by and I can't let another shopping trip go by without showing you this amazing Hobo Bag pattern from Lecien fabrics!

Earlier this year Yoko from Lecien Fabrics gave me permission to share some of their 1 Yard Magic Patterns here on my blog in exchange for showing step by step photos of how I sewed them. See all of the ones that I've made so far on this 1 Yard Magic Pinterest Board.

So over the weekend I stitched up this gorgeous bag using Lecien's red Flower Sugar Oxford fabric. Take note - Oxford cotton fabrics from Lecien are heavier than regular quilting cotton - they are comparable to home decor fabric.

Can you tell what we are making?

Using home decor weight fabric for this bag makes it fast and easy. There's no lining, but all of the seams are finished. And it's the perfect size (and holds just the right amount) for a shopping tote!

And I LOVE the fabric origami that I get to do when sewing it. It's so unique.

So let's sew a Hobo Bag from 1 yard of fabric!

Cutting:

From 1 yard of fabric that's at least 40'' wide, cut:

1 square 30'' x' 30''
2 strips 2 1/2'' x 24''

(Note: from the diagram, it seems like the straps are longer than one side of the square. But that was too long. When I attached my straps, 24'' seemed more appropriate.)

Sew the straps:

1. Fold each 2 1/2'' x 24'' strip in half lengthwise and stitch the long edge with a 1/4'' seam allowance.

2. Attach a safety pin or bodkin to one end and use it to turn the straps right side out.

3. Press both straps flat and set aside.

Hem the Fabric Square:

{You may hem your square any way you like, but here are my tips for perfect mitered corners.}

1. Fold and press each edge of the square over 1/2'' twice to make a 1/2'' hem.

See the two pressing lines on either side of my square in the photo above? They intersect to make a small square at the corner. I put dots at the corners.

2. Cut off the corner diagonally, slicing the square in half at two of the intersection points.

3. Fold the just-cut raw edge over at the point where the inside fold lines intersect. Press.

4. Re-fold the original hems that you pressed and press again. Perfect!

Repeat at all 4 corners.

5. Stitch the hem in place close to the fold.

Sew the Bag Side Seams:

Here comes the origami!

1. Fold the hemmed square in half, right sides together. Measure 8'' up from the fold on each side and put a pin at the 8'' mark. Pin the edges together below the 8'' mark too.

2. Stitch each side from the pin at the 8'' mark to the fold. Sew just inside the hemmed edges.

3. Pull the top edges apart and re-fold the bag so that you can pin and sew again for 8'' down to the fold on the other two sides of the bag.

4. Press the side seams flat.

Fold and Tack the Corners:

1. Lay the bag flat to make a square. Fold each corner up to meet the start of the side seam stitching. Pin, attaching the corner to the side seam only (not through all of the layers).

2. Tack the corner to the side seam. Make sure you are not sewing through all layers. Repeat on all 4 corners.

Tacking is sewing in one spot to attach something in place. Your sewing machine might have a programmed tack or bar-tack stitch. I'm using my straight stitch machine that doesn't have any programmed stitches, so I'm just sewing a few stitches back and forth 3-4 times.

Attach the Bag Straps:

1. Fold each end of the 24'' long straps over 1/2''.

2. Pin a strap to 2 adjacent corners, with the folded edges turned under and hidden.

3. Stitch in a square to attach the strap, and then sew an 'X' in the middle of the square, if desired.

Now go shopping with your beautiful Hobo Tote from only 1 yard of fabric!

This is the last of the three 1 Yard Magic that Lecien Fabrics shared with me. Stay tuned for more by following my 1 Yard Magic Pinterest Board. I hope they write more soon!

Happy sewing,