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A. To begin, gather your
materials, including a 15" x
18" lining fabric (not pictured).
Make a photocopy of your
bag hardware and use it to
cut a matching shape out of
stiffener. This will help the
hardware fit more snuggly in
final assembly.
B. Start by taking your two
tapestry blocks and placing
them right sides together,
lining up the outer edge of the
stitching. Stitch just along the
outer tacking stitch where the
embroidery meets the block
seam allowance.
C. Once the two blocks have
been sewn together in a
satisfactory manner, press the
seam open on the back of the
joined blocks using a steam
iron. This seam will be the
bottom center of your bag.
D. Take your lining fabric and
place it right side up on a
work surface. Line up the
bag's outer shell (tapestry
blocks) and the 2 side piece as
shown, and use a rotary cutter
and ruler to trim the lining
fabric to match each piece's
dimensions.
E. Make an ⅛" snip into the
center point of each long
side of the main lining (black
dotted line). Measure and snip
2" above and below the center
on each side. Snip into the
center bottom edge of each
side lining piece. Do the same
for the outer shell's side pieces.
F. Make ⅛" snips 2" above and
below the center seam on
your joined tapestry blocks, as
shown in white.
G. Align the center snip in the
bottom edge of one side panel
with the center bottom of your
bag's main (tapestry) shell. Be
sure that right sides are facing
together, and pin in place.
H. Place the pinned pieces tapestry
side up on your machine and
stitch a ¼" seam between the
snips (made in step F). Be sure
to back stitch at the start and
stop of your seam.
I. Note that when you turn
the joined pieces over, your
seam should start and stop
¼" from each edge of the
side panel (see white line).
Repeat steps G and H for the
remaining side panel.