Pocket Book Tutorial

This is my first attempt of doing a tutorial.  My instructions might not be the best but this is how I made and assembled this pocketbook.  Remember I just made up these instructions.  You can alter it to however you find easier.

I purchased a 2 yard piece of fabric for this project but a yard would probably make it.  I had a lot left over, but I like to have extra fabric for other projects.

The main body:
Cut 4  12" X 15" pieces of your fabric.  This is for the lining and the outside
Cut 2  12"X 15" pieces of your batting

Machine quilt the fabric to the batting before you assemble the bag body

Sew front to back along sides and bottom to form a large pocket and square off the corner so it will be able to stand up without falling over. Trim off the corners and turn right side out.

so this picture is upside down but this is what the outside looks like

What the inside should look like

Make your inside pockets.  I cut mine 13" X 13" you will need 2

Press under 1/4" on  each end and fold in half right sides together.  Sew along the long end of the cloth.  Turn and press.  This makes a tube like piece.  Pin the pockets on the right side of your lining pieces.  You will have pockets on both sides of your lining.  Sew your pockets to your lining along the sides and bottom of your pocket.  Don't sew the top of your pocket or you won't have any pockets. :-) Sew a seam through the middle so make your pockets seperate. 

Sew the lining the same as the outside.  Right sides together.  No batting or quilting needed on the lining.

Put the lining inside the body wrong sides together. Stitch around the top to hold the lining to the body.

Make 2 handles.  I made mine 33" X 5".  Adjust the lenght for yourself.  Cut a pieces of batting 33" X 2.5" and place on one half of the handle.  Sew right sides together and leave one end opened for turing the handle. Press and quilt the handle.  I just did straight seams to hold it all together.  You don't need to worry about the end pieces they will be hidden under the top band.  You will need to sew the handles to the bag before you add the top band.

Cut 2 top bands 15"X 6" or 7" and 1 battings 32"  X 3" (or half the width)

Sew the center of the bands together.  Press under along one end for hem. Fold in half and put the batting inside.  Sew the ends together to make a tube so you won't have any opened seams.  Then you will need to quilt the band but do not quilt past half way in the middle or you will have a hard time attaching the band to the body.  Sew the band to the body right sides together. Then top stitch the band to hem or slip stitch by hand.  I top stitched this bag.

Sew down the handles to the band

Finished inside of pocketbook

Completed Pocketbook