Dance bags

I made these bags using some

 white lace music notes:

They are the perfect size for a pair of dance shoes and one dance outfit, and my girls adore them!!

Here's how I made them:

Cut 2 rectangles of fabric - outer and inner, 55cm x 35cm (21.5" x 14")

2 circles for the base - one of each fabric.  I used a circle with radius 8cm (3.25")

2 strips of fabric for the handles 70cm x 10cm (27.5" x 4")

White lace music notes - 55cm long (21.5")

For the 'handles' or drawstrings.  Fold the fabric in half lengthways and press, open out,then fold the sides into the centre and press again, then in half again to make neat strips with no raw edges showing.

Top stitch all the way around both strips:

Next, stitch the lace to the main outer bag part. I neatened the top edge with a double hem, then added some silver ric rac to cover the stitching.

Fold the inner fabric rectangle right sides together, and stitch down the side.

Then pin the base circle to the bottom of the bag right sides together and stitch:

Repeat this with the outer fabric - making sure to match up the lace when you stitch the sides together.

So now you have 2 bags - the inner and outer.

Before you put them together, you need to sew two buttonholes in the top of the outer bag - around 3cm (1.25") down from the edge. This will be where your handles/drawstring threads through.

Now turn the outer bag inside out, and push the inner bag inside it - so the right sides of both parts are facing each other.

Pin the bags together around the top - remembering to leave a small gap to turn them right sides out.  Then stitch.

Turn the bag right sides out, and push the inner bag into the outer bag.  Then top stitch around the top of the bag:

Run another line of stitching parallell to your topstitching but below your two buttonholes.  This is to make the casing for the handles / drawstring.

Then using a nappy pin / large safety pin, thread your handles through the casing in the top of your bag. One through either side - all the way around, and tie or stitch the ends.

I used velour for the outer fabric - and shiny fabric for the inner - this works best for the drawstring handles as it slides through well when you open and close the bag.

Perfect for little dancers!! or even big ones!

For the downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.


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