Lace Curtain to Lace Bag Step-by-Step Tutorial
Lace bags seem to be having a moment. Everywhere I look, lace is on the list to have this season.
So, as promised, here is my step by step guide on how I made this bag.
A few things I've learned about lace in the process:
- It washes well!
- Even if you find an old curtain that is marked, I've thrown a few different ones in the washing machine now at 40 degrees and they have come up almost perfect.
- It is also a very fragile material and can rip easily - don't overstuff the bag or have loose keys near the lace - rips can occur very easily.
You will need:
- A vintage lace curtain / piece of lace
- This shopper pattern in the large size
- Bias binding tape (I used this one)
If you're a Sewing Pro: I used the shopper pattern and reduced the size down the middle, so the pattern would fit into the width of my lace curtain and cut 2 pieces (no lining needed). Then instead of joining the handles on opposite sides as it says in the manual - I joined them on the same sides. The seams were then french seamed and the edges finished with this bias binding tape.
If you're a Sewing Newbie or would like a visual guide, I've made a step by step guide for you below:
First off, I used this shopper pattern in the large size.
1. Tape the pages of your pattern together (here's my favourite way to do this).
2. Cut out your pattern.
3. Work out where on the lace bag you would like to place your pattern and which parts of the lace you would like to be showing on the bag - is there a particular part that would work nicely in the middle?
4. The pattern was too wide for my piece of lace so to get it to fit I folded the pattern in half lengthways and then folded it 2cm over again down the middle.
5. This meant the handles and gusset of the bag were still intact but the whole bag would still fit in the size of the fabric I had.
6. Draw round the pattern (I liked using these pens for it) and cut the fabric out.
7. Use the first side of the bag to line up the lace when cutting out the other side of the bag.
8. This bag is not lined so will need to be overlocked or French seamed to keep everything tidy. This tutorial will use French seams as I think they are the neatest and also most accessible if you don't have an overlocker. As lace is a more delicate fabric it's best to zig-zag the first line of stitching. Take a small piece of lace and do a test swatch to test which width and length is best for your lace.
9. Pin down the sides and along the bottom of the bag as in the sewing manual, then zig-zag stitch and press.
10. Pin the handles together at the top on the same sides. The Shopper manual calls for pinning the handles on opposite sides but for this bag we will do them on the same side. Just make sure the handles aren't twisted and the raw edges are facing out.
11. At this point, try the bag on over your shoulder and see if you would like the handle to be narrower. I folded the bag in half vertically and cut into the curve a few times until I was happy with how it looked. Keep taking small slithers off the bag and trying it on until you find a width you are happy with.
12. My perfect width for the top of the handles was 6cm.
13. Now turn the bag inside out so the raw edges of the seams are sitting inside the bag. Press flat and pin the sides, bottom and handles ready for the second row of stitching. Stitch into place using a 1cm seam allowance to enclose the zig-zag stitches.
14. Take the gusset at the bottom of the bag and pinch the corners together as in the sewing manual, then pin into place. You want to do this on the right side of the bag first. They will be folded inside and hidden on the second row of stitching.
15. Make sure the seams sit nicely against each other. You might want to fold one to the left and one to the right. Then stitch into place using the same zig-zag stitch as before.
16. Turn the bag inside out and push the gusset corners out, press and pin into place. Stitch using a straight stitch and a 1cm seam allowance.
17. Now for the fun bit. Get your bias binding tape ready - this is the one I used.
18. Open out the bias binding flat and start pinning one edge around the raw edge of one of the armholes. You want this to be on the wrong side of the bag for the cleanest finish. Leave around 10cm or more at each end of the bias binding to make it easy to neaten it off at the end. There is a guide to bias binding at the bottom of this post and, if you prefer a video, this is the best tutorial on bias binding I have found.
19. Finish off the bias binding - this video is my favourite way to do this.
20. Then work your way around the rest of the bag handles, bias binding all the raw edges. Press well at the end.
21. And that's it - your bag is finished.
I hope you enjoy.
This a such a fun project to make - I have already got my hands on a few more pieces of lace and think I might try a lace Staple Sling next.
With love,
Fleur xx
