"Lucille" picnic bag (updated with pattern and how-to)

I went over to Joann's fabric store yesterday and really scored with some embroidered linen fabric.  It was 1/2 off the "red tag" price!!  While I was there I met "Julie" while standing in the line to get our fabric cut.  She was telling me that she doesn't know how to sew, but has been so inspired by the Amanda Soule blog that she bought a sewing machine and now she is starting to "collect" (the quote is wholly mine) fabrics.  A telltale sign of a sewing genius if I do say so myself!   So, last night I came home with my newfound fabrics and made up a pattern for this bag, basket, bag-sket, whatever you want to call it.  I think I am going to call it the "Lucille" picnic bag.  I drafted a pattern based a bag I saw in this magazine:

                                          

And I love it.  I made this bag for a husband and wife who are flying in to Colorado this weekend to do some teaching/training at our church.  My husband and I are picking them up at the airport and delivering them to their hotel so I thought this would be a great substitute for a fruit/gift basket (since they probably wouldn't want to lug a basket around the airport on the way home).  I plan on chocking it full of bottle waters, energy drinks, mints and gum, fruit, foodbars, and of course, CHOCOLATE!!  I acutually used the wrong side of the fabric for the outside of the bag due to the flashy nature of the sequins on the right side (still pretty, just not the look I was going for).

                               

Hope your weekend is filled with fun!!

~Penny

UPDATE:

I have had several people ask for the pattern and how-to for this bag, so here goes!

Basically, this bag is made of only 2 pattern pieces plus whatever you choose to use for the handles (I used some cotton webbing).  Once I sewed the pieces together, I put binding around it and sewed the handles on when I attached the binding to the outside of the bag.  Before I attached the handles, I sewed a piece of the inside material to the handles.  Here are the pattern pieces you will need.  Piece A is a rectangle 26X7.5 inches and for piece B, if you print the picture out and then enlarge it 200 percent, you will have the right size.  (Piece B is cut along the curves, not along the inside lines which indicate the measurement from point to point only:))

1. cut two of piece "A", one of outside fabric and one of the inside fabric.
2. cut eight of piece "B", four of outside fabric and four of inside fabric.

To assemble outside of bag:

1. Using .5 inch seam allowances, sew two of piece "B" RIGHT sides together along edge that measures 9.5 inches from point to point and press seam open.  Repeat with other two "B" pieces of outside fabric.
2. Pin longest edge of the joined "B" pieces to longest edge of piece "A" RIGHT sides together and sew together.  ***If piece A is longer than the longest edge of piece B after you've pinned them together, just trim off the extra length of piece A.  If you do have to trim piece A however, make sure you start pinning the other piece B so both sides lines up properly. 
3. Press seam open.  Repeat with other joined "B" pieces.

Repeat these two steps for the inside of the bag then pin WRONG sides of outside and inside of bag together and baste, bind, and add the handles of your choice!  ( I cut my handles to 16 inches, so the handles end up to be 14 inches long by the time they are sewn in.)

You are done!

Comments

[sarah]

whooo Penny, i LOVE LOVE LOVE this bag !!
Sarah x

[LeeAnn]

I have to say I love your blog. I just subscribed to it! Oh, how I love google reader. I am on my way to JoAnn's again today to pick up a few more fabrics because I have been inspired by a Japanese sewing magazine myself. This bag is awesome and what a great idea instead of the "fruit basket". I may have to steal your chocolate bag idea next time we are hosting visitors.

[Penny @ Lavender Hill Studio]

Penny, that is a wonderful idea! And that basket/bag is great!
Penny

[Julie Davis Reed]

Hi penny!

it's me.....the joann fabrics rookie!!! i am just too darned excited for words that i showed up in a blog as magnificent as this one! thanks so much for the encouragement you offered the other day....and of course, for keeping a straight face when i asked you..."ummmm, what did you mean by 'what are you going to BIND it together with'?

i love love super love the bag- soooooo (or should i say SEW) glad you turned it inside out. POY-FECT.

i'll keep you posted with the coasters project. boy do i feel like an amateur when i browsed through your postings. it will probably take me DAYS and DAYS to make 16 coasters, meanwhile back at the ranch you're on your third handbag, 21st bookmark, and you haven't even broken a sweat yet!!!

take care and i hope your weekend with your guests is going well. the bag is truly beautiful. i'm sure your visitors will consider your generosity and the product-thereof a genuine blessing.

julie

[nichola]

What a wonderful roomy bag! I love the fabrics you used too.

[Lisa]

Another great bag! Love the fabric pairing.

Next summer, you can come look for watermelons in the forest!

[Glynis]

My dear Grandmother's name is Lucille. She would have loved you!! Great bag and a lucious gift idea! Keep inspiring us!

[amy]

i love the bag. and thanks for stopping by my blog!

[susan]

love love love the lucille bag! my MIL's mother was Lucille, so in her memory, i'm going to make one of these today. 20 year old blue kettle cloth with a red check-y lining (stash clean out days are here). wish me luck.

also, need to say, penny, i love your blog. the hiking picture looks like it could be me!

[susan]

sweet bag, thanks for the tute, i will be making one for this summer. i love that you lined your cotton webbing handles, i have never seen anyone do that before and to be honest i dont think i ever would of thought that you could do it! great idea

[Toby]

I love this bag .. but your Vintage Bag is terrific!!

[Toby]

Hi Penny,

I love your blog .. it's just super .. I happened upon your Vintage Bag, the green wool one .. I love the style .. I printed out the instructions and the pieces (I have NEVER made a bag, I just have a fetish for them) :) so it takes little to confuse me .. on piece B, it looks like the front part of the bag is 13.5" and the back part is 13" as it dips down, yet it says to make sure the top of the bag is 13.5" once the pleats are in place .. is there something I'm missing here? I thought the bag would be shorter after the pleats are in place? I'm obviously missing something .. I really want to make this bag .. I hate tote bags (they are boring and reek of sameness) and love bags with character. Thanks!

Toby

[Julie]

Hi! Wow, you have such cute stuff on your blog. I love your tutorial on this bag. I can't wait to go home and try and make it! Thanks!

[Lisa]

Awesome project. It looks great and nice to see the "how to" as well.

[tichat]

many,many thanks! I saw this bag so many times on many blogs and I wonder if i could make one for me. Many thanx again for the tuto if I don't don't understand something , should I ask you some help?

[Beth]

How much total yardage do I need for this project? Did I miss it?

[susan]

love all your tutes penny!
you are just too faberlous for words!
um, i have one question tho, how did you get your curves for piece b? im a plate and bowl girl myself, but i think these curves are too elongated for that.
help! and thanks