HOW TO MAKE A PUMPBAG - TUTORIAL...

Our third child Hebe starts school full time in September, she has not really mentioned it to that extent, so neither have we, but just lately she has been starting sentences with "When I go to big school", she was talking about P.E., and I said she would need a pump bag to put her P.E. kit in, and that conversation brought us to this...

I started with three fat quarters of Amy Butler 'Love' collection, I bought these in a fabric pack from http://www.saintsandpinners.com./ I only used a 16cm/6" strip off each fat quarter, so I reckon I can get a couple of cot quilts out of what is left.

 The pump bag can be made to any size. I made mine with patterned fabric to the front and a plain linen for the back.

1. Cut three pieces of fabric the width you would like your pump bag to be.  (You can obviously use 
    a solid  piece of fabric if you wish).  Sew these three pieces together and press the seams open.

2. Cut out a further three pieces to the size of this front piece, one out of your backing fabric (in my case   
    linen) and two from your lining fabric (green cotton).

3. Place the front fabric panel and the backing piece right sides together and sew around three sides STOP 
    6CM FROM THE TOP EDGE..

4. Sew the two lining pieces together in the same way, but you do not need to stop short this time, keep going 
    to the top.

6. I wanted to put Hebe's name on her bag, so I traced the letters onto Bondaweb, remember to trace them 

    backwards so they will be the right way round when you cut them out..

I printed these letters from http://www.scribd.com/ and use them time and time again for different things, if you turn the sheet over and trace over the letter outlines it ensures that your letters will be the right way when you trace onto your bondaweb..

Iron on to chosen fabric, cut out, peel off the paper backing and then iron them on where you want them.

I cut out a rectangle of linen, frayed the edges and ironed the letters to it..

I should have sewed this piece on before sewing the front panel to the back, but forgot and sewed it after.

7. Turn the main bag piece the right way out, push out the corners and press.  Top stitch down either side 
    and  across the bottom of the slit you left open at the top of the bag. Now press  over a 4cm hem to the 
    inside all around the top edge of the main bag and just a smidgen over 4cm hem around the top edge of the 
    lining piece.  THE MAIN BAG HEM TURNS DOWN INWARDS TO THE WRONGSIDE AND 
   THE LINING HEM TURNS OUTWARDS (THE LING SHOULD STILL BE INSIDE OUT).

8. Slip the lining inside the main bag, and pin all around the top edge matching side seams and top edges.

Topstitch all around the top edge of the bag, and then again 2cm underneath this row of stitches..

9. I wanted to make fabric drawstrings rather than use cord (cord would be fine, and quicker!). To make 

    fabric drawstrings I cut 5cm wide strips which I joined with a diagonal seam.  press a seam down the 

    centre of the strip and then open out and press the sides into the middle, finally fold over the outside    

    edges so the meet and sew along the full length. BE AWARE OF HOW LONG YOU MAKE THIS 

    DRAWSTRING YOU DON'T WANT A CHILD TO BE ABLE TO PUT IT OVER THEIR HEAD.

Making the diagonal seams..Sew along the drawn line, trim and press the seam open..

10. Finally thread your drawstring/cord through the channel you have created, tie the ends together and knot each individual ties end..

THE FINISHED PUMPBAG...

Hebe is very happy with her new bag, especially as it has her name on and I am sure she will be able to recognise it easily amongst all the other P.E. bags...