I have a crafty daughter – which can be a blessing and a curse. She started middle school this year, and informed me that her 6th grade lunch pack was not cool enough for 7th grade, so off to Pinterest she went! She discovered this cute lunch sack at marthastewart.com…..but of course, I had to mess with it. I added a clear vinyl lining, so it can be easily wiped out, as well as sewing my seams on the outside of the sack with the pinked edges, and changing the pattern…..so I guess we could say that Martha’s was just the inspiration (:
This is a very simple project, but when sewing with laminated cotton, it is important to make a few adjustments before you begin. Riley Blake has these tips, as well as many tutorials. Here is what worked for me:
1. Use a walking foot. If you do not have one, I would pin close together, or glue baste it, OR use a Teflon foot.
2. Laminate fabric is sticky, so use blue painters tape to reduce the friction. I placed it on the bottom of my presser foot (be sure to cut a hole for the needle) AND I placed it on the sole plate under the presser foot (be sure you do not cover your feed dogs).
3. Use a longer stitch length.
4. Laminated cotton does not ravel, so it is not necessary to finish the seams.
SUPPLIES
1/3 yard laminate or oilcloth
1/3 yard coordinating laminate or oilcloth
1/3 yard 4mm clear vinyl (most big box fabric stores will carry this)
Coordinating thread
Pinking shears or rotary cutter with pinking blade
Fabric glue
I used Deena’s Happier and So Sophie laminated cotton, which can be purchased in her Etsy shop, as well as a coordinating chevron, both from Riley Blake Designs.
STEP 1
Cut the following pieces with pinking shears or rotary cutter with pinking blade
Cut (2) 12″ x 8″ rectangles from main print and clear vinyl
Cut (1) 8″ x 5″ rectangle from main print and clear vinyl
Cut (2) 12″ x 5″ rectangles from coordinating print and clear vinyl
STEP 2
Glue baste the clear vinyl to the corresponding WRONG side of each of the (5) cut pieces (I used a fabric glue stick).
STEP 3
Place main print and ONE coordinating print WRONG SIDES TOGETHER, being sure to line up the top and side edges, pin or glue baste.
Sew a generous 1/4″ seam, stopping 1/4″ before the end, backstitch. Add the second main panel to the other side and sew. Repeat with remaining side seams, until you have formed the body of the sack.
STEP 4
Pin the bottom of the sack, WRONG sides together, matching all edges. Sew each side together, stopping 1/4″ from each end and backstitching, be sure to keep the extra corner out of the way when stitching. But don’t worry if you catch the other corner….it will create a small tuck, but won’t really effect the overall function. If the fabric slipped a little, just trim it straight with your pinking shears!
STEP 5
Fold sack flat and trim the top of the sack with the pinking shears so all layers are even.
Top stitch vinyl and laminate together approx. 1/4″ from the top edge (you may fold over and hem if desired).
I chose to keep it simple, so I did not add a button closure or Velcro.
Wipe clean with a rag, do not machine wash.
NOTE: If you like, you can omit the vinyl lining (it gives it some extra heft, as well as helping with the clean up).
If you DO NOT line the sack, it CAN be machine washed on a delicate cycle, and air dried.
I also really liked this tutorial, but it did not allow for the contrasting sides, but you may like this method better.
