OPB Sew Along - Making the Edges Neat

Yay, let's sew!

Today, you are going to need your cut-out fabric pieces, your sewing machine (threaded, bobbin loaded, ready to go), your iron and ironing board, straight pins, and scissors for clipping threads.

We’re going to move away from the Burdastyle directions a bit, in order to make a more nicely-finished final product.

1. Set your machine to zig-zag, stitch length 2.5 (this is a good, all-purpose length). Zig-zag over all of the straight edges – so the two sides and bottom of each bag piece, and all around the sides of the pocket piece. Also zig-zag over one (this will make sense later) of the short edges on top of the bag handles.

Zig-zag setting


2. If you have any puckering (as you can see - I did), give your zig-zagged edges a nice press.

Nothing the iron can't handle!

**** A Note on Pressing
In sewing, it’s important to distinguish between pressing and ironing. Ironing consists of using the iron in a smooth back-and-forth motion to remove wrinkles from your fabrics. When pressing, you place the iron straight down onto your fabric, leave it for a moment, then lift and repeat. Pressing is used to realign the weave of your fabric, either to to encourage the fabric to move itself around your stitches, integrating the thread and the weave (as we are doing here), or to make clean hems (as we will do below). Pressing makes a huge difference in the look of your finished item: if your sewing instructions tell you to press, listen to them!***


3. Place your bag pieces on a flat surface, wrong side up. Mark 1/4” along all the curved edges (so the outside of each strap, and the U-shape inbetween the straps). You can use chalk, a disappearing ink marker, or a regular pen (as long as it doesn’t bleed through).

I have no idea what this tool is called, but it is incredibly handy, and I'm guessing you can find your own anywhere sewing notions are sold.

4. Along all the curves, clip up to the line you’ve just marked. Place your clips about .5-1” apart.

Be sure not to clip beyond the line you've drawn

5. Fold your fabric along the line you’ve just marked and press. The clips should allow the curved sections to lay flat. Now fold the edge another ¼” to hide the raw edge. Press with steam to get a nice flat hem, and pin everything in place.

See how the clips allow the fabric to spread out? (paper not necessary - I just stuck it in so that you could see the clips more easily)

Fold again, pin and press. This might take a little fiddling.

Don't be afraid to use lots of pins! Try to eliminate puckering as much as you can, but a little isn't a big deal.

6. Change your stitch setting to a straight stitch, and sew along the edge of the hem you’ve just made. A normal zig-zag foot is about ¼” wide, so your presser foot should make a good guide. Keep the outside edge of your presser foot even with the outside edge of your fabric. Sew slowly around the curves, making sure that you are catching all the layers and trying to keep your seam from puckering.

Your presser foot makes a perfect guide for this.

Looking good!

If you do end up with some puckers, don’t despair. It’s nothing your iron can’t handle!

Before pressing...

7. Press your hem until it lays nice and flat.

...and after! Didn’t I tell you that pressing is important?

Look at that – a nicely finished half-bag! I think we are ready to start putting the pieces together!

How is the Charlie coming together for you? Leave a message below to let us know, and if you’ve posted about the project on your own blog, leave us a link!