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Welcome to Day 5 of the Caravan Tote Sew Along.  Today we finish the bag and make the matching bonus pouch.  Check out Day 1 to get started and learn about fabric and interfacing selection, and Day 2 to begin cutting and making handles. Day 3 is where we really get started with sewing. Day 4 goes over the different pockets and the lining of the bag. You can purchase the PDF from the Noodlehead shop, and use code HOSAL at checkout to save 20%. Or if you want some help picking your fabric, there’s a kit including the paper pattern and fabric from Craftsy, on sale right now, save 35%.

Make a mark 1 1/2″ down  and centered from the top raw edge of one lining panel. To find center easily, just fold the panel in half and finger press. Use the washer from your magnetic snap as a guide to trace your lines for the prongs. Make small slits for the prongs; I use my seam ripper and go slowly to make those cuts. Insert one half of the snap from the right side of the lining through to the back  and through the washer, and push out the prongs, making them flat. I also like to add a scrap of fleece or extra interfacing between the wrong side of the lining and the washer.

Repeat these steps for the other lining panel and other half of magnetic snap.

Depending on the type of handles you chose for you bag, you will likely add them now. If you chose leather handles, they will be added with rivets later, skip this step. Find center at top of each exterior panel by fold in half and finger pressing at the top, then make a mark at center front and back within the seam allowance. Make a mark 2 1/4″ on each side of center mark. Align inner edge of handle with the 2 1/4″ mark making sure not to twist your handle. Complete for both front and back.
With your exterior right side out, and your lining wrong side out, place the assembled exterior into the assembled lining. Place the front exterior pocket right sides together with the lining side without the slip pocket, this makes the interior slip pocket at the back of the bag.  Pin or clip tops of exterior and lining together. Make sure handles are tucked well inside the bag. I like to start by pinning the side seams together, then centers, and finally the spaces in between. If you didn’t leave a turning gap in your lining, leave one now, at the back of the bag, between the handles.

Sew along the top of the bag (making sure to leave the turning gap if you need to.) Trim any fleece (if you used it) in the seam allowance in the side seams to reduce bulk. Turn the bag right side out through the turning hole. Tuck in raw edges of the turning hole. If you left the turning hole in the lining, sew it shut with a small seam allowance. If you left the hole at the top, press to make the folded edges even with the rest of the top of the bag. Press all along top of bag, I like to use wonder clips for this step too.  Topstitch along top of bag about 1/8-1/4″ from top edge, with a longer stitch length to create smooth even stitches; this closes the turning gap at the top if you had one.

If your handles are already sewn in, you’re done! There are a couple ways to add handles now. You can either add them with rivets, Chicago screws, or decorative stitching. I used rivets for my denim bag with leather handles. I placed my handles in the same spot as in the pattern. I chose to use 2 rivets for each end spaced at 1/2″ from the end and apart. For more info on installing rivets, check out this Noodlehead tutorial.

If you haven’t already, cut and fuse the pouch fabric and interfacing. I added a layer of fleece to my lining, pocket and flap. Just as in the pattern, make pocket and flap by sewing right sides together, leaving top raw edge of flap unsewn, and a turning gap at the top of the pocket. Attach the pocket and flap in the same manner as on the tote, following the spacing as stated in the pattern. Add desired closure to flap and pocket. I like the pouch pocket without a snap.

Mark darts by using the pattern pieces and fabric pen. Pinch together and sew along marked line to create dart. Complete darts for both exterior and lining pieces.

Prepare the zipper by adding the zipper tab. Fold it like a piece of binding and cover the end (oppsite of zipper pull when closed) of the zipper, topstitch in place. At the zipper pull end, bend each side back at 45 degree angle and stitch in place; I use my stiletto tool for this step because it can be tricky to get such little pieces lined up under the presser foot.

Make a “zipper sandwich” with the zipper centered right side down onto right side of exterior, then right side of lining on top that. Sew along top of pouch, through all layers. Note: If you’re less confident with zippers, baste zipper in place first without lining, then sew again to add the lining piece.

Fold exterior and lining back so they’re wrong sides together, and repeat above steps to attach remaining exterior and lining pieces to other half of zipper. Press away from zipper and topstitch.

OPEN your zipper halfway. Match up exterior pieces right sides together, and lining pieces right sides together, making sure to align darts. Push zipper teeth and tab toward lining. Leave a turning hole between the darts in the lining. Sew around the perimeter, starting at one end of the turning gap all the way back to the other end. When you reach the zipper end, go slow and feel for the zipper to make sure you don’t sew through it – you want to have a tiny gap between the seam and the zipper tab.

Trim the seam allowance except at the turning gap. Notch the curves, then turn pouch right side out. Tuck in raw edges at turning gap and sew shut with a small seam allowance. Give it a final press and you’re finished!

I’d love to see your progress and especially your completed projects! Tag me and use #CaravanToteSAL on Instagram.

Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions, or suggestions. Do you have any tips? Let us know!

To enter to win the Noodlehead patterns, submit a photo of your completed bag by July 3, either by uploading it on my contact page, or using #CaravanToteSAL on Instagram by July 3, 2016.