It’s Day 5 of the sew along, and if you need to catch up, you can check the previous days below. Today we finish the bag, including adding optional hardware. If you still need it, use code castellsew20 to save 20% on the Castell Day Bag pattern (both PDF and paper patterns are eligible for the discount).  There will be 3 prizes of Emmaline store credit ($20, $15, and $10) drawn randomly, see details on how to win at the bottom of this post. The code is valid until August 31, 2017, so don’t wait too long to grab a copy.

Here’s the schedule:
Day 1: Getting started – cutting and fusing pieces
Day 2: Starting Exterior of bag 
Day 3: Finish Exterior of bag
Day 4: Make the Lining 
Day 5: Finish the bag! (That’s today!)

Place the exterior of the bag inside the lining of the bag, right sides together, so the exterior will be right side out and lining will be wrong side out. At the top, match up centers, side seams, and seams made when adding side pieces. I clipped all the way around to help align the bag but we’re only going to sew between the markings we made to sew on the zipper casings. To join the lining and exterior, sew one line of stitching at the front and another line of stitching at the back, each line being where the zipper casing was previously basted in place, between the marks; make sure to backstitch at starts at stops.

Once that’s sewn together, use the turning hole in the lining to turn the bag right side out. Take your time and do this carefully, because we don’t want to rip the lining.

After the bag is turned right side, pull the lining out enough to access the turning hole, press to join seam allowance of turning hole together, pin or clip in place and sew with a small seam allowance.

IMPORTANT: Even though I have combined many steps in this pattern, attaching the zipper tabs must be done one at a time; you need to insert wire frames after completing one zipper tab and before doing the second.

This part is finnicky: Lay the zipper casing flat against the open side at top of bag, lining up center of zipper to side seam. Smooth out bag and casing as much as possible and clip in place. The zipper casing will extend past the side of the bag, that’s ok. Sew a line of basting stitch across the end of the bag and trim excess zipper casing, leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Here’s what it looks like from underneath before you sew and trim.

Fold down one long edge of each zipper tab by 1/2″ to the wrong side.

Place 2 tabs right sides together and sew together at the short sides only.

Press the seams from the short sides open. Now slip one assembled tab over the end you just basted and trimmed, matching raw edge from zipper tab to raw edge of zipper casing/zipper. Sew across end to secure.

Flip up zipper tab so the right side is out, match up folded edges and topstitch at open end, then another line of topstitching at zipper tab end closest to rest of bag.

Now insert wires frames in each zipper casing and complete zipper tab on remaining open end. This completes your bag!

If you don’t have any additional hardware to add, then you go ahead and show that baby off to the world! I am adding metal edge trim to each flap, and strap ends to my strap anchor tabs. You’ll need a small precision screw driver and if you like, you can add glue as well. I don’t use the glue usually because truth be told, I’m scared to make a mess with it and the screws hold it in place very well. If the products were weight bearing, then I’d face my fears and go for the glue. I find it easiest to place the screw on the end of the screwdriver, rather than trying to screw it in from the trim. Each of these trims are quite simple to install; the hardest part is keeping track of those tiny screws! Just slide the trim on and place each screw. Don’t go too tight because you don’t want to strip it. I did have to squish my strap tabs with some pliers to make the ends skinny enough for the strap ends fit, but it was just right for a snug fit.

If you made a cross-body strap, connect it from the left rectangle ring at the front to the right rectangle ring at the back (it doesn’t really matter which side is at the front, as long as you connect it to the opposite side at the back).

I hope you enjoyed the sew along, and please feel free to ask any questions, either in the comments, by email, or in the Emmaline Sewing Patterns Group on facebook.

To be entered to win an Emmaline store credit ($20, $15, and $10), simply tag me @reecemontgomery and Emmaline Bags @emmalinebags in a picture of your completed Castell Day Bag, and use #CastellSewAlong on Instagram before September 12, 2017. (Profiles must be public so I can see them. If you don’t have/use/like Instagram, you can also upload a picture of your completed bag to be entered to win.)