I’ve been knitting a little bit on the Garter Stitch bag I’m making for my sister.  15 of the 22 squares are finished.  I’ve been doing more sewing lately than anything else.  Well, except for going to work and sleeping.

This is my sample project.  I followed the instructions (links at the end of this post) to make the box bag.  This is the perfect size to throw in a ball of sock yarn, double-point or circular needles and a sock pattern to take where ever.  Or to use as a toiletry bag, lunch bag, shoe bag (adjust the size), for small toys, game pieces, the possibilities are endless.

I bought this bicycle fabric to make these box bags for a group of 7th graders: 4 girls and 12 boys.  I thought the print was generic enough for both boys and girls.  The bags will be filled with snacks but they can use it for whatever they want.

My daughter and several others disagreed with me.  They thought it was to “girly” for a boy with the pink and lavender bikes. 

So I bought another fabric that reminds me of granite hoping it would be more “manly.”

I was going to give the girls the bicycle fabric bags and the boys the granite bags.  What do you think?

I used several tutorials.  Tutorials: Dragoknit for the basic pattern and  RoadyJane for the no-raw-edges tutorial.

I also used fusible fleece fused to the outer fabric and lined it with a solid cotton.  In orange.  Plus there are no raw edges.  I started with a 12 x 16 inch rectangle.  Fusible fleece is 11.5 x 15.5 inches.  The strap is 6 x 10 inches.  I reduced the “corners” from 1.5 inches to 1.25 inches.  If you look at the instructions, you will understand what I’m talking about.  I did that to make the bag longer and not as high.  My sample is how the pattern is written and I wanted a squatier bag.

My final dimensions are 7.5 long, 4.5 wide and 3.5 tall.

I bought my zippers in bulk at a wonderful place in New York City.  Check it out if you need a lot of zippers: ZipperStop Products *  Great prices, great service and they’re made in America!!!

* I do not work for nor receive any compensation from ZipperStop Products.