Dilly Bag Tutorial!

Here is a lovely little Dilly Bag - 24" in circumference, 9 1/2" high and 7" diameter base (approximate measurements).

Step 1: Cut 10" diameter circles from outside fabric , lining fabric , and batting (I like something like cotton Warm'n'Natural) for the base. Press outer fabric into eighths. Layer the three circles and machine quilt. This forms a nice firm quilted base for your bag.

Step 2: Trim base back to 8" diameter.

Step 3: Working from the top, cut:

2 x pink strips 1 3/4" x 12 1/2"
2 x blue strips 2" x 12 1/2"
2 x printed strips 6 1/2" x 12 1/2"
2 x green strips 2" x 12 1/2"

Step 4: Sew all strips together as illustrated. Each side of the bag should now measure 10 3/4" x 24 1/2". Press on wrong side, pressing blue strips outwards towards the pink and printed fabrics. This strip forms the casing for the drawstrings

Step 5: Sew both sides together with a slightly generous 1/4" seam and leaving an opening, as illustrated, for the drawstrings to be inserted. The pic below is a good illustration, leaving an opening between the pins. Re-inforce both sides of the opening.

Step 6: Press side seams open and stitch as shown to neaten opening.

Step 7: Cut lining 10 3/4" x 24 1/2" and stitch short sides to form a circle. Turn outer bag inside out and pin lining to bag as shown with right sides together (this is a good tip for most bag linings). That is, you will be sewing on the wrong side of the lining fabric.

Step 8: Stitch around the top of the bag working from the inside where the pins are, as illustrated.

Step 9: Turn lining to the inside neatly - a little press with the iron helps here. Stitch in the ditch both sides of the blue strips - this forms the casing for the drawstrings.

Step 10: Baste around the bottom of the bag, about 1/8" from the edge.

Step 11: Trim neatly if necessary.

Step 12: Divide lower edge of bag into eighths and match up with quilting lines on the base. Pin, then stitch a scant 1/4" with the outer bag on the outside as shown.

Check that the base is securely sewn on both sides.

Step 13: Turn bag inside out and pin neatly around formed ridge on base. Stitch a generous 1/4" seam - you will be able to feel where you should stitch to enclose both edges.

Step 14: Turn bag right side out. This is a rather rewarding moment - you will notice the bag is sort-of freestanding. The way the base is attached gives the bag lovely stability!

Step 15: Cut 80" or 2 metres of cording in half for the drawstring. From one side, using a safety pin run one cord inside the blue casing. Then repeat from the other side. Little beads make a nice addition to the ends of the drawstring. If not available just knot both ends together.

This bag can be made in many sizes using this method - my goodness, I didn't realize when I was doing Maths at school that they would become useful one day. To find the circumference of a circle, 2 x 3.142 (pi) x radius, so just add seam allowances to that - the height? - well, I guess that is where ratio comes in, but the poor wee brain is too boggled at the moment.

This is a very simple bag, but a very nicely sitting bag with the round base - lots and lots of uses and a great gift. Once you have made one, they take only about an hour to make and you can use all sorts of colour combinations, can be kept very plain if you like, or made very scrappy as I have shown in previous Posts.

I hope you enjoy making them and please send a pic when you do!

♥ ... Hugs ... ♥

PS - will one of you clever girls please make one soon and give me feedback - I would like to know if my instructions, measurement etc. are accurate. I made another bag quickly this morning and it turned out beautifully - here's hoping I am not leading anyone up the garden path♥