Back to School Blog Hop: Day 2

Parents everywhere are rejoicing as school begins again! In celebration of this special time of the year, we're hosting a Back to School Blog Hop. But "back to school" isn't just for the parents of school kids...it's also for anyone heading off to college, returning to school, or even just looking for a fresh start. With that in mind we're sharing three tutorials this week (plus fabric giveaways!) that will appeal to anyone in a back-to-school mindset!

Here's a back-to-school pop quiz:

If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? 

Does a fun laundry bag make washing clothes more fun? 

The first question is up for debate, but we're going to give a resounding YES! to the second.

Today's tutorial is a laundry bag featuring Sarah Vedeler's Transformation Black & White prints with a pop of lime from the Fleurish collection. 

If you loved Sarah's original Transformation line,
the black and white version will grab your attention too!

This laundry bag has it all: sturdy construction, neat fabrics, and an adjustable drawstring top. And it as one more surprising feature: an average size. Which means it can't be stuffed with a month's worth of laundry--no procrastinating means clean clothes more frequently and a happy washing machine that isn't jam-packed every time. Perfect for college students or any resident laundry fairy who needs a pick-me-up for this never-ending chore!

Materials:
1-1/3 yards black print #1 (includes lining)
1/4 yard black print #2
1/4 yard black print #3
1/4 yard black print #4
1/3 yard black print #5
3/4 yard lime green print

Note: This tutorial calls for using all 42" of the fabric width in an effort to use the yardage efficiently and still make the bag as wide as possible. If your fabric is not quite that wide, simply get as close to 42" as you can. As long as your pieces are all the same, the instructions will work just fine; your bag will simply be a tiny bit narrower. 

Cutting:
From black print #1, cut:
(1) 8-1/2" x 42" strip
(2) 21" x 34" pieces (for lining)

From black print #2, cut:
(1) 4-1/2" x 42" strip

From black print #3, cut:
(1) 6-1/2" x 42" strip

From black print #4, cut:
(1) 3-1/2" x 42" strip

From black print #5, cut:
(1) 9-1/2" x 42" strip

From the lime green, cut:
(4) 1-1/2" x 42" strips
(3) 6" x 42" strips (for drawstrings)

Make the Laundry Bag
Step 1: Lay out the five various width black strips in the cutting order (and as shown below), alternating with the (4) 1-1/2" x 42" lime green strips. Sew the strips together to make a large panel.
Step 2: Cut the panel into (2) 21" x 34-1/2" pieced units. 

Step 3: Lay the two pieced units right sides together with seams and raw edges matching. Pin along three sides, leaving the top (with the widest black #5 strip) open. Measure and mark a line 4" from the top edge (indicated in photo by pink digital lines and, if your eyes are very good, a faint marker line). Pin at these marks. 

Step 4: Sew around three edges of the units to create the outer bag. Start and stop sewing at the marked line, leaving the top 4" open. Backstitch at the beginning and end. 
Step 5: Press each of the raw edges of the remaining 4" in 1/4" as shown. The pink line shows where the stitching stopped. 

Step 6: Sew the (2) 21" x 34-1/2" lining pieces right sides together on three sides, leaving one short end open for the top and leaving a 12" opening along the other short end for turning. 
Step 7: Turn the outer bag right side out and tuck into the lining, right sides together. Match up the top raw edges and pin in place, including matching and pinning the pressed raw edges on the side seams (see second photo below). The top 4" on either side seam will remain open when you stitch in the next step.

A close-up showing the pressed edges aligned and pinned. 

 Step 8: Sew the top pinned edges on both sides to connect the outer bag and lining. Again, make sure the 4" sections on both sides of the bag stay open. Turn the bag right side out through the lining opening. Stitch the lining opening closed and tuck inside the outer bag. Press the top edges of the bag. 
Step 9: Lay the bag flat on your mat and mark a line 3" in from the top bag edge on the lining as shown. Fold the top edge of the bag to that line and pin in place. Sew in place using a 1/4" seam to create the casing. Sew a second line 1/4" from the first for additional strength. Repeat on the opposite top edge. 

Step 10: Stitch back and forth just below the casing stitches where the bag splits into two pieces to secure (see spot marked with the pink circle). Repeat on opposite side. 

Step 11: Sew the (3) 6" x 42" lime green strips short ends together into a long strip. Cut this long strip in half to make 2 equal-length strips. Press each strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together and then unfold and refold each long edge in to the center fold and press.  

Step 12: Fold the strip again on the original center fold and topstitch down both long edges to make the drawstring. Make 2. 

Step 13: Using a safety pin, feed one drawstring through the front casing, beginning at the left side, passing through the opening on the right side, and back through the back casing. Tie ends to secure. Repeat with second drawstring, beginning and ending on the right side. 

Your laundry bag is complete! 

Stuffed full!

For a chance to win a FQ bundle of the Transformation Black & White collection, make sure you follow us here on the blog (options are in the right-hand sidebar). Leave a comment letting us know that you do, as well as telling us your thoughts on laundry--love it? hate it? pawn it off on someone else in the family? This giveaway is open through Tuesday, August 30th at 11:59 pm EST. We'll randomly draw a winner and announce it here on the blog. 


Make sure to catch all of the tutorials in our Back to School Blog Hop!
Wednesday: Chris from made by ChrissieD featuring Simply Chic
Thursday: Benartex Blog Design Team featuring Transformation Black & White
Friday: Wendy from Ivory Spring featuring Lemon Squeezy