Japanese Quilt Geisha Bags

The following a tutorial from our 2016 handbag making class at Animazement. This tutorial teaches you how to make a female samurai's handbag from the 16th or 18th century and features Japanese Sashiko stitching and fabric manipulation. To make you will need:

2- 12 inch by 12 inch fabric squares in a light weight fabric. Cotton, silk, and linen work well

1 pair of scissors

buttons you want to sew on

scrap fabric for manipulation

button thread (available in most sewing shops at the bottom of the thread for sale)

1 piece of ribbon

piece of fabric 2 inches by 10 inches to form the casing

Lay your good fabric and lining together right side to right side. The good fabric should be up. Put the casing on top in the center. Sew from on side to the other at 5/8".

Open your bag so it is flat and sew the second line of your casing at the bottom from one side to the other on the outside good fabric.

Fold the fabric back in half and snip where your casing lines up with your fabric in the lining in front and back. Open back up and fold the fabric under. Sew from one side to the other.

Thread your ribbon through the casing. You can use a safety pin if you want for weight. A chop stick also works or bodkin.

This is the fun part. Thread your needle and tie a knot in the end. Using long running stitches called Sashiko to sew on bits of fabric, buttons, or fun patterns. You can use origami techniques to create flowers, birds, pleats, and other Japanese manipulations. The sky is the limit here.

If you want to sew on a custom label. Now is the point you do it.

Alright, now you want to sew the bag and lining together. Fold the fabric in half and make sure to tuck the ribbon inside. Start sewing from the top at 5/8" and remember to start and stop when you reach the casing so you don't sew over the hole for the ribbon.

Flip your bag right side out and fold it so you are looking at the lining. The good side of the fabric should be tucked inside.

Sew the bottom of the bag. Clip the corners when you are done.

All done! Have a great week!