Suede Drawstring Bag
IN this instructable you will learn how to make this suede leather bag
With just a few basic tools.
Tools and Materials
1. Ruler
2. Rotary punch
3. Sharp scissors (really sharp scissors work best)
4. leather stitching needle or large sewing needle
5. Marker
6. Binder clips (at least 25)
7. Single sheet of pre-cut 8 ½ x 11 suede trim (available at your local craft store)
8. Hemp cord
9. Suede lace
Folding the Sheet and Drawing a Guide Line
Fold the sheet in half so it measures about 11 inches long and 5 ½ inches wide.
IF your sheet has defects on one side like mine does fold it with the defect side facing out
then align the corners and edges.
If your sheet was cut with an uneven edge align the edges and corners that do line up
and clamp the aligned edge with binder clips and trim the uneven edge wit a pair of scissors
then remove the binder clips.
Once you have everything lined up with the long crease side facing toward you use a ruler to measure
1/8 of an inch from the edge of the long open side and draw a short line or a dot with a marker spaced
about 2 or three inches apart along the edge repeat this on the short side on the left, then line your ruler
up with the marks you just made and draw a line on both edges as referenced in the last two photos.
Clamp All Open Sides
Make sure all three open edges are in line then clamp along each of the three edges with binder clips.
Punching the Holes
In this step a rotary punches used
To make the stitching holes
Before you begin the step
Make sure you use the appropriate size punching die
On the rotary punch The needle that you will be stitching with
Should easily pass through the punch
Once you have set the appropriate size die
You may begin punching holes on the creases side
Directly on the guideline You drew earlier continue to punch along the
Guideline maintaining a quarter inch distance between each hole this can be a bit tedious and time-consuming but because the workpieces clamp with binder clips
You don't have to be exactly accurate with The spacing just try to maintain
As close to a quarter inch spacing as you can this way your stitches will be uniform
Once you reach the edge of a binder clip move it over to a portion of the workpiece you have already punched you need to be sure to replace the binder clips that you remove
To maintain edge alignment on both sides continue this process on both guidelines
Stitching
In this step The binder clips are removed and the bag is stitched
Remove all the binder clips and unfold the sheet of leather
Measure out 54 inches IE. 4 1/2 feet of hemp cord and threaded through your needle
Tie One Knot leaving 3 inches of loose hemp cord as the photo shows
Then tie a second knot
Fold The leather sheet in half again
And push your needle and hemp cord
Through the first hole you made in the crease side
Continue stitching until you reach the end of the guideline
Once you reach the last hole on the edge you started stitching on
Push the needle through the first hole on the unstitched side
Then push the needle through your last stitch and then go back through the first
Hole on the unstitched side this will create a lock stitch continue stitching The unstitched side
Until you reach the end were you will do the same lock-stitch but this time you will do it twice
And trim the excess hemp cord completing your stitching
Inside Out
As the name of the step suggests you simply turn the bag inside out
You may push the corners out with your hand or use the end of your punch
The Drawstring
Before beginning this step you Will need to make sure that your leather cord
Will pass through the holes that you be punching in the top of the bag push the leather cord
Into the dies of your rotary punch to find out which one will work best
Once you have selected the appropriate die evenly space three binder clips at the top of the bag
Punch a hole at each end of the binder clips
Measure out about 15 inches of leather cord
And weave it through each hole trim the ends down to A desired length
And tie a knot in each end