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… it ain’t rocket science.

January 17, 2009

THE WEEKENDER
Posted by wkdesigner under accessory design, do-it-yourself | Tags: accessory,
fashion, sewing |
[42] Comments

Featured: Lex Trip Bag

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 So this weekend will have you jetting off to the coast for sun & surf? For a
weekend excursion you need a quick trip bag. Forget the luggage (too bulky);
you need a versatile tote made specifically to carry all your belongings from
wallet to swimtrunks for a quick weekend getaway. Here is a fun choice in a
cotton waxcloth outer with leatherette base and trim, perfect for the do-it-
yourselfer, similar to the Lex Trip Bag from PROPERTY OF.

Dimensions: approximately 18″ x 8 x 17″ [45cm x 20.5cm x 43cm].

You will need:

6 pop rivets
1 metal slider, 2″ dia [50mm]
2 latch hooks, 1″dia [25mm]
2 d-rings, 1″dia [25mm]
1 square ring, 2″ dia [50mm]
2 dome snap set, 5/8″ dia [15mm]
1 heavy metal zipper, 25″ [64cm] long *
1-2/3 yds. [1.5m] of nylon webbing, 2″ [50mm] wide
heavy-duty thread
1 yd. [0.9 m] of upholstery weight fabric, 54″ [137 cm] wide
1/3 yd [0.25 m] of polyurethane leatherette, 39″ [100 cm] wide

PATTERN

1 square = 1 inch
[2.5 cm]

CUTTING

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 Bag – cut 1X on fold

Pocket- cut 2X

Struts – cut 4X

Handles – cut 2X

Handle trim – cut 2X contrast

Bag Bottom – cut 1X contrast

Tab – cut 6X contrast

DESIGN TIP: Use a permanent marker in the leather colour to carefully “dye”
the edges of the leather pieces if you get a white edge after cutting it.

ASSEMBLY

1. To make D-ring tabs, wrap tab piece around D-ring and stitch close to
d-ring. Open ends of tab flat.
2. To make latch hook tabs, wrap tab piece onto latch hook and stitch close to
ring.
3. To make Shoulder strap, cut a length of webbing 6″ long and another, 30″
long.

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 4. On the 6″ piece, wrap one cut end of the
webbing with a latch hook tab and X-stitch in place. Secure tab with a pop
rivet. On the opposite end, slip a square ring onto webbing and turn end
back on itself and X-stitch it closed.
5. On the 30″ piece, wrap one cut end of the webbing with a latch hook tab
and X-stitch in place. Secure tab with a pop rivet.
6. Slip a slider on to the webbing. On the opposite end, slip the strap through
the square ring on the shorter piece and back on itself through the slider.
7. Stitch across the end of the webbing and secure with a pop rivet.
8. On pocket piece, turn the top edge under 2″ and stitch down.
9. Apply the top portion of the snap kit to the pocket following
manufacturer’s directions.
10. Place pocket up-side down at points G,H and stitch bottom edge to body
using 1/2″ seam allowance.
11. Fold the pocket upward and mark contact point of snap on body portion.
12. Apply bottom portion of snap kit to the body.
13. Turn under long edges of struts 1/2″ and press flat.

14. Place a pair of struts at points A,B,I,J

and C,D,K,L on the body portion with pocket sides under the strut pieces.
15. Topstitch struts in place.
16. Repeat the above proceduces for the opposite side of the bag.
17. Center contrasting bag bottom piece onto bag and overlap strut ends.
Topstitch in place.
18. On bag straps, turn under 1/2″ on both short ends. Press flat.
19. With right sides together, fold the strap piece in half lengthwise and stitch
along the length using 1/2″ seam allowance. Press seam open. Turn strap
piece right side out. Press flat. Topstitch perimeter of bag straps.
20. Fold the strap in half lengthwise and center a contrast handle trim along

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 the open side of the strap. Wrap the trim around the “doubled” handle
edge. Topstitch in place.
21. Repeat this for the other bag strap.
22. Align the ends of each strap level with the top of the pocket and sew an
X-stitch to points A-B and C-D. (Note: ensure you allow for 1/2″ seam
allowance at top of bag.)
23. With right side together, align and match up the side seams of the bag.
Stitch seam using 1/2″ seam allowance. Press seam open.

24. Fold across the bottom, centering the side seam in the middle
and stitch across the open end using 1/2″ seam allowance.
25. On the top edge of the bag, position the zipper FACE UP inside the bag on
the wrong side of the fabric. Center it. Pin and baste in place. Unzip the
zipper.
26. With right side together, sew the pair of zipper plackets together across
the short ends using 1/2″ seam allowance. Press seams open. Turn right
side out.
27. On one long edge of placket, turn under 1/2″ and press flat.
28. With right side of placket to wrong side of body, pin/baste raw edge of
placket over the zipper opening. Stitch around circumference of opening
using 1/2″ seam allowance and ensure that you are securing the zipper tape
in the seam.
29. Fold over placket face up to right side of bag and align the folded edge
with the machine-stitching. Topstitch in place.
30. At top of each side seam, below the placket, center the D-ring tabs and
apply with topstitching.

* Design Tip: Purchase the metal toothed zipper in the same metal
colour/finish as the metal luggage hardware.

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42 Responses to “THE WEEKENDER”

1. E. Murphy Says:

5 of 14 09/10/2009 02:49 AM
 January 17, 2009 at 5:52 am

Thanks for the tutorial. It’s a sweet bag.

Reply

2. nataliematz Says:

January 17, 2009 at 7:38 am

This is exactly the bag I have been searching for. I am going to make it
immediately.

Reply

3. Brigita Says:

January 17, 2009 at 7:50 am

You know, I was searching the web for a pattern for a bigger tote bag for
my spring weekend away. And this is it! Thanks for this one, I love it!

Reply

4. Berry Says:

January 17, 2009 at 3:26 pm

I love it. I never sew a bag but will definitely give this one a try. Thanks!

Reply

5. Mary Anne Says:

January 17, 2009 at 5:29 pm

Thank you SO much for this tutorial! I have a large stash of recycled denim
and am always looking for different ideas to use it up. This bag is
absolutely perfect and I can’t wait to make it!!

Reply

6. Rachel Says:

January 17, 2009 at 6:13 pm

That bag is awesome. Thanks!

Reply

6 of 14 09/10/2009 02:49 AM
 7. aga Says:

January 17, 2009 at 8:15 pm

Wow the bag looks great I hope I will be able to make it myself I am such
a rubbish beginner at sewing but I need a bag and this one is just perfect

Reply

1. wkdesigner Says:

January 18, 2009 at 1:25 am

Thanks all for the kind words…if you can sew a straight line, you can
sew this tote bag.

Reply

8. Helena Says:

January 18, 2009 at 6:05 am

Great design! It goes up to my list of projects. I like how it looks like it can
handle daily wear and tear. Only obstacle here is if my machine can work
through leather.

Reply

9. Lori Says:

January 18, 2009 at 7:58 am

Thank you for posting this pattern!! This is exactly what I’ve been looking
for. Now to find all the materials and raid the fabric stash…

Reply

10. Cynthia Says:

January 18, 2009 at 10:46 pm

Love it!!! Totally going to make this next week.

Reply

11. chintia Says:

January 19, 2009 at 2:47 am

7 of 14 09/10/2009 02:49 AM
 wonderful….I like it very much, thanks, I will find all the materials and try
to make this bag

Reply

12. Cat Says:

January 19, 2009 at 2:42 pm

I really like your site! & i LOVE bags!!! Thanx for the how to!

Reply

13. Alexia Says:

January 19, 2009 at 10:15 pm

does anyone know where to get the waxcloth mentioned in the intro?

Reply

1. wkdesigner Says:

January 19, 2009 at 10:22 pm

try the upholstery section of your favourite fabric store.

Reply
14. SparkBark » Blog Archive » Bag Fever (Maybe I Need A Vacation?) Says:

January 20, 2009 at 6:47 pm

[...] love these bags. This weekender bag is genius. I am going to have to
make one. Someday. Thank goodness for “someday” [...]

Reply
15. Top Posts « WordPress.com Says:

January 22, 2009 at 12:13 am

[...] The Weekender Featured: Lex Trip Bag So this weekend will have you
jetting off to the coast for sun & surf? For a weekend excursion [...] [...]

Reply

16. Stephanie Says:

January 24, 2009 at 3:06 pm

Wow. That bag is adorable. Thanks for the tutorial!

8 of 14 09/10/2009 02:49 AM
 Reply

17. cindynvb Says:

January 25, 2009 at 12:15 pm

Great tuturial, it’s just what I need.

Did you make one yourself? If so will you post a picture?
Also if anyone else makes one I’d love to see your version. I’ll check back
here to see if anyone leaves a link.

Reply

18. Jen B Says:

January 26, 2009 at 3:34 am

Can a standard sewing machine handle this project? I have a very basic
Singer and want to be sure it’s up to the task before I buy all the materials.

thanks!

Reply

1. wkdesigner Says:

January 26, 2009 at 5:11 am

Sure thing Jen…use a size #16 sharps sewing machine needle and set
your machine to use a longer stitch length.
If the leatherette is sticking, use a telfon foot or walking foot.

Reply

19. ana Says:

February 2, 2009 at 9:48 am

here is mine.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mundano/3246392307/

Reply

20. Olu Says:

February 2, 2009 at 5:57 pm

Hi, great looking bag. Where can I find webbing and bags hard wear such

9 of 14 09/10/2009 02:49 AM
 as the metatic zip and latch hooks to buy. I would love to make the bag.

Reply

1. wkdesigner Says:

February 3, 2009 at 12:53 am

Thanks Olu. Webbing can often be found in the trim section of your
local fabric store while metal zips and latch hooks are sold wherever
you buy your buttons and other sewing notions.

Reply

21. Karen Says:

February 11, 2009 at 10:21 pm

This bag is great. It took me an evening and a bit to get it finished. I made
some alterations because I didn’t have the metalwork and made the handles
longer so that it wouldn’t need a separate strap. I made it up in a fabulous
patterned fabric (lined it too). I love it!!

Have a look..
http://picasaweb.google.com/famillecalvert/WeekenderBag#

Reply
22. Brett and Sarah’s Adventures » Blog Archive » My first real sewing project
Says:

February 12, 2009 at 10:39 pm

[...] I went to the fabric store and looked for all my supplies, and couldn’t
find half of them so I had to re-think the bag making process. I simplified
it. A lot. Here is the original intention: Awesome_weekend_travel_bag [...]

Reply

23. Sarah Peterson Says:

February 12, 2009 at 10:50 pm

[...]Brett found this awesome weekender travel bag and instructions on how
to make it. After some coaxing from Brett, I decided to try it[...]
http://www.brettandsarahpeterson.com/blog/?p=59

Reply

24. Chylene W Says:

10 of 14 09/10/2009 02:49 AM
 March 24, 2009 at 9:44 pm

I LOVE this bag!!! This is an awesome website!! Thanks so much for doing
this!! : )

Reply
25. The Weekender Tote: Sewing Tutorial : TipNut.com Says:

March 25, 2009 at 7:07 pm

[...] feature is from Weekend Designer with a tutorial for this tote–The
Weekender: So this weekend will have you jetting off to the coast for sun &
surf? For a weekend [...]

Reply

26. Natalia Says:

March 26, 2009 at 1:42 pm

I love it! Thank you!

Reply

27. Thelma Bilbrey Says:

April 15, 2009 at 9:47 pm

How can I print this without all the comments?

Reply

1. Joy Says:

July 10, 2009 at 8:48 pm

Left click (hold your left mouse button down) and drag it across
everything you wish to print to high-light it. Next, at the top of your
browser, click “file” and “print”. When your print window comes up,
under the heading “page range”, click “selection” (the default is “all”).
It will now print only what you’ve high-lighted.

Reply

28. knish Says:

April 29, 2009 at 6:30 pm

this is one place where like minded people pool in ideas…since this is my
first encounter of such kind…i m inadvertently aghast

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 Reply

29. Pascale Says:

May 12, 2009 at 6:11 pm

This bag is absolutely fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

Reply

30. yellie Says:

May 17, 2009 at 11:24 pm

So i am trying to make this bag, but some parts dont really make sense. I
dont know what i shoudl adjust. In the patter the tabs at 2″x4″ but the d
rings are only 1″ and in the picture it does not look folded in any way.
should i just recut the tabs to a small size?

Reply

1. wkdesigner Says:

May 18, 2009 at 1:06 am

Yellie..you have cut the tabs correctly. Two tabs are folded to its
center so that the rings can slip onto it, then folded to complete. The
other two tabs are left flat and attached on either end of the bag.

Reply

31. jasen bowes Says:

June 10, 2009 at 1:56 am

Thanks- we like our bags too. i run North America for Property of and i like
your slant. Nice job. Thanks for exposing our brand to many folks.

jasen

Reply

1. wkdesigner Says:

June 10, 2009 at 6:52 am

Thx Jasen for the nod of approval. It is an excellent example of good

totebag design. Simple, utilitarian, and fashionable. It has been quite
popular with the DIY crowd and non-sewers alike.

12 of 14 09/10/2009 02:49 AM
 WD

Reply
32. Große Taschen, Einkaufstaschen, Schultaschen – Linkliste | Kostenlose-
Schnittmuster.de Says:

July 25, 2009 at 10:36 pm

[...] Tasche 100 [...]

Reply
33. Lavender Says:

August 19, 2009 at 3:55 am

[...] I’m away from the real world I will have my trusty Weekender Bag full
of knitting and sketch books to keep [...]

Reply

34. Paulina Says:

September 5, 2009 at 5:51 am

Hello!
Are seam allowances included in this pattern?
Thanks

Reply

1. wkdesigner Says:

September 5, 2009 at 4:11 pm

Yes, Paulina the seam allowance is inclusive on the pattern, except for
the “leatherette” cut pieces. The dimensions of the tote is
approximately 18″ x 8 x 17″ [45cm x 20.5cm x 43cm].
WD

Reply

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