Lenten Sewing - Adoration Bag Tutorial

When I go to Mass I take nothing but the absolute necessities; no purse, no phone. They only act as a distraction from what I am really there for. So for the same reason, the first time I went to Eucharistic Adoration I took nothing. I sat in the presence of Christ and relied on spontaneous prayer and lots of random thoughts, some not always so prayerful. Following that I always went with my rosary, this helped me better channel my thoughts. Currently, I have taken to journaling with scripture reading using an awesome book my cousin had gotten me a few years ago called The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer by Fr John Bartunek. This has really improved the time I spend with Christ. However, now that I have two books, a pen, a rosary and my car keys I find my entrance and exit church to be a little sloppy and sometime noisy (since I have become a Mom I have become very klutzy. Anyone else have that problem?) So my solution is a bag that is just big enough to fit what I need. I figured if it has extra room I am likely to fill that space with stuff that will ultimately be a distraction.

I was inspired by a messenger bag found here. I really liked the ruffles (a girl can never have too many ruffles) and the shape was what I was picturing. However,  I didn't follow the tutorial mainly because I don't do well with using the metric system. As soon as I got to the part where the fabric cuts were I just stopped. Call it lazy or stubborn I just can't seem to get the hang of metric measurements. So instead of trying to figure it out I just determined what size bag I needed and how I wanted it to function.  

I made several changes to suit my needs  so I put together a tutorial on how I made my version for anyone else who would like to make one. The bag holds a book stack 9" x 11"x  2.5" plus a little pocket great for prayer cards. I also have included the single rosary pouch tutorial found here which accompanies this bag nicely.

Adoration Bag

Tools Needed: 
Cutting Tool (Scissors or Rotary Cutter with Mat)
Iron (and ironing surface)
Straight Pins
Fabric Pen (I like to use the FriXion Pen by Pilot. It disappears with heat.)
Sewing Machine (and a new machine needle. Universal/All Purpose size 12 works well for this.)
Grommet Pliers (One for 3/8" grommets)
Hand Needle

Supplies Needed:
3/4 Yard of Main Fabric (you may need more if it has a directional pattern)
1/4 Yard of Lining Fabric (you may need more if it has a directional pattern)
(I used 1/4 yard of the floral fabric, 1/2 yard of the dot fabric and 1/4 yard of the solid teal fabric)
1 Yard of Fusible Fleece (I use Pellon 987F)
Coordinating Thread (all purposes 100% polyester works well for this)
2 - Swivel Hooks - 2"long for a 7/8" strap (They can be found here)
2 - 3/8" Grommets (They can be found here)

(Sew-ology is the Hobby Lobby brand however these are easy to find by Dritz too)

Cuts:

Bag =  main fabric cut 2 11.5"x10.5" (I mixed mine up did 1 of the floral and 1 of the dot)

           lining fabric cut 2 11.5"x10.5"

           fusible fleece cut 2 11.5"x10.5"

Pocket = main fabric cut 1 7.5"x10.5"

             lining fabric cut 1 7.5"x10.5"

             fusible fleece cut 1 7.5"x10.5"

Flap =  main fabric cut 1 11.5"x7"

           lining fabric cut 1 11.5x7"

           fusible fleece cut 1 11.5x7"

Ruffle = main fabric cut 1 4"x42" (I used the entire width of fabric, salvage edge to salvage edge)

Strap = main fabric cut 1 4"x42" (this can be shortened or lengthened to a strap length you prefer)  

           fusible fleece cut 1 4"x42" (this can be shortened or lengthened to a strap length you prefer)

Strap Tabs = main fabric cut 2 4"x3" (I used the lining fabric for this)

                   fusible fleece cut 2 4"x3"

(Sorry, I had started putting together the bag before taking pictures. This is how things looked after step 4)

Seam allowances are 1/2" unless indicated otherwise.

1.After cutting out all the pieces fuse the fleece to the back of the main fabric pieces according to the manufacturer's instructions.
2. Take the flap main fabric and the flap lining piece and trace a bowl or a round object with about a 8 3/8" diameter for the slope of one of the corners. Cut the rounded corner. (The position of the rounded corner can be seen in the picture above)

3. Fold and press the ruffle piece in half long ways, wrong sides facing each other. Sew a gathering stitch 1/4" from the raw edge. Repeat with a second gathering stitch 5/8" from the raw edge.

4. Gently pull the both the bobbin threads to gather the fabric. keep adjusting the gathers till the entire length has been gathered to fit the sloped side of the main piece of the flap (like shown above)  Fold over the ends of the ruffle so they will be caught in the seam when sewn, Pin in place.
NOTE: Make sure the end that meets the side of the bag flap (the one that is closest to the bottom of the picture) is folded over leaving a 1/2" gap to account for the sides seam allowance.
5. Sew the ruffle in place. The stitch should run between the two gathering stitches. 
6. Lay the flap lining piece on top of the main fabric piece. This will create a sandwich with the the ruffle in the middle. Pin in place and sew down the side, the curve and back up the other side leaving the top open.

. 7. Trim the corner and remove the gathering stitches. Turn right side out and press.

8.Sew together the pocket pieces right sides facing. Turn right side out and press. Top stitch the seamed edge of the fabric 1/8".

9. Pin the pocket to the front of the main fabric bag piece making sure that the pocket pieces seamed side in sitting in the center of the bag piece. (as shown above) Baste stitch the pocket in place down the sides and across the bottom 1/4" from the raw edge.

10. Sew together the two main fabric bag pieces right sides facing. 
11. Sew together the two lining fabric bag pieces right sides facing. Be sure to leave an opening approximately 3" long to allow tuning the bag right side out. (shown above)

12. Press open the bag & lining side and bottom seams. 

13. To create the box corner, stand the bag on end and point and flatten the corner of the bag. Line up the bags bottom and side seams and measure across the corner 2 1/2". The seam should be in the center. The half way point of the measurement in this case 1 1/4". Use the fabric pen to mark the stitch line and pin the corner in place.  (Use the picture above for reference.) Repeat on the other corner.

14. Repeat the box corners on the bag lining.

15. Sew along the stitch line on all four box corners. I go back and forth 3 times and for extra strength I do the same with a zigzag stitch right next to it. then trim the corner. (See above)

16. Turn the main bag right side out and center the flap across the back the bag. Line up the raw edges of the bag and the flap right sides facing and zigzag stitch in place 1/4" from the raw edge. I go back and forth a couple times for extra strength.

17. Fold the strap piece in half long ways right sides facing and sew the 1/2" seam allowance down the raw edge. Be sure to back stitch at the ends they take a beating when they are turned.
18. Fold the 2 strap tab pieces in half lining up the raw edge of 3" side, right sides facing and sew the 1/2" seam allowance down the raw edge. 
19. Turn all three tubes right side out and press so the seam is on the side. I use tube turners like shown above. 

20. Fold the raw ends of the strap 1/2" inside of the tube. Press and pin to hold in place.
21. Thread the 2 strap tubes through each of the swivel hooks. Fold in half lining up the raw end of the tubes,

22. Center the strap tube raw edge over the bags side seam and pin in place right sides facing. Zigzag stitch in place. I go over it a couple times for extra strength. 

23. Slide the main bag inside the liner right sides facing. Make sure the strap tabs and flap and tucked between the two. Line up the side seams and pin in place. Sew all the way around the raw edge of the bag.
24. Pull the main bag piece through that 3" wide opening that was left that bottom of the bag lining. Tuck the lining in to the bag.

25. Iron the bag lining down inside the bag and top stitch 1/8" all the way around the top of the bag. 

26. Top stitch the strap 1/4" all the way around the edge. This will close the open ends of the strap.

27. Mark the placement of the grommet on the straps. 1 1/4" from all three sides should be center. Follow the instructions for the grommet pliers to install the grommet. The Dritz pliers I use will puncture the hole in the fabric and clamps the metal grommet in place.

 Clip the swivel hooks through the grommets and all done!

I love, love, love this bag!!!!! It is exactly what I wanted for my trips to adoration. It fits exactly what I need and nothing more.

The key ring for my car key even clips nicely to the straps swivel hook. No digging around for the car key at the bottom of the bag.

The fabrics are perfect they help set the peaceful tone. The floral fabric is Inspiration III - White 5233 by Blank Quilting I purchased from the Bear Creek Quilting Company. The gray dot in it is actually a metallic paint (pictures don't do it justice). Sadly, I can not find this one any more it looks like it was discontinued sometime last year. The gray dot is Spotty Negative found at Hobby Lobby and the teal solid is a basic cotton I picked up a few years ago and can't remember where. 

I made a matching single pocket rosary pouch with the little bit of fabric I had left. The tutorial for that can be found here.

It's the perfect accessory for this bag. The only thing I think would make this bag better is an adjustable strap. I'll have to ponder that one. Maybe an update for the future.

I hope get a lot of use out of this bag. Let me know if you make one too. I'd love to see your pictures. They can be posted to the flickr group here.

Next up Bible Study Bag and Bible Cover.

Thanks for stopping by the nest!
Darla