Busy Bag / Travel Bag.
Instructions for Busy Bag Kit:
(or travel bag, etc.) For Metric measurements see below.
Cut two pieces of fabric approx. 13 1/2” x 9 1/2”.
Cut batting same size. Use a thin batting, cotton or polyester. Put batting on bottom, then both pieces of fabric
on top, with their right sides together. Lay a bias square on the corners and cut off about a 2” right triangle from
each corner. Sew all around using a quarter inch seam, leaving enough space to turn.
[Niki's Note-turn the bag right side out and stitch the opening closed then continue].
Using the small snack zip bags, place 2 on each side, slightly staggered. Use a piece of bias tape to anchor
bags, or make strip from matching fabric (the latter looks better). (A fellow quilter also suggests using snap
tape to make bags removable. See Tips Section.
Sew a piece of felt approx. 2” x 3” for needles on one side.
Finish by sewing velcro strips for closing on either end.
Larger Size, with handles.
approx. finished size closed is 8"x12"
(or travel bag, etc.) For Metric measurements see below.
Size when closed approx. 6.5"x9.0" when finished
Cut two pieces of fabric approx. 13 1/2” x 9 1/2”.
Cut batting same size. Use a thin batting, cotton or polyester. Put batting on bottom, then both pieces of fabric
on top, with their right sides together. Lay a bias square on the corners and cut off about a 2” right triangle from
each corner. Sew all around using a quarter inch seam, leaving enough space to turn.
[Niki's Note-turn the bag right side out and stitch the opening closed then continue].
Using the small snack zip bags, place 2 on each side, slightly staggered. Use a piece of bias tape to anchor
bags, or make strip from matching fabric (the latter looks better). (A fellow quilter also suggests using snap
tape to make bags removable. See Tips Section.
Sew a piece of felt approx. 2” x 3” for needles on one side.
Finish by sewing velcro strips for closing on either end.
Larger Size, with handles.
approx. finished size closed is 8"x12"
Optional Handles:
Cut 2 pieces of fabric, 4” x 13.5”
Cut batting for handles 1.25” wide—insert and secure with 4 lines of stitching. I make handles by folding
once. That and pressing down 1.5” of the long side of the handle. Then insert batting into the 1/2” fold,
fold over should leave approx. 1/2” of fabric—fold this over to meet the folded edge of the inserted
batting and press—in other words, you have a handle with one side that now needs to be edge stitched.
I edge stitch the other long side, then come in about 1/4” from each of these stitchings, and sew another
line. You want to be very sure that the batting is held securely.
Cut 2 pieces of fabric, 4” x 13.5”
Cut batting for handles 1.25” wide—insert and secure with 4 lines of stitching. I make handles by folding
once. That and pressing down 1.5” of the long side of the handle. Then insert batting into the 1/2” fold,
fold over should leave approx. 1/2” of fabric—fold this over to meet the folded edge of the inserted
batting and press—in other words, you have a handle with one side that now needs to be edge stitched.
I edge stitch the other long side, then come in about 1/4” from each of these stitchings, and sew another
line. You want to be very sure that the batting is held securely.
Making The Bag:
I started with fabric and batting cut to approx. 12 1/2” x 16 1/2”. For the Busy Bags I like to use a piece
of muslin, draw a grid on it (lay ruler at 45 degree angle for the grid), then layer front piece, batting and
muslin, and quilt. Then layer again with quilted piece and inside piece to make the bag. All the other
instructions remain basically the same as the sewing kit. I used one purchased zipper pocket on one
side and clear plastic freezer bags staggered on the other side. You can certainly use any combination
you want to use. (I prefer to buy the Wal-Mart bags, because they don’t have a brand name written
across the front.)
I started with fabric and batting cut to approx. 12 1/2” x 16 1/2”. For the Busy Bags I like to use a piece
of muslin, draw a grid on it (lay ruler at 45 degree angle for the grid), then layer front piece, batting and
muslin, and quilt. Then layer again with quilted piece and inside piece to make the bag. All the other
instructions remain basically the same as the sewing kit. I used one purchased zipper pocket on one
side and clear plastic freezer bags staggered on the other side. You can certainly use any combination
you want to use. (I prefer to buy the Wal-Mart bags, because they don’t have a brand name written
across the front.)
To place the bags onto the busy bag, first I find the middle of the bag between the top and bottom
of the bag and mark it. Then I lay the clear bags across the line, watching that they won't show when
the Busy Bag is closed. If you're using the plastic bags only, put 2 on each side, staggered so they'll be
easy to open. The sewing bag uses the small freezer bags, and the larger busy bag can use both the
small and large bags or any combination.
of the bag and mark it. Then I lay the clear bags across the line, watching that they won't show when
the Busy Bag is closed. If you're using the plastic bags only, put 2 on each side, staggered so they'll be
easy to open. The sewing bag uses the small freezer bags, and the larger busy bag can use both the
small and large bags or any combination.
Pin the bags in place (no cutting yet). When all the bags are positioned just like I want them, I actually
draw the middle line on the top bag with a fine line permanent marker and then sew down the middle
of the bag on the marked line. NOW you can cut off the excess bag, but leave about 1/2" or a little less.
[Niki's Note: Try to only pin near the center line as the pin holes can eventually cause rips, especially in
the thinner snack bags. Better to use freezer bags in sandwich size and wack off the extra for durability.]
draw the middle line on the top bag with a fine line permanent marker and then sew down the middle
of the bag on the marked line. NOW you can cut off the excess bag, but leave about 1/2" or a little less.
[Niki's Note: Try to only pin near the center line as the pin holes can eventually cause rips, especially in
the thinner snack bags. Better to use freezer bags in sandwich size and wack off the extra for durability.]
Now take a piece of the matching fabric cut about 2” wide and an inch or more longer that the center
measurement of the bag. Fold long raw edges to the center, and fold in raw edges on the ends.
measurement of the bag. Fold long raw edges to the center, and fold in raw edges on the ends.
Sew the 1" piece of fabric (enough to cover the raw edges of the clear bags) by sewing all four sides.
That means that when you look at the bag from the outside you'll see 3 lines of stitching in the middle --
giving the bag a little shape.
That means that when you look at the bag from the outside you'll see 3 lines of stitching in the middle --
giving the bag a little shape.
Now fill the zip locks with sewing take along, or pencils, crayons, little notebooks, small books like follow
the dots, pictures to color, maybe a matchbox car or two. Just use your imagination. Our guild has made
these for pro bono, and they’re perfect for the children’s ward in your local hospital. (Careful to avoid
toys will small pieces, choking hazards, etc. or check with your hospital's requirements).
the dots, pictures to color, maybe a matchbox car or two. Just use your imagination. Our guild has made
these for pro bono, and they’re perfect for the children’s ward in your local hospital. (Careful to avoid
toys will small pieces, choking hazards, etc. or check with your hospital's requirements).
A few examples of the finished bags, closed:
The same bags, opened up:
A couple of close-ups:
LENGTH
|
IMPERIAL
|
METRIC
|
|
1/16"
|
1.5mm
|
|
1/8"
|
3mm
|
|
1/4"
|
6mm
|
|
1/2"
|
1.25cm
|
|
3/4"
|
1.9cm
|
|
1"
|
2.54cm
|
|
3"
|
7.5cm
|
|
6"
|
15cm
|
|
9"
|
23cm
|
|
1ft
|
30.48cm
|
|
24"
|
61cm
|
|
36"
|
91.5cm
|
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