ArtWeaverStudio November 2014

SAKIORI BAG or use any other SAORI handwoven cloth!

The example bag pictured was woven from recycled vintage indigo linen

kimono cloth. Cloth was cut into approx. 1cm strips and woven on a black

cotton warp @ 30cm width x 74cm long. Small amounts of other yarns were

used as highlights in the cloth. Handles, gusset, facing and interior pocket are

made with cotton chintz fabric.

This pattern results in a finished bag 35.5cm wide x 27.5cm high (to top rim)

Consider options of joining smaller pieces of Saori weaving together, using cloth on the diagonal, mixing

handwoven & commercial cloth. Feel free to vary this pattern in any way your imagination takes you!

Materials: (these measurements include a seam allowance of 1.5cm)

o Hand-woven cloth for Bag Exterior Weave cloth for front & back of bag. Suggest either a 30cm width warp x 74cm long OR 40cm width warp x 60cm long.

o Close-weave Fabric (eg cotton chintz, denim, etc) for gusset (sides & bottom), handles, top facing & interior pocket.

o Coordinating machine thread for top stitching.

Instructions:

1. Cut out pattern piece (A) for front/back of bag.

2. Cut pieces B,C,D,E from close-weave cloth.

3. Fold Saori cloth in half – sew straight machine stitch parallel lines (about 1cm apart) along centre of cloth. Cut between these stitched lines.

4. Pin pattern piece onto Saori cloth (bag front) and machine stitch OUTSIDE the pattern piece around the curved lower corners to stabilise cloth. Do this a second time on other half of Saori cloth (bag back). See diagram A.

5. Pin long edge of Gusset (Piece C) with right sides together to edge of bag front – machine stitch, easing around lower corners.

ArtWeaverStudio November 2014

6. Pin other long edge of Gusset (C) with right sides together to edge of bag back – machine stitch, easing around lower corners.

7. HANDLES x 2 (Piece B) a. Press in half – stitch and turn right side out. b. Align seam to centre, press and top-stitch parallel lines along length of each handle.

8. INTERIOR POCKET x 1 (Piece E) a. Fold and stitch double hem along both sides and one edge of pocket. Press. b. Fold up lower pocket section (approx.. 12cm) and stitch to sides of pocket.

9. TOP FACING (Piece D) a. Stitch 2 pieces together, press seam open. b. Pin top facing (right sides together) to upper edge of bag. c. Determine position for handles and pin between bag outer & top facing. Make sure handles are not twisted! d. Machine stitch around entire bag top approx. 1cm from top edge. This will also attach the handles. e. Fold facing up and into bag. Press in place. f. Add reinforcing stitching where handles are encased in facing seam to ensure strength. g. On INSIDE of bag, fold facing up towards bag rim and press in place. h. Determine interior pocket location, pin between bag facing & bag exterior – machine stitch across to secure. This pocket is only attached

at the facing seam – it hangs free inside the bag. See pics.

10. GUSSET FACING x 1 (Piece C) a. Turn bag inside out and machine stitch one long edge of the gusset facing just inside the first stitch line. This ensures the facing is not

seen on the outside of the bag. b. Press other long edge under to fit and c. Hand stitch in place.

This bag could be fully lined if desired. Use Pattern Piece A & Piece C to create a separate lining, attach at bag top rim, leaving small area open to pull through. This would avoid the need for the top rim facing (Piece D), but take care to attach the Interior Pocket to the lining BEFORE stitching to bag rim.

ArtWeaverStudio November 2014

PATTERN PIECES for Sakiori Bag - apart from piece A, all pieces are rectangles with right angle corners (diag. rough free hand)

Heather Walters

www. artweaver.com.au

Right: Top facing D is joined into

circle before attaching to bag.

Suggest make pattern

piece A from baking or

tissue paper. No other

pieces require a paper

pattern – simply

measure, mark & cut.

Above diag of Interior Pocket E shows

construction & positioning under top facing. It

is only attached to bag at this point, handing

free inside the bag interior. Adjust size to fit

your own phone etc!

Widt

h

Length

80cm (OR

Cut 2 x

40cm)