Bag instructions and pattern courtesy of 2009 IHDA Best Handmade Handbag
winner Alexis Campagna for Antibellum.
*This pattern is for personal use only.
Mirror Image Shopper
Materials:
 D-ring
 2¼ yds canvas
 1¼ yds contrasting fabric (when using store bought bias tape)
 3¾ yds bias tape
Mirror Image Shopper Sewing Instructions:
A
Cutting Directions:
(A) Outside – Cut 2 – Canvas
12"
(A+) Inward Facing Sides – Cut 2 – contrast printed fabric
2½"
17"
(B) Lining – Cut 4 – Canvas (or other lining fabric if desired, but canvas was used for additional body and sturdiness)
B
3¾"
(C) Outside Top Edge Trim – Cut 2 – contrast printed fabric
12"
17"
(D) Corner Patches – Cut 8 – contrast printed fabric
2½"
(E) Front Strapping (that attaches closure to bag) – Cut 2 – contrast
17"
printed fabric
12"
12"
3¾"
7¾"
3¾"
2½"
17"
D3¾"
13"
7¾"
135"
3. For each of the 2 pieces of A (Outside) and the 2 pieces of A+ (Inward
Facing Sides), cut a 2½" slit in the bottom corners as indicated by the
pattern. Stitch the slit closed to create a dart – this will give each side of
the bag its depth.
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2½"
3¾"
F
17"
4"
17"
18¾"
3¾"
3¾"
1¾"
3¾"
7¾"
6½"
7¾"
25"
17"
2½"
4½"
3¾"
2. Place a corner piece (D) on each corner of two pieces A (Outside). Place
the finished edge7¾"of the corner pieces (D) pointed towards the top of the
bag. Topstitch around the top of the Corner
Patches to secure them to
4"
the bag.
3¾"
17" 18¾"
3¾"
4"
2½"
17"
13"
3¾"
17"
1. Begin with25"piece D (Corner
Patches). Take two D pieces, right sides
3¾"
together, and sew a 1/8" seam where hatch lines indicate on pattern. Turn
right7¾"side out, and press seam. Repeat
this 3 more times for each of the
3¾"
corner accent pieces. *This is done so that when pieces are topstitched to
the outside of the bag,17"they4" have a finished edge.
4½"
E
135"
12"
7¾"
4"
2½"
17"
18¾"
25"
3¾"
Sewing Directions:
Assembling Outside Pieces:
2½"
1¾"
6½"
12"
25"
25"
6½" 17"
12"
7¾"
17"
4"
4½"
2½"
(H) Bias Tape – Cut according
to directions – length can be varied depending 3¾"
on where tape is used. Length
shown provides enough tape for all 4"
17"
2½"
trimming as
shown.
Or you can use store bought bias tape.
25"
17"
2½"
17"
C
13"
(G) Straps –17"3¾"
Cut 2 – Canvas
12"
2½"
17"
(F) Back Strapping (that
3¾" attaches closure to bag on back) – Cut 2 – contrast printed fabric
17"
13"
1¾"
25"
G
4½"
6½"
4"
135"
18¾"
25"
3¾"
H
135"
3¾"
Mirror Image Shopper Sewing Instructions:
(continued)
4. Take one piece C (Outside Top Edge Trim), place right side together against right side of piece A (Outside)
lining up the top of piece A and the bottom of piece C. Stitch across the bag and then down 2" on each side.
Pull up piece C so that the right side of the fabric is now facing up, iron seam and top stitch over it. There will
now be about 1" of fabric to iron over the raw top edge of piece A. Repeat this for the other piece A and the 2
pieces of A+.
**You now should have 2 pieces of canvas (A) that have top fabric which is ironed over the top edge and corner accents in
the same fabric. You should also have 2 inward facing pieces (A+) with darts and top fabric.
5. To create front strapping that attaches the D-ring closure to the bag, sew both pieces of E (Front Strapping)
wrong sides together, and finish the edges with bias tape. **Variation: If you’d like to skip the bias tape on this step, feel free to sew both sides together (right sides facing) and then
turn the strap out to right sides out. This will give you a finished edge without using bias tape.
6. Place D-ring at one end of strapping, folding it over twice (about 1" fold, two times) and stitch down right
below the D-ring. This secures the D-ring to the strapping.
7. Attach front strapping to the outside front bottom of bag by placing the strap with raw edge at the bottom of
one of the pieces (A) and the D-ring pointed to the top. Topstitch the outer edge of the strap to the canvas
piece (A). Stop just under the D-ring fold.
8. Repeat steps 5 through 7 for attaching back strapping (F) to the other outside (A).
9. Sew the Inward Facing Sides together, right sides facing, as indicated by the dotted line in the center of piece
(A) on the pattern page. The parallelogram shape should measure 10" at the top, 7" at the bottom, and 5"
inches on each side. **We suggest you create a small template using the measurements above and outline the shape on the inside lining of one
piece. This will help in sewing the two pieces together.
10.Place the back of the bag (piece A with longer strapping attached) with one side of the Inward Facing Sides,
wrong sides together. Place bias tape around bottom edge, and stitch bias tape into place, joining the two
pieces together.
11. Repeat step 12 for the front piece of the bag (piece A with the shorter strapping attached). **Be careful, while working on either side of the bag, to make sure that you fold the other side out of the way so as not to
inadvertently stitch the two separate sides together. This especially applies when sewing bias tape around sides to attach
front and back pieces, and when closing off the top. **You should now have 2 big pockets that are attached in the middle. Time to make the lining and handles!
For more information please visit: www.singerco.com
Mirror Image Shopper Sewing Instructions:
(continued)
Lining:
12.Create the lining the same way the outside pieces were created using piece B (Lining). Cut a 2½" slit in each
corner, create a dart, and sew right sides together. Turn out. Repeat this step for the other side of the bag.
13.Drop the lining in each side of the pockets. You will have 1" of overhang for the lining sticking out the top of
the bag. Turn this out, so that the top edge of the contrasting fabric on the front and back pieces are now
facing the top edge of the lining. This hides all raw edges.
Strap:
14.Create the strap by ironing piece G (Straps) down the center, wrong sides together, and applying bias tape to
the raw edges on the other side. Repeat this for the other strap.
15.Pin straps into preferred position in between the lining and outside contrasting fabric, and stitch around top
edge of each pocket.
Notes:
Bias tape has high fabric consumption as fabric must be cut on the diagonal – and including bias tape of the same
fabric will greatly increase the amount of fabric you need for this project.
For more information please visit: www.singerco.com