Right now, we like our bags how we like our doughnuts - round, sizable and sweet. And who knew you could get In on this summer's hottest accessory trend with a bit of clever rope coiling?
This casual, cross-body treasure has holiday written all over it. It's light enough to throw on over your shoulder and has enough room for your phone, purse, sunnies and your current read.
It's easy to customise, too - keep threads neutral for a subtle look, or mix in brights for a rainbow fix. We'll be sewing ours and heading to the lido, dreaming of the Riviera.
MATERIALS
■ 30.5m (34yd) of braided natural cotton rope, 0.5cm (1/4") thick
■ Polyester thread, one large spool each in white and navy blue
■ Embroidery thread in blue, red, pink and white
■ Oval wooden bead, 3cm (1 1/4") long
■ Cardboard, 5cm (2") wide
■ Sticky tape
■ Embroidery needle
1. Load three bobbins with thread -this will be for inside the bag, so either colour works. Use navy blue as the top thread. Set the sewing machine to the widest, longest zigzag stitch. Coil the rope end, as shown, and place it under the presser foot keeping the working end on the right. Start by sewing across this and then sew around, coiling the rope and catching both sides of the rope with the needle.
2. To create stripes as you go, stop and change the top thread, backstitching at the start and finish. Create variations by shortening the stitch length periodically. Continue around until the diameter measures approximately 25cm (9/8").
3. To create the edge of the bag, lift the circle at a 45° angle to the sewing machine and continue coiling and sewing as before for approximately 4cm (1 5/8").
4. Backstitch and snip the threads. Turn wrong side (WS) out so the top stitching is on the outer curved side. Pin a loop of rope to the side at 2 o'clock and continue pinning to the other side, leaving enough rope for another loop, plus enough to reach to the bottom of the bag, then cut off the rope.
5. Sew the rope to the bag, backstitching at the stress point of the loop. Pin the second loop to the bag, tucking the end into the bag's edge. Sew from this end to the loop, backstitching to finish.
6. To create the second side, repeat Steps 1-3. Measure as you go to ensure they are identical -you can count the ropes to be exact. Flip the piece, tuck in the end and finish with backstitching.
7. Place the two bag sides on either side of the presser foot, WS facing, starting at the loop. Sew together, folding the bag in half on the right in order to get it under the sewing machine arm.
8. For the strap, use a piece of rope to measure where you want the bag to fall. Double this length and, using white thread, sew it to itself starting at the fold. Push this double rope through one of the loops on the bag and pin the rope to it leaving a little slack. Sew the rope to itself again - three widths now - backstitching at the end.
9. Measure the fourth length against the strap and cut the working end off the rope. To create a clean finish, use clear sticky tape around the rope and cut halfway through it. Pass the strap through the second loop, making sure the strap lays correctly, and sew the last length to the strap.
10. For the closure loop, finish both ends of a 20cm (7 7/8") length of rope with clear sticky tape, as in Step 9, and sew to the inside of the back of the bag, as shown.
11. To make tassels, wrap the embroidery thread around the cardboard ten times, leaving a tail at the top. Wrap the thread around the top and tie, then cut the bottom loop off the cardboard and trim. Make one in each colour, then tie to the bag loop.
12. Using the closure loop to measure the placement, sew the wooden bead to the bag with embroidery thread.
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