WAX ON DUFFLE

BY BIANCA SPRINGER

Stitch a fun bag perfect for all your travels. Learn how to create a custom pattern on waxed canvas with a geometric stencil.

Skill Level: Beginner SUPPLIES • Travel bag pattern (such as BurdaStyle 7119)

• 13⁄4 yards of waxed canvas

• 1 yard each of 55"-wide light

weight woven cotton (lining) & heavyweight fusible interfacing

• Two 11⁄2"× 42" leather straps

• Punches: fabric & single leather

• 16 double-capped or standard rivets & attachment tool

• Three 3⁄4"-diameter magnetic snaps

• Size 100/16 universal needle

• Coordinating polyester thread

• Geometric stencil (See “Sources.”)

• 12 ounces of fabric spray paint (See “Sources.”)

• Temporary spray adhesive

• Press cloth

• Binding clips (See “Sources.”)

tip If using a mediumweight home-décor fabric for the lining, select a lightweight fusible interfacing.

paper or other covering. Position all the exterior bag pieces except one flap piece right side up on the flat work surface.

PREPARE Cut out the pattern pieces from the waxed canvas and lining according to the pattern instructions. The featured bag uses two coordinating waxed canvas colors for the bag exterior.

Cut out the pattern pieces from the interfacing according to the pattern instructions, except cut full lining pieces.

Fuse the interfacing to the corresponding pattern pieces following the manufacturer’s instructions.

STENCIL Select a well-ventilated room. Protect a large flat work surface with Apply temporary spray adhesive to the stencil wrong side. Position the stencil right side up over one bag piece; finger-press to secure. Place scrap paper or fabric around the stencil to prevent overspray.

Apply the paint over the stencil in light, even layers. Once satisfied with the coverage, allow the paint to dry following the manufacturer’s instructions. Remove the stencil.

Repeat to create an all-over pattern on each bag piece.

CONSTRUCT Construct the bag following the pattern instructions, using binding clips instead of pins and stopping before the strap construction.

tip Always press a waxed-canvas scrap with a press cloth to test the iron temperature before pressing the project fabric.

Create evenly spaced rivet placement markings on the bag exterior and each strap short end. Punch a hole at each marking using the corresponding leather or fabric punch.

Attach each strap to the bag using rivets and following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Finish constructing the bag following the pattern instructions.

SOURCES C lo v er c a rries W on d er C lips: clo v er-u s a.com . I Lo v e To C re a te c a rries Tu lip C olor S hot I nsta nt Fab ric C olor: ilo v etocre a te .com . Th a n ks I Mad e Them c a rries the M o d La ser Cu t F elt S tencil: th a n ksim ad ethem .etsy.com .