I Am Beautiful Bee: My Mondo Bag

Mondo bag made for Shelby.

This is my first shot at any sort of tutorial, so no promises on clarity of directions. I will try to show you how I made my second one of the Mondo bags.

You will need:

-Two panels of the pattern that is printed on fusible web from Quilt Smart

-Enough fabric for 208 2-1/2 squares and two handles (I used less than half of a Bali pop or jelly roll) (you could also use just a few fabrics for a bold look, or even just strips)

-1-1/4 yd coordinating fabric for lining and handle lining

-1-1/4 yd fusible fleece

1) Cut the fusible pattern apart on the cut lines (little scissors show you where)

2) Cut your squares. This took about half an hour from jelly roll strips. Leave two strips for the handles. I used half of each strip for a more scrappy look.

3) With the bumpy side up (glue) and the "top point" in the upper left ...
(isn't my new ironing board cover cute?)

place your 2-1/2 in squares on the grid...

and press in place. I use a teflon/applique sheet to protect the iron. (There will be small amounts of glue exposed.) Note: If you take your pressed pieces to the fabric store at this point to pick out your lining, you WILL need to re-attach. The glue is a light weight one :0)

4) Next fold along the short side and sew no less than 1/4 inch seam. Do this for all short seams on each rectangle.
I did two at a time and "chain" stitched between the two.

Short seams stitched.

5) Clip each intersection up to the stitching. This will help the seams to lie flat and be pressed in opposite directions.

6) Next press each row in opposite directions. There are little arrows on the edge of the panel to show you which way to press. My tip for this step is to start with just the bottom row and go left. Then go back and work the second row to the right while keeping the bottom row going to the left. Then fold the panel in half so the top two rows only are showing and do the same thing.

(top two rows with bottom two folded under.)

7) Now stitch the long seams. On your second seam of each panel be careful to keep the seam underneath headed in the right direction.

8) Press the long seams up. There are directions printed on the fusible.

9) Measure your rectangles. They will be around 8-1/2 x 26-1/2 inches. Don't stress if they aren't, there are a lot of seams so they will probably be different. Mine were and it still works.

Cut your lining and fleece to your rectangle measurements.

Also cut lining and fleece the same size as the handle strips.

Fuse the fleece to the wrong side of your lining and handle lining. Fuse interfacing to wrong side of handle strips. Set aside.

Here is where I forgot to take pictures. I will update next time I make another bag :0)

10) Place one rectangle right side up horizontally. Place another one vertically above it to make an "L". Bring the top one down making them right sides together. The "bottom center" marks on the fusible pattern will match. Stitch from the bottom center point to the end (about four squares long). Fold open and press to the top of the "L". Repeat with the other two rectangles.

11) Place one "L" on the table right fabric side up, but with the "L" upside down. Place the second one next to it as an "L" so the four bottom center squares meet (that is printed on the fusible pattern).

Next place these pieces right sides together and stitch together from where the diagonal lines meet on each side. (The diagonal lines form the outline for the bag bottom). Press seams in opposite directions, twisting at the middle.

12) With pieces lying face up, fold top leg of the "L" on diagonal "bottom" line counter clock-wise, so it is right sides together with the one pointing to the left. Interlock and pin seams. Sew from the center out. Repeat for all four sides working counter clock-wise.

13) Place lining sides right side up in backwards "L" (mirror of step 10). Make 2 backwards "L"s. Sew the "L"s together matching centers. Press. Sew seams in the same manner as the outer bag. LEAVE ABOUT 8 IN OPEN IN ONE SIDE FOR TURNING.

14) Place a handle fabric strip and a lining piece right sides together and stitch down each long side, leaving ends open.

turn handle right side out and press. (I really want one of the turny things!)

Top stitch edges of handles. Repeat for second handle.

If you are adding a key strap, do that now. Fuse key strap interfacing to wrong side of 2-1/2 inch strip and trim. Fold edges to dotted line and fold in half again, enclosing the raw edge. Top stitch.

15) Pin Handles, right sides together, to "top point" and stitch in place on lines on pattern. Pin and stitch key loop to desired place at this point also.

16) Insert lining into bag, right sides together. Match raw edges, pin well, ease as needed. Stitch on solid lines, pivot at handle edge, stitch across handles at previous stitch line or just below, pivot again and continue. Clip inner corners to stitching (the bottom of the "v"). Double stitch along solid line again to reinforce. Turn bag. Neaten the edges and top stitch around top edges or "bind". Close turning hole by hand or machine.