Ok the other day I made a bag. I used one piece of tape meas. on each side. Sandwiched fabric and used no lining, so of course the raw edges were showing on the inside. Others and myself thought that it looked good. Until someone meantioned to me about using lining so that you couldn't see the raw edges.
So today instead of making a new one I thought that I would take this one apart and add the lining. Well everything was going ok. Instead of using one piece of tape I used 2 pieces on each side. Until I got to sewing the side closed where you put the tape in because of the thickness. Also I have trimmed my tape down to almost 6" and my bag is about 8". It was about 7" to start with. Should I not use the lining if I am going to sandwich it? I had no problem of the thickness the first time. So I want to show some pictures of what is happening. I need some help please. Is there something that I am doing wrong. The only thing I haven't done yet on this time around is the bottom corners. By the way now that I have lining should I maybe use only one piece of the tape?

Why is it that everything that is so easy and all of you help me all the time I still have problems and tons of questions? I fell so stupid at times.

my sides go straight down, not slanted. The instructions call for outside fabric, batting and lining. Only one piece of tape on each side.

Hope this helps,
simple quilter

The link tatteredgarden done theirs strip pieced and I think it said no lining because of it done that way was already thick. So instead of strip piecing I decided to fmq and at first like I said didn't add lining but seen the seams. Then I redid it and left the sandwich and just added lining and another piece of tape. So it does seem to be too thick doesn't it? Did you fmq yours. So if you added lining then your seams were hidden right? It may look like my seams are slanted but they go straight down too. It just looks like that from the way I am holding it to take the pictures.

I have the patterns from Stitchin' Sisters and will look them up tomorrow. I do remember when I tried using prequilted fabric and lining, there was a space. I did a separate lining, sewn to the inside band, and pushed it inside so there wasn't any raw seams, but the side seams, at the top were bulky.

I quilted my own fabric. The inside of the bag does have exposed seams. If you made the seam a little bigger you could french seam them and they'd be finished. Have thought of that but haven't down it yet.
I have the orginal snap bag pattern. I'm going to look yours up.
Good luck,
simple quilter

If mine is different from yours would you mind sharing yours? You said that yours calls for outside fabric, batting and lining right? Well that is exactly what I had at first and then had the exposed seams. But worked and looked just fine. Then I decided to change it.

Also I heard I think on here and at my lqs that someone made some and put ziplock baggies inside. Well I got this idea and bought some clear plastic and was going to try and line. But if I am already having problems then that might be a problem to thickness wise. Do you think.
I thought of putting the plastic in so that if you use it as a make up bag it wouldn't get all over the bag and would be in there permentally.

I have not made one of these yet, but the ones I've done with drawstrings, which create the same sort of top edge, I did not fold over the outer heavier, bulkier fabric, but stitched the lining to the very top of the bag, then created a casing for the drawstring by stitching about 1/2" - 3/4" below. I finished the seam allowances at the ends by either hand or machine stitching a narrow "shirt-tail" hem.

Is the problem just closing....the "snap" back? If that is the only thing wrong, did you put the tape in the right direction? If you put it in the wrong way, it won't close.

Yes the tape is in there correctly. Its just to thick to sew closed as my machine has a hard time sewing it closed and then when
I did get it sewed closed the tape still didn't close like it was suppose to but now I have 2 pieces of the tape in it.
I know that it doesn't look to nice when you have your edges showing but I may go back to the way I had it without the lining. Oh I don't know what to do.
Here is the link that I got my pattern from:
tatteredgarden.snappybag.com
Hope someone here can help me figure out what I am doing right/wrong. I really would like to make these for gifts this year.

My seams are exposed, i did a satin stitch to cover them.
why would someone point that out to you?

i think it is very cute and you did a good job!

i also used fusable fleece inside, and i just didn't go all the way to the ends with it..so it wasn't too thick where i was to sew it up. it has a lining..

I think you should go back to the way you had it in the first place. If the seams aren't fraying it doesn't make any difference. If it is fraying, then use an overlock stitch of some kind on the edges. I have done the bags and several totes both ways. It isn't going to show when you carry it and only you will see the inside when you open it.

I have made some of the small bags and I agree with watterstide about finishing the seams with overlock or such to avoid the bulk at the top.
LOVE the fabric you used watterstide for your bag also the loop is a great feature.
Jan

Since you used fusible fleece did you quilt it? What pattern do you have that the top of your bag is the same as the lining? And since your seams are showing you did turn your fabric right?

Thank you I like the first one too. I just wanted to put the lining it. I guess if I don't quilt and maybe use something fussible and thin then maybe i would be able to add the lining too.

You know I just looked at your link for your projects and seen how you did your bags. So I have my answers now. I seen that you added batting and didn't fmq. I seen how you over lapped the lining to the outside.
1) The first one I did right.
2) The second one I wanted to keep it the way it was and added lining. I had the outer fabric, batting and the back fabric(or lining) but free motioned so I thought that I still needed to add another piece of fabric to have a lining so that the seams then wouldn't show.
3). Now do you think I will still have this prolem if I try to put the vinyl plastic (clear plastic)in it?

took me a while to find the pictures i took of it..
no quilting of the fabric at all. no need to. i think it is either the small or medium sized one. haven't made the large one yet.

i have never worked with the clear plastic in a project..but you let me know how that goes will ya?! lol

and the finished project.
i use it for my kodak camera i keep in my purse.

someone here made really big, purse size ones with her kids..sorry. i can't remember who it was...they were awesome!

i get the tape measure from the dollar store..

Thank you for posting your pictures. About how wide is the band at the top of your bags? Yours look quick and easy to. Well they all are. Like I said before on here I think. Things that are so easy to make I seem to have or make things more complicated for myself and takes forever to make.

I only took the batting up to the "fold" line. That is, I cut the batting 2" shorter than outside piece so that I didn't have the batting doubled in the casing.