Stuff Sack Instruction Sheet
1. Cut out one of each: body, circle, top pocket and bottom pocket and a small piece 4 inches by 1 ¾ inches. Don’t forget to measure the grain line arrow.
2. Pin the top pocket to the bottom pocket on a long edge. Turn the stitch length control on 4.
Machine baste using a 6/8” seam. Do not backstitch.
3. Press open the seam you just basted.
4. Get your textbook. Read the centered zipper application pages 535-536.
5. Pin zipper in place with the tab facing in toward the seam.
6. Hand baste zipper in place.
7. Sew zipper in using a zipper foot, then remove all basting. Make sure the zipper will zip.
8. Using the paper miter sample, fold the edges as the teacher instructs you to do to miter the corners. Have your sample approved.
9. Now you will miter the corners of your pocket. Draw a 5/8” seam line on all four sides of the pocket. Turn under the corners as you did on the paper sample. Press. Turn under the edges on the 5/8” line you marked. Press. Don’t melt your zipper.
10. Place the pocket on the body, 3 inches from one of the long edges and centered between the two short edges. Pin in place.
11. Sew the pocket onto the bag very close to the edge of the pocket. You must pivot at all four corners so don’t start on a corner. DO BACKSTITCH. Don’t accidentally run into one of the metal pieces of the zipper.
12. Pin and sew the side seam of the body using a 5/8” seam and stopping 2 ¾ inches from the top of the bag. DO BACKSTITCH
13. Press open the seam that you just sewed.
14. Learn what it means to stay stitch.
15. Stay stitch on the 5/8” seamline around the cylinder-like bottom of the body, Making certain that the pressed seam stays open.
16. Get the piece that you cut 4” x 1 ¾”. Fold the long edges in to meet, then fold the entire piece in half. It should be long and skinny. Press. Topstitch along both long edges.
17. Pin the loop in place. Ask the teacher to show you where it goes.
18. Get a paper circle from the instructor and cut it out. Practice sewing a 5/8” seam around the circle. You don’t need thread. Get it approved by the instructor.
19. Pin the circle bottom to the bag body. You will need the instructor to get you started.
20. Sew the circle bottom onto the body of the bag on the 5/8” stitching line. DO BACKSTITCH. After removing the pins, check to see if there are any crunched places in the sewing. If it is all ok then sew around the circle again to reinforce the bottom of the bag.
21. You are now going to complete the 2 ¾ inch opening that you left at the top of the side seam. Turn the seam allowances under ¼” and press. Now turn it under again 3/8” and press. You are only working on the part that was left open. Sew close to the edge making a U shape. Do not backstitch.
22. Upper casing sample. Using the paper instruction sheet for the upper casing sample, complete the paper sample and have it approved.
23. On the bag you will complete the top just like you did on the paper sample. Turn under ¼ inch and press. Turn under an additional 1 inch and press. Pin every one inch. If you don’t pin well the fabric will move around while you sew. Sew close to the edge, making sure to backstitch. This area needs strength. Don’t forget to backstitch.
24. Insert the drawstring.
25. Trim all extra threads.
26. Turn in with scoring guide.