Parachute Paraphernalia

I am a soccer player at my high school and often end up carrying on average three or four bags to school! I could not stand it! I would have three classes and finally soccer, but in between all of those classes I would have to lug around everything that I had to bring to school. I finally decided on a solution. I was going to make a bag that would fit everything I needed.

Materials:
Two old, broken umbrellas
2 cloth belts or handles from another broken bag
scissors
18 inch zipper
6x6 square template

Procedure:


1. Separate the umbrella fabric from the metal framing using scissors.



2. Wash the umbrella fabric and let it dry.
3. Using a 6x6 square template cut out 6 squares from one umbrella and 8 from the other.



4. Lay out how you want your bag to look.
5. Get 2 of the 6 squares you cut and place the 2 squares right sides together, pin, and stitch down the bottom side.
6. Fold the seam allowance to one side and sew a top stitch to hold it in place.
7. Take another square from the 6 squares you cut and use it for a pocket, fold down the top of it twice making a small hem. Sew on the top and bottom of the hem.
8. Place the pocket where you want it on the middle panel and mark it.
9. Pin the pocket to where your marks are on the panel and sew right sides together.
10. Fold the pocket up and sew down the left and right sides of the pocket to hold it in place.
11. Get 2 of the eight squares you cut out, pin right sides together, stitch a seam along the bottom side, open and and stitch a top stitch.
12. Get 2 more squares and repeat step 11
13. Pin the 2 panels you just made to the middle panel with the pocket. Pin right sides together one on each side.
14. Stitch one panel onto the right side of the middle panel with the pocket right sides together and one panel to the left side of the middle panel with the pocket right sides together.
15. Open out each side and stitch a top seam.
16. Repeat steps 5 through 15 to make the other side of your duffel bag.
17. Take your zipper and open it up.
18. Pin one side of your zipper to one side of the bag right sides together and sew it one.
19. Fold the zipper out and top stitch it down.
20. Pin the other side of the zipper to the other side of the bag right sides together and sew it on as well.
21. Fold the zipper out and top stitch it down.
22. Remove all metal parts from your belts.
23. Pin one belt along the sides of the middle panel and sew down both sides of the strap stopping where the top of the pocket starts.
24. Repeat with the other belt for the other side.



25. Pin the two sides of the bag right sides together and sew the bottom part closed.
26. Create a circle template with the circumference equal to the length of the total measurement of the side of the bag.
27. Cut 2 circles out of your left over umbrella fabric.
28. Pin a circle to one side of the bag and sew together.
29. Repeat on the other side with the other circle.
30. Be careful when sewing over the zipper.
31. Turn the bag inside out and look at the completed project!