Calling anyone who can sew

[StickyNote]

Foolishly, I've promised to make ds a swimming bag that we can sew his swimming badges on to, like an old fashioned gym bag. Does anyone have a pattern, or know where I can get one (I am a complete sewing virgin so don't quite know what possessed me)

can you make one that is like a pillow case style with a drawstring top that goes down to the bottom and used to carry it? IYKWIM???

Not sure on measurements but could you get a piece of material approx 24" square. Just fold in half and sew 2 sides. Fold over at the top, abhout half an inch and thread a thin piece of rope through. Voila! Not sure why i'm adding to this as i'm cr*p at sewing too but there you are

obviously sew the 1/2 inch bit at the top

Stickynote, I'll ask my mum to run you up one if you can't manage it

and you can make it bigger I guess. I really should consider what I write before I post shouldnt I

Carla, I may well take you up on that

So if I wanted it to pull tight at the top AND go down to a bottom corner (IYSWIM) how would I do that?

now you're getting technical. have to think about that. Not sure, I suppose you could sew the rope onto the bottom but not attach all the way up then run it through tthe top. DOes that make sense

i;ve got a better idea - go and buy one or go and have a look at one in a shop . Dont think my last idea would work

No , my fault not yours. It's the kind of thing I would have had in a Blue Peter annual..

Aah that's an idea, I'll go and have a sneaky look. I've got to make it, ds wants to choose the material (sigh).

best of luck then! When you get the pattern you can sell them on MN

HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!

This is a tricky one to explain in writing, but what you need to do is figure out the size of the bag you want, (oh pants I am american and work in yard and inches!)But for examples sake, I would get 1/2 yard of fabric, cut it to the size you want using the fold so it forms the bottom of the bag, fold over the "top" parts of the bag(the ones opposite the fold) 1/2 inch. then another 1/2 (iron this so you have a crisp fold) sew along the bottom of this fold to attach this end of the fabric to the other fabric, making a channel for your cord, run cord through the channel, then through the other, pin end of doubled cord at bottom corner of bag, stich up to the seam for the top, with the cord in place(securing the cord) then stich up the other side. Pull cord and it should close the bag with the other part forming the strap to fit over the shoulder(measure to fit properly!!). God does that make sense?!?! There are better ways to do this but this is the basic way!

StickyNote - another option would be to buy a cheap drawstring bag, and sew his badges onto his 'special swimming towel' ...?

Thanks everyone. I'm going to try it out on a hanky, following your instructions v-e-r-y slowly...

roisin, that's a BRILLIANT idea!