How to Sew a bag for Mothers Day

Step 3 Cut out your pieces

Decide how large you want your bag to be. I lucked out because my fabric has a very handy square pattern on it. I decided I wanted my bag to be 13 inches tall, 18 inches wide and 9 inches deep because that size worked well with my pattern, however you can really make your bag any size you want.
Measure out one large rectangle that will have a length equal to twice the height of your bag plus the depth and a width that is equal to the width of your bag. This piece will wrap around to become the two large sides of your bag and the bottom.

If that is confusing think of it this way: My final bag will be 13 inches tall and 9 inches deep so this rectangle will be 35 inches long and 18 inches wide. 13inches+13inches+9inches=35 inches

Then cut out the smaller rectangles for the smaller sides. These rectangles will have the width of the height of the bag and the length of the depth of you bag. For example, my side pieces will be 13 inches by 9 inches.

You can then use these piece to cut out the same pieces of the lining fabric so you don't have to measure the liner all over again.

Also, if you want a pocket on the outside, cut it out but cut it about an inch bigger than you want it to be so you can fold the edges under.