Sugar & Spice Boxy Bottom Pattern Hack by Shanel of Sanity’s Crafts Designs

Today Shanel of Sanity’s Crafts Designs is going to share with us her method of converting the Sugar & Spice’s curved bottom to a boxy bottom! Many people prefer boxy bottoms because they are easier to work with. So….let’s not waste any time with chit chat…over to you, Shanel:

These instructions are intended to be used along side the Original Sugar & Spice Instructions.

Print the pattern pieces (do not cut them out yet)

You will not need the BASE nor the BASE Fleece/Peltex pieces if you’d like to skip printing those.

We will be modifying the following 4 pieces:

BODY-BOTTOM HALF

BODY FLEECE

EXTERIOR SLIP POCKET

BOTTOM STRAP

Extending the bottom of BODY-BOTTOM HALF piece by 1.5”

Take the BODY-BOTTOM HALF pattern piece and draw a line 1.5” away from the bottom of the original cutting line, along the entire length of the bottom then extend the original side cutting lines  to meet the line just drawn; this will be the new cutting line.

Extending the bottom of BODY FLEECE piece by 1.5”

Take the BODY FLEECE piece and tape a piece of paper to the bottom portion along the pattern piece bottom (because it is not quite long enough to draw the new line).  Now do the same as before, drawing a line 1.5” along the entire length of the bottom and extending the sides, this will be the new cutting line.

Cutting out a 1.5” square corner from the BODY-BOTTOM HALF & BODY FLEECE pieces

On the lower right corner of BOTH BODY-BOTTOM HALF & BODY FLEECE pieces, measure 1.5” in from the right side and draw a line and again from the bottom lineto make a square.

You may now cut out these pieces on the NEW CUTTING LINES. (don’t forget to tape the top portion to the Body piece–not shown here)

Extending the bottom of EXTERIOR SLIP POCKETS piece by 2”

Take the EXTERIOR SLIP POCKETS piece and tape a piece of paper to the bottom portion along the pattern piece bottom (because it is not quite long enough to draw the new line).  Now draw a line the same as before only this time it is 2” from the original cutting line of the pattern bottom.  You may now cut this piece out on the new cutting lines.

Extending the bottom of BOTTOM STRAP piece by 2”

Lastly, take the BOTTOM STRAPS piece and tape a piece of paper to the top portion along the pattern piece top (because it is not quite long enough to draw the new line)  Draw a line 2” away from the TOP of the original cutting line, along the entire length of the TOP,  then extend the original side cutting lines  to meet the line just drawn; this will be the new cutting line.   (These may be longer than needed)

Continue on with Chris’ Sugar & Spice Instructions through 6d EXCEPT you need to do 6d for ALL EXTERIOR SLIP POCKETS. (the bottom edges of all pocket will be raw edges and basted)

Skip Steps 6e and 6f of the original Sugar & Spice Instructions

STEP 6g: Lay the first pocket centered and 1” above the raw edge of the BODY piece, pin and then baste in place along the Pocket sides with a ⅛” seam.

Continue on with Chris’ Sugar & Spice Instructions through STEP 6j

IMPORTANT!!! You will now need to stitch across the lower portion of the slip pockets!!

Measure and mark 2” up from the bottom raw edge of the slip pockets and draw a line with a fading sewing marker or a hera marker.  Stitch along this line 2 times.  (If you do not do this, the back pocket will have no bottom and the front pocket items will slip to the underside of your bag 😉

STEP 6k-6o.  Please note that the straps may be slightly longer than you need.  It is better to have too much at the bottom edge than not enough.  Most importantly, make sure your rings all measure the same distance from the bottom, then if you have extra strap, trim it off at the bottom.

Personally, I fold the top of the strap 2” down, add the ring, stitch across the strap about ¾” from the ring then continue with STEP 6k then topstitch close to the edge up toward the ring, across about ¼” from the ring and then back down close to the edge of the strap.

Continue on with the original Sugar & Spice Instructions through STEP 7 (if using rivets.)

Skip STEPS 8a and 8b (you don’t want piping on the very bottom of this boxy bag)

STEP 9 For Boxy Bottom:

Sew the Bottom

Lay the 2 body pieces right sides together, line up the bottom raw edges and stitch.  Press seam open.  I like to topstitch ⅛” away from the seam on both sides.

Sew the sides

Right sides together, pin the sides together and stitch, press seams open.  Again I like to topstitch ⅛” away from the seam on both sides.

Repeat for the other side.

Skip STEPS 9e-9h of the original Sugar & Spice Instructions

Boxing the corners.

With the bag still wrong side out, put your hand inside down to one corner and fold the bag in on itself so that a side seam lays against the bottom seam and it looks like the photo below..the raw edges of the corners should be together and the seams should be lined up.

Stitch across parallel to the raw edge with a ¼” seam, twice then repeat for the other corner.

Turn the bag inside out and admire your progress 🙂

For the lining follow the Original Sugar & Spice Instructions STEPS 10-12c THEN follow the same procedure for boxing the bottom as above starting with “STEP 9 For Boxy Bottom:” IMPORTANT!!!! Leave an opening along the bottom or side for turning your bag! And you do not need to topstitch along the seams of the lining.

Skip steps 13-14 except, please do pin the zipper out of the way 😉

I put my base inside between the outside and lining of the bag and insert the feet through the base.  I cut my base at about 3” x 12”.  You may wish to make a separate piece that lays in the bottom much like the one in Chris’ instructions STEP 14 only it would need to be rectangular.

Continue on with the original Sugar & Spice Instructions STEPS 15-16 to finish your bag!

Shanel
Sanity’s Crafts Designs
Giving you sanity, one stitch at a time.
http://sanityscrafts.com
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Thank you so much Shanel! That is an AWESOME pattern hack and I am sure a lot of people are going to give it a whirl!

If you are looking for the original Sugar & Spice pattern, you can find it HERE!