Itty Bitty Capri Sun bag tutorial

I decided to write up a tutorial for the Itty Bitty Capri Sun bags I made a while back.  If you haven't yet tried sewing with juice pouches, this is an easy project to start with.  You will only need 5 pouches in all.  To prepare the pouches for sewing, use a knife (or I use nail scissors) to make a slit all the way across the bottom of the juice pouch (the part that allows the pouch to stand up when it's full of juice).  Pour out any remaining juice and rinse the pouch out with water thoroughly.  You can use soapy water if you want, but I usually just rinse with plain old water.  Stand the pouches upright on a towel to dry.  Make sure they are completely dry inside before sewing.  Even after standing up they still may have some drops left, so you can dry these with a towel.

You will need 5 pouches.  Four are for the sides and one for the bottom of your bag.  In this photo, the four on top are for the sides.  I planned to have the purple ones on opposite sides with the silver ones between.  The Wild Cherry pouch is for the bottom.

Line up one of your side pouches and the pouch for the bottom as shown in the photo.  Using your scissors, you will trim off the extra part sticking out so the bottom is exactly the same width as one juice pouch.

When trimmed, the bottom should look like this.

Next you will line up one of your full-size pouches with the bottom piece, backs together (logos facing out) and sew them together using a wide zig-zag stitch.  I use regular cotton thread and a heavy-duty needle.  Go from one end all the way to the other, backstitching at both ends.

Repeat the above step with the pouch you want on the opposite side of the bag.  When finished, your piece should look like the photo.  Be sure to pay attention to how you align the pouches so your finished bag doesn't have an upside-down side.

Next you will take one of your remaining two pouches and line it up back to back with one of your "side" pouches.  In my example, I am aligning the pouch you can see facing out in the photo back to back with one of the purple pouches, silver sides together.  You can see at the bottom of the photo that the bottom of the bag (the little piece I cut) is opened up just below the side piece.  Sew from the top down using a zig-zag stitch.  Stop about 1/4 inch from the bottom.  Backstitch at both ends.

Here is a photo where I am trying to show that you stop stitching about 1/4 inch from the bottom of the pouch.

Now your piece should look like the photo above when you open it all up.

Repeat the steps above to attach your last side pouch.  Now your piece should look like the photo above.

Next, you will fold your bag together so it looks more like a bag.  You have 2 side seams to sew.  In the photo above, I have aligned the unsewn side of the purple pouch (on the right) with the edge of the adjacent side.  Sew from top to bottom using the zig-zag stitch and stopping a little before the bottom edge.  Backstitch at the top and bottom.  Repeat this to sew the remaining side seam.

Now you just have your 2 bottom seams to sew and you're done.  To accomplish this, it is easiest if you kind of flatten your bag (think of how a paper bag folds up flat; your bag will fold up just like that) and align the edges of the bag bottom (shown in photo) with the bottom of the side pouch.  Sew end to end with a zig-zag stitch, backstitching at both ends.  Repeat for opposite bottom seam.

Now you should be able to open up your finished bag and stand it up on its own.  You can use it to hold pencils, markers, etc.  OR, you could place a jar inside filled with water and use it for a vase.  OR use it as a container for holding pretty much anything.

Comments

[Monica]

Great instructions! I am going to make a set to keep in the car for snacks!

[Wendy]

I'd put handles on it and use it as a birthday goodie bag-- maybe even a boa or fancy fringes along the top to dress it up a little

[ashley]

hey

i LOVE your bag!! it is awsome!!! im wanting to make one for my fabric course in school but over here in scotland we only have boring cartons and not half the selection you have in your pic! i would love my bag to be as bright as i can get it.. is there any way of getting some cartons like yours?

please write back asap
thanks
xxx