Making Bento bags (kinchaku love!)

Okay, so at the request of some UKS-ers here are instructions and copious photies of handmade bento bags. There will obviously be a ton of ways to make these; this is how I do it. It should also be noted that I am an "eye-baller" so all measurements are approximate and I only do the ol' pin-tack-sew if I absolutely *have* to. That doesn't happen too often. ::grins::

Right, for this one I have used a length of fabric (mine's a tea towel), thread, something to use as a drawstring (shoelaces!!) and some pretty beads for the drawstring ends (nicked from little Chookie's toybox.)

The basis of the bag is a piece of fabric 12x24 inches long. If your fabric looks like it's going to fray *really* badly you can serge or zigzag the long sides now. I'm lazy so haven't. ::grins::

Iron a hem about 5mm along both the long sides.

Sew a hem partially down all four corners of your ironed hems. Mine are about 2 inches long. This makes neat channels for the cord.
Along the two short sides iron a 5mm hem and fold again at about 1cm and iron. This is the actual cord channel but isn't getting sewn yet!

If you're adding an applique do it now before making the bag up! Fold fabric right sides together and stitch up both side seams......
....only up as far as the cord channel.

Sew right round the cord channel in one go - if you need to adjust the hem so that your folds are sort of even you can re-iron now before stitching.

Look! A bag! Kinda.....

Right. Getting the flat bottom effect is easy if a bit fiddly. I find the easiest way is to open the bag flat with the side seams together.......

...like this.....

...and fold it flat.

Measure 2 inches from one point and draw a line straight across. Stitch over this line and do the same on the other point.

Turn your bag the right way round and it should look like this.

For straps, you'll need two strips of fabric. Mine are 2in by 17in. Fold them in half right sides together and stitch up the long side.

Turn them the right way round press flat. Tuck the raw edges inside and press again.

Pin to the bag (the bottoms of mine are 3.5in from the top and 3in from the outer seam) and stitch in place.......

...like this. You can sew an additional cross inside the square if you think you need additional strength.

Thread your laces (or cord) through the channel at the top of the bag. Use one lace to go right round both sides (so it comes out next to where it went in) and start the second lace at the OTHER side seam so when you pull all four ends the bag gathers closed.

Add beads if you're girly and you're done! ::grins::