Tutorials « Show Your Workings

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Tutorials

PDFs here.

To folks who cannot open the pdfs – you need to have acrobat reader or similar to open the files, even if I emailed them to you you still wouldn’t be able open them. you can download acrobat reader for free here: http://www.pdf-deluxe.com/

Seam allowance 5mm included.

Have you made a bag? Join the flickr group!

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90 Responses

on March 8, 2008 at 10:50 am | Reply Adrienne

ohhh…just found you on flicker. Looking forward to this!
on March 10, 2008 at 4:19 pm | Reply Homemadeoriginals

This looks great. I’m saving it for later so I can make one.
on March 10, 2008 at 11:02 pm | Reply viviane

Great tutorial, thank you, I saw these cute bags somewhere and I wanted to make one.
The fabric you use is lovely. I love japanese stuffs.
(I discovered your blog through flickr).
on March 11, 2008 at 5:58 am | Reply TexasTesla

Neat idea!
on March 12, 2008 at 6:15 am | Reply AnnieB

hi helen – just found you on flickr too…stopped by to say hello. Nice bag. WOuld love to visit NZ some time…lucky you living there. Bye for now.
on March 13, 2008 at 2:38 am | Reply simonJester

I saw your link on Flickr, I can’t wait to make this! It looks like fun. I like your necklace, too☺
on March 13, 2008 at 1:55 pm | Reply Adrienne

Thank you so much for getting in touch and letting me know this was up and running! I can’t wait to make it … consider it added to my to-sew list
on March 15, 2008 at 9:36 pm | Reply Anat

This is fabulous! I just made one, just what I was looking for, thank you!
on March 15, 2008 at 9:38 pm | Reply littlegemsession

I’d love to see a pic!
on March 16, 2008 at 7:11 am | Reply Anat

I have a post about it in my blog accompanied by a picture, with a link to this tutorial, thanks again (-:
http://adcreates.blogspot.com/
on March 16, 2008 at 9:20 pm | Reply Michal

Thanks for sharing this beautiful bag! I made one 2 days ago and it’s great!
on March 17, 2008 at 2:51 am | Reply Ashleigh

Love it! I’m getting ready to sew it up right now. I’ll post a pic when i’m done. I love Tut’s using fat quarters!
on March 21, 2008 at 4:19 am | Reply jenclair

Thanks so much for sharing!
on March 25, 2008 at 12:22 am | Reply miri

I just made one
tnx
miri
from Israel
on March 26, 2008 at 9:01 am | Reply wondermommy

Thank you so much, such a cute bag. I can’t wait to make one of these.
on March 26, 2008 at 9:13 am | Reply sew-funky

Wow! They look great!!!
on April 12, 2008 at 4:56 am | Reply carrotflowers » Blog Archive » another tute found: Japanese knot bag

[...] I don’t know if I would ever use one, but it is pretty and would probably make a lovely gift. Link here. [...]
on April 14, 2008 at 10:33 pm | Reply Carmen

Lovely! This is where my sewing endeavours will start! x
on May 16, 2008 at 1:57 am | Reply June

Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial with us. I’ve made a Japanese Knot Bag using your instructions and have posted the result on my blog today. It’s going to be my thank-you gift for one of my readers as today’s post is my 200th. Your project is such a delight!
on May 16, 2008 at 7:17 am | Reply Sharon

I just found you on flickr too. I love your bags. Thanks so much for the tutorial. I can’t wait to try one.
on May 16, 2008 at 10:02 am | Reply Miss Sassy

Junie Moon sent me here. I love your tutorial. Thanks!
on May 17, 2008 at 9:37 am | Reply Crystal

Thanks for sharing this sweet bag ~ just posted the one I amde on my blog
crystal
on May 17, 2008 at 11:59 am | Reply Kim Campbell

I love your blog! Found it through Junie Moon.
on May 17, 2008 at 2:20 pm | Reply Deb

Thank you, Helen, I can’t wait to try this very cute bag!
Deb
on May 17, 2008 at 3:06 pm | Reply littlegemsession

Thanks so much ladies hope you enjoy
on May 18, 2008 at 11:20 am | Reply Jody

Thank you for sharing your tute with us. I just came over from Junie Moon’s.

Jody
on May 22, 2008 at 7:19 am | Reply Kim

Thanks- found you through Junie Moon. I will make these for my quilting buddies!
on June 12, 2008 at 12:53 am | Reply beverly

I came here via Whip Up. Thanks for sharing this clever tutorial!!
on June 12, 2008 at 5:11 am | Reply ginger

Love your tutorial well post it on my blog s well.Super job so cute soon be on the sewing machine trying it out thnk you so much!
on June 12, 2008 at 5:42 am | Reply Meg McG

I just came over from whipup.net. Your bag pattern looks great! I hope you don’t mind but I made a single PDF out of your site’s instruction page with your photographs and your PDF’s of the pieces. If you would like me to send you the full PDF to make sure I’m not violating any rules, please email me and let me know. I’d like to pass your pattern on to a friend.
Many thanks!
on June 12, 2008 at 8:51 am | Reply littlegemsession

Thanks again everyone! Happy sewing
on June 12, 2008 at 4:56 pm | Reply Jo in NZ

another kiwi crafter. How exciting! I know they are out there, I just don’t often find them.
Great tutorial, thanks so much. This will definately be seen in Crazy quilting soon!

Kia ora
on June 13, 2008 at 5:13 am | Reply Pinky

thank you so much for this pattern. every day my lunch is packed in a lovely bag !
I’ll show it soon on my blog, I am sewing other bags for my friends and as it is a surprise I have to wait before showing them!

thank you again (from France!)
on June 13, 2008 at 3:06 pm | Reply Elena

Thank you for sharing! I was just looking for a tutorial for this!
on June 13, 2008 at 9:30 pm | Reply Julia York

This is gorgeous – thank you!
on June 14, 2008 at 2:30 am | Reply sue

Will we get to see some of these for sale at Craft2.0?
and hello how internationally crafty famous are you
!!!!!!!!
on June 15, 2008 at 3:31 am | Reply Lisa Ancarrow

I totally love this – I am making one right now. Thanks so much for sharing your great idea
on June 19, 2008 at 5:35 am | Reply Marianne

thank you for this darling pattern! I am just getting into my sewing phase and this is right up my street, it will make a perfect small project bag..
on June 19, 2008 at 2:12 pm | Reply Bags Galore! « Not Nigella

[...] owe her a present, so this morning’s nap was taken up sewing this sweet little bag. Based on this pattern (I made a couple of alterations), it used some scraps I had left over from a quilt so it means it [...]
on June 23, 2008 at 12:00 pm | Reply queenofsheba

Thank you once again for this pattern! I made one myself this afternoon, perfect for tucking in just a few little things for my plane ride across country!
on June 24, 2008 at 12:49 pm | Reply Katie

Hi! What a beautiful little bag. Tried making it today and I wondered what seam allowance you used. Also, I had a little trouble with the spot where the handles meet the “join” point in the main body of the bag. Do you sew the handle seams right up to the point where the body seams are and backstitch; or do you sew up to the “join” mark and pivot and continue sewing the seam to the next handle? I hope that is understandable.

Also I wondered if you put something firmer in the the base (cardboard or timtex) did you have trouble turning the bag right side out? I didn’t use anything in the base, but I used homedec fabric and it was tough to turn without something in the bottom.

Thanks for this wonderful pattern!
on June 27, 2008 at 1:02 pm | Reply herhimnbryn

Thankyou for this. I found you via Craftzine.
on June 28, 2008 at 8:29 am | Reply Ana

Hi, I was just searching for bags with knots by typing “bag knot” in google and found your bag . It’s lovely, and also the fabric. Thanks for your idea.
on July 1, 2008 at 7:47 am | Reply Make this: #13 « Isle B. Stitching

[...] Your Workings has this tutorialfor a Japanese knot bag. The tutorial is actually a PDF so you can download it to your computer. [...]
on July 2, 2008 at 11:04 am | Reply Embroidery Project - Small Snail Purse/Bag with Vintage Snail Embroidery, Vintage Transfer Part 1 « Curiosities 808

[...] Bag. I had to follow links from her blog to finally get to a pdf file with the pattern by Helen at Show Your Workings. I think the bag is really cute! And…who doesn’t NEED another bag, [...]
on July 3, 2008 at 11:10 am | Reply Cruising the Blogs « In a Minute Ago

[...] tutorial and pattern for a Japanese knot bag had me very excited as I could see it being made up in retro material for the younger crafter set [...]
on July 8, 2008 at 4:46 am | Reply Karin Peirce

What a lovely bag. I am going to hunt up my Japanese fabric I bought a couple years ago and see iif I can make one. The fabric is so beautiful, usually I just pat it and admire the beautiful patterns, but it will be so nice to have a nice simple, useful bag to show off the fabric. Thank you.

Karin
on July 8, 2008 at 10:24 am | Reply Embroidery Project - Small Snail Purse/Bag with Vintage Snail Embroidery, Crayons and Color Part 3 « Curiosities 808

[...] Find Helen of Show Your Workings (Japanese Knot Bag Tutorial) (Click Here) [...]
on July 8, 2008 at 3:23 pm | Reply Susan

So happy to find you…gotta make these as gifts!
on July 8, 2008 at 3:58 pm | Reply littlegemsession

Thanks everyone Katie I’ll send you an email about your queries. Sorry for the dealy, we have school holidays here at the moment.
on July 9, 2008 at 1:39 pm | Reply deni

I just finished my bag last night and it’s beautiful! I’ve had many compliments. Thank you so much for the pattern!

The only thing I would recommend changing about the pattern is to put some notation on there re: flipping the pattern to get your two pieces. I didn’t make the mistake of cutting two on the same side but a beginning sewer (or someone dashing headlong into it and not reading through) might!
on July 9, 2008 at 11:36 pm | Reply making a list and checking it twice and ignoring it because it’s full of things you don’t want to deal with. « :: machen/machen :: make/do ::

[...] pattern comes from here. And from now on, every time I think my life is too busy, I will think of the designer, Helen [...]
on July 15, 2008 at 12:45 pm | Reply How to have a lovely weekend without drinking. « Craft is the New Black

[...] on Thursday. You should enlist a friend to come over, and help you sew (or just actually sew) handbags for presents. And while you are at it, make one for yourself, especially if you can line it in what [...]
on July 15, 2008 at 2:33 pm | Reply Embroidery Project - Small Snail Purse/Bag with Vintage Snail Embroidery, Cut Purse Lining Part 8 « Curiosities 808

[...] is the pattern, printed, cut out and pieced together. (Pattern found at Show Your Workings [...]
on July 20, 2008 at 1:02 pm | Reply Jo in NZ

Helen, check out what I did with your pattern! Your instructions were great. Thanks
http://nzjo.blogspot.com/2008/07/japanese-knot-bag.html
on July 20, 2008 at 10:39 pm | Reply Melusine

Thank you for your instructions – I look forward to making one in the new future (once the current projects are complete)
on July 25, 2008 at 8:23 am | Reply Embroidery Project - Small Snail Purse/Bag with Vintage Snail Embroidery, Sewing Outer Purse Fabric Part 12 « Curiosities 808

[...] Pattern is from Helen of Show Your Workings (Japanese Knot Bag Tutorial) (Click Here) [...]
on July 25, 2008 at 8:32 am | Reply Embroidery Project - Small Snail Purse/Bag with Vintage Snail Embroidery, “Wash Day” Snail Embroidery Part 11 « Curiosities 808

[...] Find Helen of Show Your Workings (Japanese Knot Bag Tutorial) (Click Here) [...]
on July 26, 2008 at 6:51 pm | Reply Sophie

Your Blog is excellent,l absolutely love it.Thanks for posting the tutorial Iam gonna try it!Great Job!
on July 31, 2008 at 5:18 pm | Reply Tutorial/Embroidery Project - Small Snail Purse/Bag with Vintage Snail Embroidery, Sewing the Japanese Knot Bag, front to back, Part 16 « Curiosities 808

[...] learning about this Japanese Knot Bag I saw many versions of it and read many comments about it. One of the most reoccurring comments [...]
on August 3, 2008 at 5:22 pm | Reply August Bag Mania! « The Things That Make Us Happy Make Us Wise

[...] quite chuffed about this one–it’s an original design, based on the extremely cool Japanese Knot Bag designed by Helen of Show Your Workings. I made one in fabric for our friend Mari which I forgot [...]
on August 11, 2008 at 8:01 pm | Reply Parlant a l’Ether » Blog Archive » Tidbits of time to myself.

[...] done a load of laundry, done the grocery shopping, and bought a bunch of fabric at Jo-Ann, did some sewing, and planted some key lime [...]
on August 25, 2008 at 9:20 am | Reply Deb oliphant

I am probable not doing this right but I would like to get in touch with you just because I enjoyed the Japenese Know bag. I read your profile and really enjoyed what you said. I just do not know how to get in touch with you. I have a flickr account and would like to be connected to your group on there. If none of this makes any sense just disregard this.
on August 26, 2008 at 1:17 pm | Reply Share with me « Show Your Workings

[...] Tutorials [...]
on September 10, 2008 at 4:01 am | Reply Silvia

Thanks!!! Genial!!!
on September 10, 2008 at 10:56 pm | Reply Miss S

Thanks for the tutorial… I did 2 wonderful bags with it, a small one with the round bottom, and the other one it’s a shoulder bag with rigth bottom, also reversible.
on September 14, 2008 at 2:18 am | Reply In which she attempts the Japanese Knot bag « Duchessinthekitchen’s Weblog

[...] she attempts the Japanese Knot bag I found the pattern for the Japanese Knot Bag online from Show Your Workings and decided to try it. But after printing the pattern, I thought that it looked a bit too big. [...]
on September 16, 2008 at 4:24 pm | Reply julie

I have seen this bag in a slightly bigger version. Very nice.
on September 22, 2008 at 11:24 am | Reply littlegemsession

To folks who cannot open the pdfs – you need to have acrobat reader or similar to open the files, even if I emailed them to you you still wouldn’t be able open them. you can download acrobat reader for free here: http://www.pdf-deluxe.com/
on September 23, 2008 at 10:45 pm | Reply Japanese Knot-bag mm « JinxLinda

[...] Japanese Knot-bag mm juli 26, 2008 Sparat under: Hantverk, Livet — jinxlinda @ 1:39 pm Tags: bada, bärsjal, japanese knotbag, kaffe, pool Har haft problem med vart jag ska göra av plånboken, mobilen, nycklar och andra prylar, när jag har burit i sjalen. Har gått med allt i en liten mössa, vilket inte har känts riktigt lyckat . Men NU har jag löst det. Jag sydde mig en Japanese Knot-bag. Det var lite bökigt att få till det, men efter en liten stund fick jag till det. Vet inte riktigt hur man skulle göra när man stängde handtagen, så jag löste det på mitt sätt. Gjorde den vändbar, så man kan variera sig lite. Ska göra mig en till också, fast med längre handtag. Fast det får bli när det är svalare ute. Japanese Knot-bag tutorial. [...]
on October 12, 2008 at 9:23 am | Reply Quick Links Sunday | Craft & Found

[...] Japanese Knot Bags [...]
on November 4, 2008 at 6:46 pm | Reply Free Japanese Knot Bag Pattern | Small Handbag | Crazy Creek Quilts

[...] a free additional Free Japanese Knot Pattern. If you decide to make any of these bags and get stuck, leave a comment and I’ll do my best [...]
on November 14, 2008 at 2:57 am | Reply Carmen

Thansk for sharing this with us!
on December 2, 2008 at 12:08 pm | Reply Bags, Purses, Pouches & Backpacks! « Everything Your Mama Made & More

[...] Bag Kids Easy Beach Bag Sleeper Bag Mini Duffel Bag Box Bag Reversible Shoulder bag Pleated Tote Wrist Bag Hip Mama Diaper Bag Grocery Bag Signature Style Tote Lindie Bag Cherry Blossom Bag Tiny happy Bag [...]
on December 3, 2008 at 9:59 am | Reply 77 Bags, Purses, Pouches & Backpacks! « Everything Your Mama Made & More

[...] Wrist Bag [...]
on December 15, 2008 at 2:49 am | Reply Jane P

Thanks for the pattern. I made a small version of this curious bag. Just wished there’s a way to machine sew the last bit of the handles together and yet look finished. Is there?
on December 15, 2008 at 4:21 pm | Reply littlegemsession

Hi Jane – yes, if you don’t need it to be reversable then you could have the seam on the reverse side if that makes sense?
on December 15, 2008 at 4:54 pm | Reply Delica’s Yarns » DIY Christmas 2008

[...] Here’s one I can show now. I gave it to Alex today when we met up to check out the Bust Craftacular. This is the Japanese Knot Bag. [...]
on December 23, 2008 at 8:30 am | Reply Christmas Craft « Craft is the New Black

[...] I made a number of Christmas presents this year. Some little and some big. Lots of people got handbags, tomato relish, and vanilla and brown sugar body [...]
on December 29, 2008 at 11:35 pm | Reply mikel

thank you for this tutorial
on December 30, 2008 at 4:04 am | Reply ginger

What a great little bag! Thank you so much for the
Pattern just what i was looking for to start the new years!
on January 12, 2009 at 6:30 am | Reply Have machine, will sew. « Craft is the New Black

[...] Christmas, I have sewed up something of a storm. Ten patchwork balls. (Heh, Balls). 2 Japanese Knot Bags. And a knitting bag! [...]
on February 18, 2009 at 11:13 am | Reply Japanese Knot Bag-alternate sewing instructions « Away to Me

[...] Knot Bag-alternate sewing instructions Jump to Comments I love, love, love, the Japanese Knot Bag pattern that Helen Heath designed. This is an adorable reversible bag that is the perfect size for a [...]
on February 28, 2009 at 3:21 pm | Reply Knot bad « A Sheepish Little Blog.

[...] be the kind of thing where I won’t want my big ol’ purse with me, so I decided to give this tutorial a shot and make myself a Japanese Knot [...]
on April 10, 2009 at 3:40 am | Reply Happy Craft-blog Land!

[...] Japanese Knot Purse for Katie [...]
on April 14, 2009 at 6:00 am | Reply Dresses, Gnomes, Bags and Hoarded Treasures

[...] nieces. Both are born in May, so I thought I better get a jump start. My oldest niece wanted a Japanese Knot Bag, similar to my daughter’s, so she could carry her Webkinz and Littlest Pet Shop toys. These [...]
on April 27, 2009 at 2:39 am | Reply mushmish

hi tanks for agreat tutorial. i really love this bug, i allready did 3 of this pattren for presents. Tanks.
on September 9, 2009 at 2:38 pm | Reply CADS – Japanese Knot Bag « Amy Lou

[...] CADS – Japanese Knot Bag 8 09 2009 For today’s craft I finished up making a Japanese Knot Bag. I followed the tutorial found here on Show Your Working’s blog. [...]
on October 2, 2009 at 12:20 am | Reply Japanese Knot Bag-alternate sewing instructions « Film and Thread

[...] 17, 2009 · 4 Comments I love, love, love, the Japanese Knot Bag pattern that Helen Heath designed. This is an adorable reversible bag that is the perfect size for a [...]
on October 10, 2009 at 7:11 am | Reply Stine

Hi, i came across (and fell in love) with your blogg and shops while searching for an howto or a tutorial on how to make broches of fabric, like the one you made with vintage kimonofabric. I still haven’t found any howto on this and was wondering if you maybe would be able to help me?

Best regards from the far north

Stine fROM nORWAY

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