Sew-Along: DSi Carrying Case

Just in case you missed any posts, here is where you can find: Step One, Step Two, Step Three, and Step Four.

Sew-Along Step 5: The Big Finish.

Lay the two halves of the bag in front of you as shown. Make sure the left and right sides are in alignment.

Using the left-most game pockets on the completed bag panel (top) as your guide, lay the two remaining pockets on the unfinished bag panel (bottom). The unfinished pockets will need to open to the left, which is the opposite direction to the finished ones. These two pockets will be sewn nearly identical to the way you sewed them in step 4. The link is here in case you need to reference it.

Pin the pockets in place. You can place the finished panel off to the side as you are done with it for now.



Cut your string in half. I was concerned about mine unraveling, so I knotted the ends first. From knot to knot, my string is 22 inches long.

Put one piece of cut string aside. Working with the remaining piece of string, fold the end over, twice, just at the tip. My fold is about 1/4". You can eyeball this in- it does not have to be an exact measurement. Place the string in the middle of the pocket that closest to the center of the bag. The string's long tail is facing up and the fold is tucked under. Be sure that half the folded tip is on the game pocket, and the other half is on the bag panel. Pin in place just at the folded-tip end.

Sew the pockets in place like you did in step 4 (here is the link again). Sew right over the top of the string when you get to it. Sew an extra few seams over the string, on the bag panel, right next to the pocket.

Sew the ends of the pockets along the edge of the bag panel at 3/8" seam allowance. It is ok to sew in the gap between pockets. You do not need to sew the whole side of the panel. Be sure to do this for the top and bottom.

Sew the individual sections exactly like you did in step 4 (here is the link in case you need it). Check to ensure the games fit in all the pockets.

Safety-pin the string to the bag panel to keep it out of the way. You can put this bag panel off to the side for now as you will be working on the other panel next.

It is time to attach the strap. Lay the bag panel with the majority of pockets down in front of you as shown. Place the strap right next to the first game pocket, where the sections open. Pin the top of the strap to the bag panel, letting the strap extend over the edge a tiny bit (about 1/8").

Lift the bottom of the strap up towards the top, and pin it right next to the strap. It will be on top of the game pocket. Be sure it extends beyond the bag panel edge a tiny bit as well.

Turn your attention now to the last piece of string. Place it along the center of the bag, with the cut edge extending a tiny bit (about 1/8") beyond the bag panel's left edge. Pin it in place just at the bag edge.

Safety pin the rest of the string safely out of the way.

Lay the two bag panels with right sides together in front of you. The two game pockets (furthest on the right) on both bag panels should line up. In the picture below, I folded the top bag panel town so you can get an idea of the correct position.

Pin all the way around.

On the right edge of the bag (this is the edge where the two sets of game pockets line up), make a mark 2" from the top and 2" from the bottom.

Sew all the way around the bag except for the area on the right side between the two pencil marks. Because the string and the handle are sticking out beyond the edge of the bag, you can see their location clearly. Sew back and forth over these a few times to strengthen the seam.

Trim all four corners.

Turn the fabric all along the right side. Make sure the fold is straight, as though you had sewn all the way across. Press. Turn the bag over and press the other side in the same manner. Remove any straight pins from along this seam.

Put you hand into the opening and turn the whole bag inside out. It will be puffy and out of shape.

Poke your fingers into all four corners from the inside to pop them out as much as possible.

Using a closed pair of scissors, chopstick, or blunt pencil, gently poke and wiggle the corner until it becomes fairly square. Be careful not to puncture the fabric.

Press the 4 corners and all four side seams. Flip the bag over and press again. You may need to use a ruler to help push the side seams out, otherwise the game sections on the edges won't be functional. I used the steam setting on my iron to help set the bag shape. It should now be flat and in the correct shape. Do not top stitch.

Pin the opening and sew as close to the edge as possible (about 1/8" seam allowance). Once sewn, remove both safety-pins.

Fill the "third row from the right" game pocket completely with games. Take the right side of the bag and fold over towards the middle, with the games in the crease. Be sure the fold is snug along the top of the games, but the bag is not pulling.

Place pins along the middle of the fold. Open the fold and remove the games. Refold along the pin line as before, and press in a crease.

Draw a line down the center of the crease. I recommend using a ruler to be sure your line is straight. Keeping the strings out of the way (pull the one underneath all the way towards the right), and sew along this line.

Flip the bag over and carefully place the string over the seam. Sew back and forth a couple of times using the seam as a guide.

Using the left most edge of the handle as a guide, draw a line from top to bottom as shown.

From this line, measure towards the left 1" and make a second line. Sew along both lines, keeping the strings out of the way.

Fold the left side of the bag towards the middle along the first seam line. Press. Repeat for the second seam.

Now stuff, the bag. My daughter doesn't have 36 games, so I left a few sections empty.

Fold over once.....

.... and fold over again. Tie in a bow.

Enjoy! I would have more pictures but I finished the carrying case literally the minute she walked in the door from school. I haven't seen her, or the carrying case, since. ;)