Project
Materials

Wrist Bag

WHAT WILL YOU MAKE?

Make a wrist bag that’s perfect for taking outside to carry explorer gear, art supplies or go on a treasure hunt. There are a few ways to make this bag, some with more sewing and some with less, making it a great project for multiple ages & abilities. This is also a great way to reuse an old shirt that you’ve outgrown but still love.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?

Make a wrist bag that’s perfect for taking outside to carry explorer gear, art supplies or go on a treasure hunt. There are a few ways to make this bag, some with more sewing and some with less, making it a great project for multiple ages & abilities. This is also a great way to reuse an old shirt that you’ve outgrown but still love.

STEPS

STEP 1

Make the Template
Cut out the fabric pieces one at a time. You can trace around the pattern onto the fabric and cut the fabric just inside your marks. Make sure one piece of fabric is right side up as you trace and the other is upside down, this way you'll have two pieces of fabric that match up with the nice sides facing outwards.

STEP 2

Cut Out the Fabric
You'll need to sew your bag inside out - both pieces of fabric need to have their nice/outside facing each other. Pin the two sides together so they don't shift as you sew. You can also use paper clips or binder clips to hold them together. There are parts you want to sew together- the tops of the straps and the pouch & there are parts you do not want to sew together- the straps themselves. If you sewed the sides of the straps together you could not open them to put your bag around your wrist. Reference the photo to see where to sew and where not to sew if you need to. You can hand sew or use a machine, whichever is easier for you. A simple straight, running stitch will work fine. When you're done sewing you can turn it inside out and you'll see the nice outside fabric now. If you're using a non-fraying fabric like felt or an old T-shirt you can skip the next step.

STEP 3

Sew the Pouch
Fraying is when the edge of the fabric starts to unravel and come apart. There are two ways to finish the edges on a fraying fabric. Put glue on the edges and glue the fraying strands together. You can use fabric glue or white glue. If you use white glue it is water-soluble- meaning it will wash away with water- so if you wash your bag or get it wet it may start fraying again. This isn't the best choice for a permanent fix but it will work for a while. Fold the edge over and sew it onto the inside of the bag. (the last photo) This can be done by hand or machine and may be a little difficult around the straps as they are basically rings. Just take your time and check regularly to make sure you're sewing the right part of the fabric.

STEP 4

Finish Edges (Fraying Fabric)
To close the bag & wear it you just need to take the longer strap and pass it through the smaller strap. The longer strap will be what goes around your wrist and the smaller one will cinch it down to keep it closed.

STEP 5

Close your Bag
To close the bag & wear it you just need to take the longer strap and pass it through the smaller strap. The longer strap will be what goes around your wrist and the smaller one will cinch it down to keep it closed.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Check out more projects from the Maker Studio on our blog: https://themakerstudio.tumblr.com/

Materials:

  • Scissors
  • Paper
  • Writing Utensil
  • Needle & Thread
  • Paper Clips or Straight Pins
  • Fabric
  • Ruler (optional)
  • White Glue

See More Projects in these topics:

Arts & Crafts Fiber Arts Wearables

See More Projects from these themes:

Art/Craft Studio Carnival/Theme Park The Canteen (Mess Hall and Recycling Station)
Maker Camp
Maker Camp is a do-it-yourself online resource to help leaders like you organize a summer camp that engages children in making. Our goal is to provide you and your campers with the inspiration and the helpful resources, along with many possible projects to fit a wide range of interests and abilities. The idea is to focus on making as a playful, social activity. Maker Camp provides enough support for anyone to get started. Making provides experiences that help children become self-directed learners and good problem-solvers.
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Please Note

Your safety is your own responsibility, including proper use of equipment and safety gear, and determining whether you have adequate skill and experience. Power tools, electricity, and other resources used for these projects are dangerous, unless used properly and with adequate precautions, including safety gear and adult supervision. Some illustrative photos do not depict safety precautions or equipment, in order to show the project steps more clearly. Use of the instructions and suggestions found in Maker Camp is at your own risk. Make Community, LLC, disclaims all responsibility for any resulting damage, injury, or expense.

Maker Camp Project Standards

Based on NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards)

National Core Arts Standards

The National Core Arts Standards are a process that guides educators in providing a unified quality arts education for students in Pre-K through high school. These standards provide goals for Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts with cross-cutting anchors in Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting through art. The Anchor Standards include:
  1. Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
  2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
  3. Refine and complete artistic work.
  4. Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
  5. Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation.
  6. Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
  7. Perceive and analyze artistic work.
  8. Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
  9. Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
  10. Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
  11. Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.
Please visit the website for specific details on how each anchor applies to each discipline.

National Core Arts Standards

The National Core Arts Standards are a process that guides educators in providing a unified quality arts education for students in Pre-K through high school. Also see Standards with cross-cutting anchors in Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting through art for Visual Arts.

NGSS K-2 Engineering Design

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.
  • K-2-ETS1-1. Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
  • K-2-ETS1-2. Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
  • K-2-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.
For additional information on using content standards with our projects please visit the Maker Camp Playbook.

NGSS 3-5.Engineering Design

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.
  • 3-5-ETS1-1. Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
  • 3-5-ETS1-2. Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
  • 3-5-ETS1-3. Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.
For additional information on using content standards with our projects please visit the Maker Camp Playbook.

NGSS MS.Engineering Design

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12 science content standards.
  • MS-ETS1-1. Define the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.
  • MS-ETS1-2. Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
  • MS-ETS1-3. Analyze data from tests to determine similarities and differences among several design solutions to identify the best characteristics of each that can be combined into a new solution to better meet the criteria for success.
  • MS-ETS1-4. Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.
For additional information on using content standards with our projects please visit the Maker Camp Playbook.

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