Angie's Big Quilted Panel Bag

OK?... Now you have all your panels beautifully quilted you need to trim off all the little messy bits of threads and any batting/wadding that is untidy... be careful, all the panels need to be the right size so try not to trim off any main fabrics, just batting and threads.
Stitch the two side panels to the bottom panel using a 1/4" seam, you will need to use your walking foot for the bag construction....
* you should then have one long 'gusset'...
It is easier to add the handles at this stage but if you want to leave them to the last job, that works too.
They need to be evenly spaced and level on both front and back ( I know that is obvious but hey ho) I did quite a few rows of stitching to secure the handles because I want it to be strong. The handle straps will be stronger if you take them all the way to the bottom of the panel but I didn't have enough fabric... it's my bag... I pleased myself, ha ha ha!
Now starts the fiddly bit. It will be easier for you to understand this if you have done 'Y' seams before. All the panels need to be stitched together starting and stopping 1/4" in from the edges so that they meet up perfectly. Use a lot of pins to help you....
see. it is the same as a 'Y' seam...
line up all panel edges using pins, lots of pins....
each start and stop seam should line up with the other two, the whole thing will be getting harder to man-handle by now, he he he stick at it.
does it help to see the Big Bag inside? it shows the three seams all meeting up.... this bit is hard to explain me thinks!
Turn the bag now, to have the inside inside and the outside on the outside... he he he, have I confused you?
Anyway, the top joins will look like this now so manipulate the seams to be neat and then
top stitch all round the all of the panels, stopping and starting 1/4" before the end of each 3 join (Y seam)panel. In this picture the stitching is on one side seam of the front panel joining it with one side of the side panel and all other pieces are held out of the way...
back stitching will help, as you can see mine isn't perfect... it's my bag!
Make sure you are not stitching anything you shouldn't be, keep the panels in the right order.... eg, sew all seams from top of bag to bottom of bag before stitching around the bottom seams... oooo I hope you are following me...
the top will be neat too, I back stitched here too, to keep it good and strong, I bet it needs it too.
see how lovely and neat it is on the inside, with no need to add binding anywhere, apparently these are french seams that I thought I had invented here.....
Voila..... my Big, Quilted, Panel Bag ... I am so very proud of it.
I can confess that it was ultra difficult for me to cut into these beautiful, favourite fabrics.... but I am now very pleased that I did, what do you think?