Pattern Hack – Polaris Bag

This is a pattern hack of the Sew Sweetness Polaris Bag. The modification is to add grab handles to the bag instead of a side strap. While this tutorial is free, you’ll need to pick up the Polaris Bag pattern in order to complete the rest of the bag.

DEFINITION – Pattern Hack [pat-ern hack]: to modify or write a sewing pattern in a skillful or clever way.

This post is part of an ongoing series from my Pattern Hack Posse, and was written by Dawn Jeffs.

Hi Folks!

I’m so excited to be part of Sew Sweetness ‘Pattern Hack Pose’,  I’d like to share with you the alternative Grab Handles I’ve added to Sara’s, soon to be released ‘Polaris Bag’, which was the March 16 ‘Bag of the Month’.  I immediately fell in love with this super cute bag and just knew that the small rectangular bag had to be my next creation and it turned into a fun night out bag, with the mini Grab Handles instead of the long cross body Strap.  It was surprisingly easy, even for a beginner who likes a challenge – like me!

I love Tula Pink’s fabrics from Freespirit and I thought the ‘Fox Field, Hoppy Dot – Sunrise’ print would really suit the Exterior of this bag, accented by a Kona solid ‘Ash’ grey for the Grab Handles and Piping, and  I also used ‘Fox Field, Baby Geo – Shade’ for the Lining.

Here’s what you’ll need :–

• Polaris Bag Pattern
• All items specified in the pattern supplies (except the rivets and some changes to the quantities of the Exterior Fabric for Strap now to be Grab Handles and Tabs, noted below).
• 4 x 1” ‘D’ rings, or add 2 x 1” metal rectangles (so you’ll need 4 x 1” metal rectangles in total).
• An extra 7” piece of piping (optional) to add a feature to the seam between the Exterior Zip and Bottom panels.
• The 2 Grab Handles need –
  • 2 x 16” x 4” exterior fabric (I used the same fabric as my piping)
  • 2 x 16” x 4” shapeflex
  • 2 x scrap pieces of cotton wadding (2 x 7” x 7/8” approx)
• The 4 Tabs need –
  • 4 x 1-5/8”(one and five eighths) x 4” of the same exterior fabric as your Grab Handles
  • 4 x 1-5/8” (one and five eighths) x 4” shapeflex.

Follow the Instructions (except for the Strap):-

Step 3. Make the Grab Handles and Tabs

Fuse Shapeflex to the wrong side of the two Grab Handles and the wrong sides of the Tabs.  Follow the instructions to fold and iron the handles, effectively creating two pieces of double folded bias tape. Fold in half along the long edge to establish the centre point, open out the fold and insert one piece of scrap wadding centred and refold (see pic 5).   Once refolded, the centre of the handle should be slightly padded.  Topstitch along both long edges, approx 1/8” from the edge.

Here’s where the magic happens (to make the handles nicer to grab):-

Measure 4-1/4 ” from each end of the Grab Handles and draw a mark (with a removable marker), fold the centre of the Grab Handle in half along the long edge, between the marks and pin (I used wonder clips, which worked really well, see pic 6).  Topstitch again where the Grab Handle has been folded over, on or, just to the side of first line of topstitching (see pic 7).  Here’s a little tip – leave a long thread tail at the beginning and end of each line of topstitching, so these can be hand sewn in later to secure and you have a great clean finish.  Draw a line ½” and 1-1/2” from the short edges of each Grab Handle, fold over and press.

Step 5 and 6 , as per the instructions, to prepare the ends of the Grab Handles and make the Tabs.  If you’re using Leather follow on with Steps 7-10.

Attaching the Tabs:-

Step 11 – Draw a line that is 5/8” down from the top raw edge of each tab.  Press at that mark, then slide a ‘D’ ring or metal rectangle on the crease.

Step 12 and 13 – Using the paper template as a guide line it up, side by side, with the Exterior Main Panel (see pic 8).  Draw a line, or place a ruler along the front, in-line with the pattern marking for the Exterior Zip Panel, then draw a mark 2-1/4” in from each side, this is where the bottom and outer edge of the Tabs will be positioned.  Position the bottom outer corner of the Tab with this mark.  The folded edge of the tab should be against the Exterior Main Panel and pin the Tab in place.

Step 14 – Instead of attaching a rivet (I can only take so many challenges in one bag).  I attached the Tabs with a boxed cross stitch pattern (probably not the technical name).  Start with a long thread tail and sew along ¼” below the ‘D’ ring or metal rectangle (see pic 9), then following an approx ‘side on’ figure of 8, then stop, leaving a long thread tail.  Finish the box with the bottom line of stitching, again start and stop with long thread tails.  It’s a bit fiddly, but hand sew these long thread tails through to the wrong side of the Exterior Main Panel and knot off to secure.  This’ll give you a good clean external finish on your boxed crosses!

Follow on with instructions for Steps 15 – 19.

Jump ahead and make the piping, as per Steps 21 & 22, then come back to Step 20.

Step 20 – Create an extra piece of piping 7” long and cut in half.  Sew these little pieces of piping to the short edges of the Exterior Bottom Panel using a 3/8” seam allowance.  Follow on with Step 20 to sew the Exterior Bottom Panel to the Exterior Zip Panel.  I trimmed away the excess of the piping and topstitched ¼” towards the Exterior Bottom Panel, to flatten the piping away from the zip.

Phew, almost there with my pattern hacks! 

Follow on with instructions for Steps 23 – 42.

To add the Grab Handles:-

Step 43 – Now take a deep breath and go slow (I found this step a bit challenging, I’d never attached handles like this before and if I’m honest I don’t think my sewing machine’s powerful enough), but I did manage it!

Wrap the short end of the Grab Handle around the first ‘D’ ring, (with the 1-1/2” fold at the ‘D’ ring) make sure the Grab Handle will curve over to attach to the other ‘D’ ring on the same side of the Exterior Main Panel, with the folded side of the Grab Handle facing towards the right side of the Exterior Main Panel and pin.  Sew two horizontal lines of topstitching, one approx ¼” from the top of the ‘D’ ring and another 1/2” from the top of the ‘D’ ring.  No rivets, unless you know what you’re doing!

And you’re done, one super cute Grab Handle Polaris Bag! 

I hope you like it and enjoy making it, as much as I did.

My Bio

I’m a sewing newbie, only started one year ago and already I’m hooked!  Based in Edinburgh, UK, I enjoy creating things in my spare time (mainly evenings) and I love that in a few hours you can sew a finished item that’s been created from scratch, be it a skirt, mini quilt or handbag.  Although, I love that you don’t need to do any fitting alterations to create a handbag!  I enjoy sharing my projects on Instagram and you can follow me @sewnbysunrise.