Intermediate is probably the first time many boys have had to wear a uniform for PE, That means carying a whole kit of shoes, socks, shorts and shirt to school at least twice a week. One of the first things we sew in Year 7 is a simple drawstring bag to hold PE gear. We use parka nylon - it comes in bright colours, it's easily washable and it's cheap.
There are plenty of drawstring bag tutorials around but we make this version for one reason - lots of practice sewing long straight lines. Start with a piece of fabric 40cm wide and 100cm long and hem all 4 sides. This is where the practice comes in...
Fold both short ends 8cm to the inside and mark 2 casing lines. The first casing line is 3cm from the top edge and the second is 5 cm from the top edge. Sew along all four of the casing lines you have marked.
Liam is sewing his bag in orange thread for reasons which will soon make sense...
Fold the bag right sides together and pin the side seams. Stitch the side seams securely, leaving a gap between the two lines of the casing.
Bag the corners out - we usually measure 8cm but Liam wants the base wider so he's made his corners 15cm across.
Flip the bag so it is right way out. Cut 2 pieces of nylon cord 100cm long each. Secure one piece to a safety pin and thread it through the casing, finishing where you started, and knot the ends together. Thread the second cord through BUT this time start and finish on the opposite side to the first cord.
Fill the bag up with whatever it was you wanted to carry - PE gear, swimming togs, dirty laundry or brand new basketball for example.
Pull the cords tight to close off the top and ta-da, Excellence for project # 1.
