I though people might be interested in this, it is really simple to make your own cute bag out of a stuffed toy and a few basic sewing notions. I will be cross-posting this to Sew-loli and Lolita crafts, sorry if you get sick of seeing it!
Also, please let me know if anything isn't clear, it is always hard to tell if I am writing good instructions, since I already know what I am doing!
If you haven't set a zipper before, you may want to try this pocket before trying my tutorial: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=22875 so you have a bit of an idea where you are going ;)
first, choose a stuffed animal to make your bag from
Open up the back seam using a seam ripped or small pair of scissors, this will be the opening of your bag.
In addition to your toy, you will need matching thread, a matching zipper, fabric for the lining (in your choice of print or color), and ribbon or webbing for the strap.
Take all the stuffing out of your toy, except what is stuffing the details (the paws and face).
Cut your lining. I used a kimono printed cotton, it won't show on the outside of your bag, so choose what ever you like. Cut the two lining pieces a bit longer than your opening, and a bit deeper than the pocket you want. It is better to err on the side of cutting it too big, because that can be corrected as you sew...too small and it won't work well.
Measure off a piece of your chosen strap material, I made mine long enough to be worn on the shoulder. Stitch it to either end of the opening on your toy, taking care not to twist the strap. Make sure the side of you strap that should be facing out faces towards the furry side of your fabric, I used a two sided ribbon, and wanted the light colored side facing out, so you see the dark side here, and my little seam.
Turn your animal inside out so you can sew the pocket. Don't turn the head or legs, since they still have some stuffing in them and they will not be in your way as you work anyway.
Here is where it starts to get a bit tricky! Lay your zipper so that the outside of it faces the furry side of your stuffed animal, and then lay the right side (the pretty side) of your lining fabric so it faces the inside of your zipper, with the edge of your furry fabric the edge of your zipper, and the edge of your lining are all aligned (as shown in the picture) and sew from one end of the zipper to the other. Don't come too close to the teeth of the zipper, or you will end up with it hanging up in your fur when you try to use it; but keep it fairly close so it doesn't show a lot from the outside (it takes practice to get the perfect balance).
Check your work! When you pull your fabric back, your zipper should have the pull on the outside (the side with your fur) and the majority of the zipper should be between the two face side of your fabric, as shown.
Again, showing how your zipper should look at this point.
Sew the other side of your zipper in the same way. Your lining fabric should overhang both ends of the opening in your animal (it should be longer than the opening)
Again, showing how your zipper should look, and the overhang of lining fabric.
Sew the sides of your pocket. Here is where you can fix it if you cut the pieces too large. Sew the pocket so it is equal in length to the opening in your animal, no need to trim the fabric if this makes your seam allowance really wide.
Turn your animal right side out, and pull your lining to the outside, reshape the features (feet, legs and head) as needed now by fluffing up the stuffing and adding more if any fell out while you where working.
Re-stuff the body of your animal, you may need to leave some of the stuffing out, since you will need room for the items you want to carry inside the pocket. Stuff the side of the body separately (left and right) so the pocket can be easily pushed into the middle.
Your animal should look pretty good again now, since it will be stuffed again, and the zipper will have finished off the seam you opened up to start. You may need to hand sew the ends of your zipper opening, as it can be hard to get to the ends with all the bulk (I had to, so don't feel bad if that is the case!)
Fold the bottom edge of your pocket inward a bit.
Top stitch the bottom of the pocket, near the edge you folded inward, this will catch the part you folded in, leaving the bottom of your pocket looking nice and neat.
Here is how your pocket should look, I used light colored thread so you can see my seam for demonstration purposes, but you should match your lining color so your seam hides better.
turn your pocket to the inside of the animal, work the corners in with your fingers and nudge the stuffing around the pocket so it fits in nicely. Now your bag is done unless you want to add some embellishments, which I plan on doing to mine! I will take more pictures once I have.
here is my bag with the zipper closed, it barely shows :)
from the side he looks exactly as he started, plus a ribbon! I am going to loli him up a bit more, I'll take more pictures then. For now though , that is all there is to making a stuffed toy into a nice little bag!
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