I decided to make a new kind of bag for the next set of Refresh Bags.  The new design uses stretchy material and the bags don’t have a liner, which means I’m using a serger instead of a sewing machine to make the body of the bag.

Example of a serging stitch — it’s the same type of stitch used to make clothing.  It holds the fabric pieces together and prevents the fabric from unraveling.  The fabric won’t deteriorate from being washed.

The learning curve to learn how to use a serger is steep.  Here’s part of the machine that took me multiple tries over multiple weeks to thread the Lower Looper.

I finally am able to claim victory over this part of the machine!

The fabric is well on its way to becoming Refresh Bags, all of the bodies are serged.

Next steps will be to create the channel the drawstring will go through at the top of the bag and the “buttonholes” in the bottom corners to knot the string in place.  And then the final step of threading the string to complete the drawstring backpacks!

Soon the gathering of donations and items to fill the bag will also kick off.  Stay tuned!