Drawstring bags

Drawstring Bag Materials: 1/4 yard of fabric 20” of fabric cord or ribbon (or make your own) Decide your size. Cut your fabric. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together. On the wrong side of the fabric, draw a rectangle that is the desired size of your bag. Add 1” to the width for side seams, and 2 1/2” to the length for the casing and bottom seam. Cut two pieces. If making a fabric drawstring, cut a strip 3” wide and the desired length. (to figure out how long to make the string, double the width of the bag and add a few extra inches so you can knot the string.) With right sides together, stitch down one side, across the bottom and up the other side, stopping 2 inches from the top. Backstitch and cut the thread. Leaving a 1 1/2 inch gap, stitch the last 1/2 inch to the top edge, back stitching on both ends. Press the seam open and stitch about 2 inches down the seam allowances on either side of the opening. Clip the bottom corners and trim the seam allowances. Press under 1/2 inch of the top raw edge, then press under another 1 1/2 inches. Top stitch along the bottom of the fold. Using a safety pin, thread the ribbon or cord through the hole and around to the other side. Knot the ends. (Directions from Sew What! Bags by Lexie Barnes)

Hoot! Owls!

Project 8: Owls!! Take your main fabric. Fold it over, so it is doubled, right sides facing. Pin the body template to your fabric. Cut around the template carefully. Find your accent fabrics. Cut out two wings, two big circles and two small circles, and a beak. Pin and glue the accents onto your top body piece. Sew the accents onto your top body piece. You can use a straight stitch or a zig-zag. Stay as close to the edge of your pieces as you can. Place your decorated front body piece to your back body piece, right sides facing. Pin. Sew around the edges of both pieces with at 1/2 inch seam allowance. Leave 3 inches open for turning out. Turn your owl right side out. Stuff. Sew the opening closed. Lesson 6 skills: Applique, seam allowance, stuffing, turning out.

Week 5- Placemats

Project 7: Placemats Pre wash and iron your fabric. Cut out (4) 12.5 inches by 19 inches rectangles in each fabric (you should have 8 rectangles total.) Place 2 right sides together and pin all the way around. Sew using a 1/2 inch seam allowance, leaving a 3 inch gap fro turning. Remember, start in the middle of one side, sew all the way around, then stop 3 inches before you reach the beginning. Don’t forget to backstitch at the beginning and end! Clip the corners, being careful not to clip your stitches. Turn the fabric right side out, and iron. Top stitch all the way around, as close as you can get it, closing the opening. Lesson 5 skills: cutting, seam allowance, top-stitching, using templates, pinning.