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hoard love Halloween fabric! When I got partnered with cackle for the Mini 13 Days of Halloween, I decided to make a patchwork bag as her container. I've received some Halloween fabric in swaps over the past few years and my quilt shop sells their bolt ends for 20 cents an inch so I'm always digging in their bins and have never passed up a spooky print. I took some in-process photos, here's how I made it.
The first thing I did was cut out 48 2.5 by 2.5 inch squares, then laid them out how I thought they looked best. See those word squares at the bottom? They were from a pair of PJ pants I found at WalMart after Halloween on sale for $5. They didn't have my size but I bought a pair anyways to craft with some day. The best part? They glow in the dark (oh yeah!)
Being careful of the fabrics that had a 'this end up', I started sewing the squares together in rows of four with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Once the row was completed, I ironed the seams flat set it aside, and went on to the next row.
When I had all the rows completed, I started sewing them together with the same 1/4 inch seam allowance.
It came together pretty fast!
I chose linen for my accent fabric at the bottom of my bag, but you could use most anything. I cut a piece of linen 3 1/2 by 24 1/2 inches and pinned it to the bottom of my patchwork piece. It would be really easy to pin it to the wrong edge of the patchwork, so make sure you notice which end is up.
Another 1/4 inch seam and it's attached.
I gave it a hand embroidered detail by doing a large running stitch with six strands of orange embroidery floss right along the seam I just sewed.
Now it's time to turn your large rectangular piece into a tube which will form the sides of the bag. Just fold it in half with right sides together and sew and 1/4 inch seam up the edges. Press the seam open when you're done. Do not turn it right side out, leave it as-is for the next step.
Using a compass, draw a 7 3/4 inch diameter circle on a piece of paper then cut it out. This will be your template for the bottom of your bag. Cut the linen circle and pin it to the bottom of the tube.
Sew the round bottom to the sides of the bag with a 1/4 inch seam.
Clip the curve about every half inch with sharp scissors.
The lining is really similar to the process you just did to make the exterior of your bag. Cut a piece of fabric 11 by 24 1/2 inches and sew it up the short side into a tube. Cut another 7 3/4 inch circle, pin it right side together to the bottom of your tube and sew a 1/4 inch seam. Clip the curve.
For the drawstring case, cut a piece of fabric 2.5 by 25.5 inches and iron a 1/4 inch seam along one of the long edges. Turn both of the short ends over 1/4 inch, then another 1/4 inch run a seam down the middle to give the drawstring opening a finished edge. NOTE: the drawstring used in this project was actually 1.5 by 24.5 inches and I decided for future projects, I would increase the width in order to make it easier to sew.
Place the lining inside the exterior bag. The wrong side of your lining should be touching the wrong side of your patchwork piece. Now it's time to attach the drawstring case along the top of the patchwork piece. With right sides together, pin the un-ironed edge of your drawstring case to the outside of your bag.
Remove the Bernina's sliding table and sew the drawstring case on using a 1/4 inch seam.
The final thing you need to do is to fold the drawstring case over and hand stitch the ironed edge to the lining.
Thread a drawstring and you're done!
