Needlework or Jewelry Bag

My hostess at a workshop in Angleton, Texas taught me the basics for this little bag.

Please read all directions before starting this project.

Supplies:

Fabric ~ 2 coordinating fat quarters

2 yards of ¼ inch ribbon or cord

Disappearing marking pen or chalk

Sewing machine

Basic sewing supplies

Yarn needle or safety pin

Cut a 14” and 7” square from each fat quarter. Place the two 14” squares right sides together. Sew ¼” from outside edge on both leaving about 3” open on one side.

Clip corners and turn right side out. Turn the open edge in ¼” and press all edges flat. Stitch close to the edges around the whole block. If you have an edge stitch foot it helps to keep the stitching straight.

The top stitching will close the openings. Repeat for the 7” squares. Use a chalk wheel or disappearing marking pen to mark a line corner to corner in both directions on the top side of the small square. Fold the large square in half and finger press in both directions to find the center. Place the small square in the center of the large square. The fabric that will be the inside of the bag should be facing up with the contrasting side of the small square facing up.

Sew on the marked lines in both directions, backstitching at the corners. Turn the squares over and measure 5” in from each corner. Fold the corners back.

Mark a line ½” from the corner edges and stitch on the lines backstitching at the beginning and ending.

Cut the ribbon into two pieces. Thread ribbon into yarn needle or safety pin and weave it through the channels created by the stitching.

 Leave tails of ribbon on one side and tie the ends together with a knot. Run the other ribbon through leaving tails on the opposite side.

 Pull the knots on both sides to draw up the square to form a small bag. The square inside will make small pockets to organize contents.

The little pouch looks like a flower when viewed from the top.

Karen Gass from Cotton Spice Quilting Magazine is hosting a Summer Blog Workshop for 14 days, July 21 to August 3. Each day is a different project, each with a different skill level. The projects are different crafts; not all quilting. My project will be posted on July 26. It is a small needlework or jewelry bag that can be made in one afternoon. Be sure to check www.cottonspice.com/CSblog each day for that day's project. Check here on my blog to get the instructions for the needlework bag.

This was a busy Spring as I did a lecture and workshops in Cape May, NJ, a workshop for South Shore Stitchers, NJ, a lecture and two workshops in Tallahassee, FL, attended classes at Empty Spools in Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, CA, had a booth at the wholesale quilt market in Portland OR and took a little vacation to Charleston, SC.  Here's a couple of pictures from the classes. More later.