Made by Me Monday – Easy Drawstring Bag {tutorial}

by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 11, 2014

Yet another Valentine’s project? Maybe… or maybe not?! You could also use this easy bag as a gift bag, or fancy it up and make your little lady a dress-up purse. I made this bag with Valentine’s in mind, but the idea came from my Halloween post in October when I promised to make a tutorial for these bags. It was part of my daughter’s Izzy costume.

I made this with the simplest construction in mind. Of course if you have some experience sewing, you can sort out how to add a lining, outside pocket – or something else I haven’t thought of yet! You could really have a lot of fun embellishing them – perfect for party favours even. (And thank goodness they are fast and simple to make!)

You will need:

• 2 pieces quilting cotton outer fabric 9″ x 12″ (or your desired size)
• 2 pieces contrasting fabric 1 1/2″ x width of your outer fabric (for the drawstring casing)
• 1 piece contrasting cotton for applique
• 1 piece Steam-A-Seam or similar fusible web (size of applique)
• 2 pieces 1/4″-3/8″ wide ribbon for drawstrings – length: outer fabric width x 2 + 8″ each
• scissors, pins, glue stick, water soluble fabric pen, normal sewing gear

Here we go:

Step 1: (a) Fold the right side edges of your contrasting casing fabric into the center and iron them. Do this with both pieces. (b) Fold each end of your casing fabric in 1/2″ to the wrong side. Pin or use a glue stick to hold the ends down. Set casings aside.

Step 2: (a) Fold both outer fabric pieces in half wrong sides together so the side edges are touching. Use a round object to trace a rounded corner onto your fabric. (b) Cut along your rounded line with all pieces folded together. This will make sure they are all the same when you are finished.

Step 3: (a) Turn and iron the top edges of your outer fabric pieces down 1/4″ and then 1/4″ again. (b) Stitch across the bottom edge of the folded fabric to hem the top of your bag.

Step 4: (a) Measure 1 1/2″ down from the top edge of each outer piece of fabric and pin your casings in place. Make sure they are centered side-to-side. (b) Stitch close to each casing edge. Do not stitch over the ends!

Step 5: (a) Cut out your applique shape with fusible web on the back and iron your applique on the front outer fabric. (b) Use a small zig-zag to stitch around the edge of your applique.

Step 6: (a) Place the two outer pieces of fabric right sides together and pin. (b) Stitch around the un-hemmed edges (sides and bottom) with a 1/4″ seam. (c) Trim the seam allowance with pinking shears or zig-zag stitch the seam allowance to neaten the edges.

Step 7: (a) Turn the bag right side out. Thread one ribbon through the front casing, then around the bag and through the back casing. I like to use a safety pin to do this more easily. (b) Tie your ends in a knot. (c) Thread the second ribbon through the front and then back casing, but this time make sure to start on the side without the ends from the first ribbon. (d) Tie these new ends in a knot. When you pull on the ribbons the drawstrings will close the top of the bag. If they don’t, check the photos and try re-threading the ribbons through your casings.

Finished! Fill ‘er up with yummy treats, a nice gift, or some spare change for your little lady’s new purse.

As always, I’d love to see your handiwork! You can share your projects on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #alongforthreadride, or post them on the Thread Riding Hood Facebook page. And, of course, if you have any questions please be sure to contact me on any of the above or email sherri@threadridinghood.com. I’d love to hear from you! (And, as usual – this tutorial is for personal use only! Thanks.)

Super Simple Bunting Tee {a tutorial}

by Sherri Sylvester | Feb 8, 2014

I’ve had these shirts in my head for a while and so I thought I would share a rare Saturday tutorial with you so you have time to make it before Valentine’s if you want! (If you are looking for Sewing Survey Saturday we’ll be back again next week with last week’s results.) I wanted these to be wearable year round, but still have a little bit of a Heart Day vibe. Of course, who can resist the bunting, and it was a lot of fun finding fun fabric scraps to fussy cut. I love that the twill ribbon creates a “faux yoke” on the shirt front.

Thankfully the tees came out like I’d hoped and they are really quick to make. I think I spent about 1/2 hour on each shirt.  My oldest even pronounced it the best shirt I have ever made for her. Even though I only appliqued a store-bought one. A little effort on my part = a happy daughter. It’s a win, win situation! And, if you wanted, this would look super-cute on a baby bib or a onesie too – a quick shower gift maybe?

Of all of the things to be proud of I think I am most happy that I actually used my cross-stitching skills from 15 (or more) years ago! I had to remember how to separate the embroidery floss to put some hand-stitching around the appliqued heart. I love how it looks. It’s those little touches that make the piece special. Please tell me you are proud to have a secret past with cross-stitching in it too!?

Wanna make one?

You will need:

• store bought (or homemade) shirt
• twill/ribbon the width of the shirt + 10″ for the bow
• 3 fabric scraps for the bunting (roughly 3″x3″ each)
• 1 fabric scrap for the tiny heart (roughly 1.5″x1.5″ each)
• Steam-A-Seam or other fusible web product
• school glue stick
• ballpoint needle for your sewing machine
• Hand embroidery needle
• Embroidery floss to compliment/contrast the heart
• iron, sewing machine, scissors, pins

Here we go:

Step 1: Find some super-cute fabric and fussy cut it out to make the triangles. My triangles are 2 1/2″ on each side and 2″ across the top. Free-hand cut a heart. It helps to fold your fabric in half and cut half a heart, so each side is the same when you unfold it. My heart is just over 1″ x 1″.

Step 2: Cut your fusible web to match the triangle shapes and heart shape. Use the extra 10″ of ribbon (you likely won’t need all of it) to make a bow. Lay everything out the way you want on the shirt front with the fusible web underneath the triangles and heart.  The twill ribbon along the top of the triangles should overhang the sleeve seams by 1/2″ on each side. Make sure everything looks the way you’d like it to when you are finished. TIP: My bunting is off to the left – not centred on the shirt. It looks a bit more artistic, and the bow visually centres it when you are finished.

Step 3: Remove the ribbon and bow. Iron the triangles and heart onto your shirt as per your fusible web directions. I used a press cloth to avoid getting stray glue on my iron.

Step 4: Use a small zig-zag to stitch around your bunting triangles. Don’t stitch the heart, we will do that later.

Step 5: (a) Use a glue stick to fold the edges of your long twill ribbon 1/2 under on each end. Pin/Glue the ribbon onto your shirt, making sure the ends meet up with the edges of the sleeve seams. (b) Stitch around the twill ribbon. I used a straight stitch and sewed as close to all 4 edges (sides and ends) as I could.

Step 6: Separate out 3 strands of embroidery floss and run some small hand-stitches around the heart. Begin and end at the back of the shirt and tie them together with a triple-knot when you are done.

Step 7: Use a bar-tack or a straight stitch on both sides of the centre of your bow to secure it to the shirt and ensure it does not come untied.

All finished – Send it over to a tiny fashion-ista or give it to your little Valentine.

As always, I’d love to see your handiwork! You can share your projects on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #alongforthreadride, or post them on the Thread Riding Hood Facebook page. And, of course, if you have any questions please be sure to contact me on all of the above or email sherri@threadridinghood.com. I’d love to hear from you!