FULL OF BEANS
Brighten up a rainy afternoon with Julie Rutter’s oh-so sweet beanbags and bucket tote.
Brighten up a rainy afternoon with Julie Rutter’s oh-so sweet beanbags and bucket tote.
NOTES
Q Seam allowances are ¼in, unless otherwise noted. Q RST = right sides together. Q WS = wrong side of fabric. Q RS = right side of fabric. Q RSO = right sides out. Q Press seams open, unless otherwise instructed.
BEANBAGS
CUTTING OUT
1 From fabric scraps cut ninety (90) 2½in squares.
2 From linen cut ten (10) 6½in squares.
PREPARING THE BEANBAGS
3 Use a text editor (like Word, Notepad or Illustrator) to create letter templates. Choose a font you like and type in the first number. Change the size of the font to achieve the size you want and print out.
We used a font called Arial Rounded MT Bold (in italics) at 350pt size to get letters about 3½in high. Create templates in this way for numbers 1 to 10.
4 Reverse the templates, then trace each number onto the paper side of your fusible web ( Fig a) and then roughly cut around each number on the fusible web. 5 Followingfuse each numberthe manufacturer’sonto a piece instructionsof felt. We made numbers one to five each from a different colour of felt and repeated the colour pattern for numbers six to ten ( Fig b).
6 Cut out each number on the traced line, remove the paper backing and then press each number onto the centre of one linen 6½in square.
7 Sew each number securely in place using a small zigzag stitch and sewing close to the edge of the number ( Fig c).
8 Choose nine (9) 2½in squares and sew together in three rows of three. Join the rows to complete the block and press seams open. Repeat to make the nine more patchwork squares. 9 Sew a line of topstitching 1/8in from the edge of one side of each patchwork square ( Fig d). When you turn the beanbags right side out in the next steps, this topstitching will protect the seams in the turning gap.
ASSEMBLING THE BEANBAGS
10 Take one linen square and match with a patchwork square. Place RST ( Fig e) and sew around all four edges leaving an approximately 3in gap in the centre of the side which has the 1/8in topstitch. Clip the corners, turn RSO and press. Repeat for the remaining nine linen and patchwork square pairs.
11 Fill each beanbag and securely sew closed with a slip stitch. We sewed each seam twice to strengthen so that the beanbags are ready for lots of play!
NOTES
Q For the foam sew-in interfacing, we used ByAnnie’s Soft and Stable
BUCKET TOTE
CUTTING OUT
1 From linen cut:
Q One (1) 10½in x 33½in piece. Q Two (2) 10½in diameter circles. Q One (1) 2½in x 33½in piece. Q One (1) 6½in x 33½in piece. Q One (1) 3in x 23in piece.
2 From light weight fusible interfacing cut: Q One (1) 10½in x 33½in piece. Q One (1) 10½in diameter circle.
3 "From foam sew-in interfacing cut:
Q One (1) 10½in x 33½in piece. Q One (1) 10½in diameter circle. Q One (1) 1in x 22½in piece.
ASSEMBLING BASKET OUTER
4 Sew scraps together to make a patchwork strip 2½in x 33½in, for the basket outer. 5 Sew this patchwork strip RST with the 2½in x 33½in piece of linen, along one long edge, and press. Repeat to add the 6½in x 33½in piece of linen to the other long edge of the patchwork strip ( Fig a). This is now the basket outer; the 6½in linen piece will be at the top and the 2½in linen piece at the bottom. 6 Position the 10½in x 33½in piece of foam sew-in interfacing on the WS of the basket outer. Sew together, around all four sides, with a 1/8in seam. They will now be treated as one piece. Repeat with one linen circle and the foam sew-in interfacing circle to create the basket outer base ( Fig b).
7 Taking the basket outer sew a line ¼in to either side of the seams where the patchwork strip joins the linen – these four lines act as decoration as well as adding stability ( Fig c).
8 Fold the basket outer in half, RST, bringing the two short sides together and forming a tube. Sew the short ends of this piece together to create the basket outer Press the seam open.
9 Place the interfaced circle on the bottom of the basket outer, so that they are RST. Pin from the base joining the raw edge of base and sides ( Fig d). Sew together with the base uppermost and the side underneath, sewing slowly to follow the circular shape.
10 Turn RSO and press carefully.
ASSEMBLING THE BASKET LINING
11 Follow the manufacturer’s instructions fuse the corresponding lightweight interfacing to the wrong side of the following lining pieces: the 10½in x 33½in piece of linen (for lining sides) and the remaining circular piece of linen (for lining base).
12 Create the lining using these fused pieces following steps 8–9. Leave the lining WSO and press carefully.
ASSEMBLING BASKET HANDLE
13 Taking the 3in x 23in linen piece, press all edges under by ¼in to the WS and press again in half lengthwise, so all raw edges are enclosed. 14 Unfold the linen strip, and place the 1in x 22½in piece of foam sew-in interfacing on one side of the linen strip. Tuck one long edge and both short edges under the ¼in folds. Fold the linen strip in half again, covering the interfacing, and pin in place ( Fig e). Sew around all four edges being careful to catch the folded edges to hold the seam ( Fig f).
15 Sew scraps together to make a patchwork strip 1in x 22½in. Press under all edges by ¼in to the WS. Pin the patchwork strip RS up, centred on the handle ( Fig g) and sew around all four edges with a 1/8in seam. 16 Add a buttonhole to each end of your handle, about ½in from the ends. When cutting open, position a pin across each end of the buttonhole, to prevent the end stitches from being accidentally cut, and snip carefully through the layers ( Fig h).
FINISHING THE BASKET
17 Take the binding strip and press half lengthwise, WST. Press one short end over at 90 degrees to make a 45-degree fold in the fabric strip ( Fig i). 18 Place the basket lining (WSO) inside the basket outer (RSO), matching side seams. Pin the binding in place along the top edge, matching raw edges. Start with your angled end of binding at the side seam. Work around the basket and overlap the starting point by about ½in ( Fig j). 19 Sew the binding in place around the top of the basket. Trim the flap of folded binding at the start so it’s level with the rest of the basket. Press the binding up, then fold to the inside and pin in place. Sew the folded edge of binding to the basket lining using a slip stitch.
20 Sew on each button with the centre ½in below the binding on both sides of the basket. Attach the handle to finish.