CHROMA COLOUR
Pair your favourite rainbow prints with a neutral background fabric to create these zip-up pouches
Show off a graduated rainbow effect on a neutral background with Amanda Castor’s handy zip-up pouches
YOU WILL NEED
■ Rainbow prints: eight (8)
2½in squares
■ Background fabric: one (1) fat quarter
■ Lining fabric: one (1) fat eighth
■ Fusible fleece: ½yd
■ Zip: 11in
■ One copy each of pouch front FPP templates A–D
FINISHED SIZE
■ 10½in x 6in x 3in
NOTES
■ Seam allowances are ¼in throughout, unless otherwise noted.
■ Press seams to the side, unless otherwise instructed.
■ Shorten your stitch length to 1.5 for foundation paper piecing.
■ RST = right sides together.
■ WOF = width of fabric.
■ WST = wrong sides together.
■ FPP = foundation paper piece
■ Templates include seam allowance around the outer edges only.
■ For templates, see p90.
ARRANGE YOUR TRIANGLES WITH CARE TO CREATE THIS STRIKING GRADUATED RAINBOW EFFECT
FABRICS USED
■ Print and lining fabrics are Chroma by Alison Glass for Andover Fabrics.
■ Background fabric is from Art Gallery Denim Studio.
CUTTING OUT
1 From the lining fabric cut two (2) 8½in x 11in rectangles.
2 From the background fabric cut:
■ One (1) 8½ x 11in rectangle.
■ One (1) 4in x 11in rectangle.
■ One (1) 1½in x 11in rectangle.
■ Two (2) 1in x 2½in rectangles.
3 Also from the background fabric, cut pieces for each section of the FPP templates, using the template as a guide. Make sure the pieces will be at least ¼in larger than the section that they will cover, all the way around.
4 From the fusible fleece cut two (2) 8½in x 11in rectangles.
FPP THE FRONT PANEL
5 Take template A and one rainbow print 2½in square for Section 1. Place the fabric right side up on the unprinted side of the template against Section 1. Ensure that the fabric covers the whole section, plus at least ¼in all round. Pin in place.
6 Place the Section 2 fabric piece right side down on top of the Section 1 fabric
piece, making sure that when folded back along the seam line, Section 2 will be covered by the fabric plus at least ¼in all round. Pin in place.
7 Turn the template over to the printed side and stitch along the marked line between Sections 1 and 2, backstitching at the beginning and end of the seam. Fold the template away from the seam and trim to ¼in. Fold the template back, turn the work to the fabric side, flip section 2 open. Press.
8 Continue working in this way to piece the remaining sections on the FPP template. Trim along the dotted seam allowance line. Remove paper, tearing along the seam lines.
9 Repeat steps 5–8 to piece Templates B, C and D, using the rainbow prints for the triangles and background pieces.
10 Referring to the photo for placement, join the Template A and B pieces, with the triangles pointing to the centre. Join Template C and D pieces to each side, also ensuring the triangles point to the centre.
11 Sew a 1½in x 11in background strip to the top of the pieced unit and a 4in x 11in background strip to the bottom. Press seams open to complete the front panel.
ASSEMBLING THE POUCH
12 Following the manufacturer’s instructions, attach one 8½in x 11in fusible fleece to the reverse of the front panel. Attach the remaining piece to the reverse of the 8½in x 11in background piece.
13 Place one 1in x 2½in rectangle right side down on top of each end of the zip, carefully lining up the raw edges. Pin or clip into place (Fig A).
14 Sew in place using a 1¼in seam, backstitching at each end and going slowly over the zip teeth. Trim the seam to ¼in and press open (Fig B).
15 Layer the front panel (right side up) and zip (right side down) so that the edge of the zip aligns with the top of the front panel. Layer an 8½in x 11in lining rectangle (right side down) and pin or clip in place. (Fig C)
16 Sew together, using a zipper foot. Press the lining and front panel away from the zip. Topstitch in place.
17 Repeat steps 15-16 to sew the other side of the zip, using the remaining 8½in x 11in background and lining pieces.
18 Unzip the zip halfway. Open out the fabric layers and align the lining fabrics RST on one side of the zip and the outer panels RST. Pin in place (Fig D). Carefully match the centre seams and push the zip seam allowance toward the lining side.
19 Sew around the outer edges, leaving a 3in gap in the bottom of the lining, backstitching at each end (Fig E).
20 Pinch together the side and bottom seam in one corner of the lining. Mark a line 1½in from the point and sew along the line (Fig F). Trim the seam allowance to ¼in. Repeat in the remaining three corners.
21 Turn the pouch right side out through the gap in the lining. Sew the lining gap closed, topstitching 1/8in from the folded edge. Push the lining into the bag to finish.