CHOOSE A CONTRASTING COLOUR THREAD TO MAKE THE BORO EMBROIDERY STAND OUT
YOU WILL NEED
■ Lining fabric: one (1) fat quarter
■ Assorted scraps: each approx
1½in–3in square
■ Drawstring cord: 1¾yds
■ Batting scraps
■ Sashiko thread
FINISHED SIZE
■ 5in high x 7in wide
NOTES
■ For all stitching use a hand running
stitch, unless otherwise instructed.
■ Susan used mostly dark colours for her scraps, incorporating a few bright reds, light blues, maroons and stripes.
CUTTING OUT
1
From the lining fabric cut:
■ Two (2) 7½in x 18½in (bag lining).
■ Eight (8) 3½in x 1¾in (drawstring loops).
2
From the assorted scraps cut:
■ Two (2) 3in diameter circles (cord ends).
PREPARING THE BAG
3
Take one bag lining piece and fold in half lengthwise, finger pressing to crease. Unfold, then fold in half widthwise, finger pressing to crease. Unfold. Repeat with the other bag lining piece.
4
With both lining pieces facing right side up, place them on top of each other at right angles to form a cross. Use the finger pressed creases to make sure the pieces are centred. Pin in place.
5
Using a running stitch, hand sew a square in the centre of the two pieces, through both layers, then sew two diagonal lines across the centre (Fig 1).
6 With the wrong side of your lining face up, begin adding your scraps. Start by pinning one to the centre (Fig 2). Add more scraps, working outwards from the centre and overlapping the edges by at least ½in (Fig 3).
7 When several of the patches have been pinned in place, stitch a square spiral of running stitches to hold them in place, then remove the pins (Fig 4).
8 Continue adding more scraps to cover the whole panel, leaving approx 2in uncovered at the outer edges. This area will be covered after the drawstring loops have been added (below).
MAKING THE DRAWSTRING LOOPS
9 Take one of your 3½in x 1¾in loop pieces. Fold in half lengthwise and press. Unfold. Press the long raw edges in to meet the centre crease and press. Refold in half, enclosing the raw edges, and stitch along each long edge. Repeat with each loop piece (Fig 5).
10 On one outer edge of the lining panel, fold ½in towards the pieced side and press. Find the centre, then measure and mark 1½in to either side.
11 Take one prepared loop and fold in half, bringing the short raw ends together. Pin in place at one of your marks, so the raw edges extend over the folded edge
by ¾in. Stitch in place through all the layers, forming an ‘X’ shape. Repeat at the other mark (Fig 6).
12 Repeat steps 10–11 to attach two loops to each side of the panel.
FINISHING THE BAG
13 Continue to arrange and sew scraps to cover the panel as before. When you reach the edges with the drawstring loops, carefully fold under and finger press the edges of the scraps, so they align with the folded top edge of the panel.
14 Once the panel is completely covered, work several rows of running stitch along the edges with the drawstring loops. Also work more rows of stitching vertically and horizontally across the panel. Try to stitch over the raw edges of patches whenever possible to prevent fraying.
15 Pin two raw adjacent edges, with the uncovered lining sides together. Machine sew together using a "/ in seam allowance, starting from the top edge going down to the corner. Repeat this process for each side of the bag.
16 Whipstitch each side of the bag by hand, first going up the seam, then going down to create a criss-cross effect.
17 Cut your drawstring cord in half, to make two pieces. Starting and finishing at the middle of one side, thread one cord through all the loops and knot the ends together. Repeat with the second cord, starting and finishing on the opposite side.
18 Wrap a scrap piece of batting around one drawstring knot. Stitch a long, loose running stitch around the outer edge of one 3in circle. Gently pull the ends of the line of stitching to gather the circle, place over the knotted end and batting. Pull tightly, pushing the raw ends inside by approx in. Secure with a few stitches using the thread ends. Repeat to cover the other cord end.