STORE YOUR FABRIC SCRAPS IN THIS HANDY POUCH TO SAVE THEM FOR LATER!

YOU WILL NEED

Drawstring scrap pouch

■ Assorted scraps from your stash: approx one (1) fat quarter total

■ Lining fabric: one (1) fat quarter

■ Accent fabric: one (1) fat eighth

■ Casing fabric: one (1) fat eighth

■ Ribbon (optional): 2in length

■ Lightweight interfacing: 10in x 18in

■ Leather cord (or similar): 1¼yds

■ Beads for ties (optional)

FINISHED SIZE

■ 7½in x 4in x 4in

CUTTING OUT

1 From your scrap fabrics cut:

■ Twenty four (24) 2½in squares.

2 From the lining fabric cut:

■ Two (2) 8½in x 9½in.

3 From the accent fabric cut:

■ Two (2) 3½in x 8½in.

4 From the casing fabric cut:

■ Two (2) 2in x 8½in.

5 From the interfacing cut:

■ Two (2) 8½in x 9½in.

PIECING THE EXTERIOR PANELS

6 Arrange twelve of your 2½in squares in three rows of four, as shown in Fig A. Sew the squares together in rows, then sew the rows together.

7 Sew one accent fabric rectangle to the bottom of the pieced section. Press the seam towards the rectangle (Fig B). Apply the interfacing to the wrong side, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

8 Repeat steps 6–7 to make a second panel. These will form the two exterior panels. Topstitch along the accent panel pieces, close to the seam (Fig C). Press well. Trim each panel to 8½in x 9½in if required.

MAKING THE CASING

9 Take one 2in x 8½in casing piece. Press under the short edge by ¼in, then fold again and press to enclose the raw edge. Topstitch in place. Repeat this process at the other end, and at each short end of the second casing piece (Fig D).

10 Fold each casing piece in half lengthwise, WST and press.

PREPARING THE EXTERIOR

11 Take each exterior panel and casing piece. Find their centres by folding in half, then pin or pinch to create a little crease. Place each casing RST with an exterior panel, aligning the centres and the raw edges at the top.

12 Pin in place and stitch using a 1/8in seam allowance (Fig E). Decide which panel you want to be the front. Take the ribbon and fold in half. Place on the left side, 2in from the top, matching the raw edges. Pin, then stitch in place using a 1/8in seam allowance (Fig F).

FINISHING THE POUCH

13 Place each exterior RST with a lining piece. Stitch along the top edge of each. Press open, then turn the layers so they are wrong sides together. Press the casing up, away from the exterior and lining (Fig G).

14 Open out the layers again, and place the two pieces RST, matching the exteriors and lining pieces. Match the seams in the centre, making sure the casings are pointing towards the lining on each piece. Pin in place (Fig H).

15 Sew around the outer edges, leaving an approx 3in gap at the bottom of the lining. Backstitch at the beginning and the end of the seam to secure.

BOXING THE CORNERS

16 At each of the four corners, mark a 2in square and cut, as shown in Fig I. Working one corner at a time, bring the side and bottom edge together, nesting the seams and pin (Fig J). Sew across the corner, backstitching at each end. Repeat for each of the four corners.

17 Turn your pouch right side out through the gap in the lining, finger pressing the corners. Stitch the gap in the lining by hand or by machine. Then push the lining down into the pouch. With the casings pressed up and away from the pouch, topstitch all the way around the top edge of the pouch.

18 Cut your cord into two equal lengths. Take one length and, starting at one side, thread through the front casing, then through the back casing. Add a bead, tie the ends together and trim the ends. Repeat with the second cord, starting and ending at the other side (Fig K).