Bunny totes TO MAKE TASSELS:
You will need
Calico bags – ours were 37cm x 42cm
Scissors
Templates
Self-adhesive fabric
Fabric marker pen
Tassels made of two tones of blue wool, optional
Wooden beads, optional
Instructions
1 Begin by drawing a large and small bunny shape (see above right), on two separate sheets of paper, using the templates provided, photocopied to the desired scale. Cut them out.
2 Roll out the adhesive fabric and cut it so it is just slightly smaller than the front of the calico bag and there is approximately a 1cm gap around the edges.
3 Lay the large and small bunny templates centred along the bottom, with a small space in between them. Trace around in pencil.
4 Cut out the bunny shapes from the adhesive fabric (we used blue fabric).
Try to keep them whole, so you can use these cut-outs on another bag to create a version in reverse. We cut another two smaller ones and combined the four onto one bag (see above).
5 Carefully remove the backing sheet from the adhesive fabric. It’s best to do this bit by bit, sticking the fabric down as you remove the backing, so it doesn’t stick to itself. The bunnies will now be the calico colour of your bag and the blue becomes the backdrop.
6 Use a fabric marker pen to make little faces, then iron flat to seal.
7 If you wish, complete your bag with with a fluffy wool and bead tassel (see instructions below).
TIPS: These bags can be made any size. Just adjust the template to fit the bag you choose. It’s best not to go too large, as it can make the adhesive tricky to handle. If you prefer, you can trace the template directly onto the bag and paint the bunnies, using a test pot paint colour of your choice.
NOTE: If you can’t find pre-made adhesive fabric, you could use two-sided, iron-on adhesive available from fabric stores. Use this with a stiff drill, felt or similar fabric that won’t fray.
1 Take the ends of two shades of blue wool (one lighter, one darker). Hold them together and wrap multiple times around four fingers so that the tassel will be a mix of the two colours. When you have enough to make a nice thick tassel, release from your fingers so you have an “O” shape.
2 Thread a 30cm piece of wool through the “O” and knot to secure strands together. Leave tail ends, as these will thread through beads and tie onto bag.
3 Cut the “O” at the opposite end to where you have tied, so the strands hang freely. Now take another long strand of wool and wrap it five or six times around the neck of the tassel to create a bubble or head. (We like to think of them as little ghosts or doll-like shapes.) Double-knot the neck and trim so the wool you’ve used to tie it is the same length as the rest of the hanging strands. Use a hairbrush to separate out the strands, making your tassels fuller and the blues more blended.
4 Thread on some wooden beads and tie to the handle of the bag.