Eyes with sparkle
Craft a handy bag decorated with eyelet stitch
YOU WILL NEED
■ Linen, for the bag outer
■ Lining fabric, for the bag lining
■ Stranded cotton in pale pink and white
■ Embroidery needle
■ Wooden bead
■ Basic sewing kit
■ Matching thread
NOTES
■ Turn to p155 for the template
■ Use a 7mm seam allowance
■ Instead of hand stitching the drawstring eyelets, you can make buttonholes on your sewing machine or install metal eyelets or grommets
WORKING DECORATIVE EYELET STITCH
Step one Come up at the outside of the pattern or shape. Go back down near the centre.
Step two Continue making straight stitches, working from the outside to the centre with each stitch. You can work eyelet stitch with even or varying- length stitches. 1
WORKING FUNCTIONAL EYELET STITCH
Step one Stitch a ring of back stitch a little larger than hole of the eyelet should be. Carefully cut out the centre with small scissors. Step two Work eyelet stitch closer than the decorative version and working from the outside in to the centre hole. 2
HOW TO MAKE THE DRAWSTRING BAG
Step one From the linen cut:
■ Bag outer strip: one 15x50cm
■ Bag side: two 10x20cm
Step two From the lining fabric cut:
■ Bag outer strip: Cut one 15x50cm
■ Bag side: two 10x20cm
■ Tie closure: one 4x50cm
Step two Transfer the template onto the fabric. Step three Using three strands of cotton, embroider the decorative eyelets on the right side ( RS) of the linen 15cm from one short end. Step four Mark the centre of the bag outer strip long edges, as well as the centres of the short edges of the bag side pieces.
Step two Sew the bag side pieces to the bag outer strip with RS together, matching the markings. Repeat with the lining fabric. 3
Step three Pin and sew the four sides of the linen RS together, forming a bag shape. Repeat with the lining bag pieces to create an identical piece. Step four Place the lining in the outer bag with wrong sides ( WS) facing. Pin and sew around the top of the bag, leaving a 6cm opening. Turn the bag RS out and push the lining into the bag. 4
Step five Roll the top seam open with your fingers and press the seam allowances on the opening in. Stitch around the top edge by hand with three strands of stranded cotton and running stitch. Step six Mark and stitch eight eyelets around the bag approx 4cm from the top, using the functional eyelet template. 5
Step six Sew the tie closure lining fabric into a tube with one end closed. Turn the tube RS out, tuck the raw edges inside and stitch to close. Step seven Thread the drawstring tie through the eyelets, starting on the side of the bag.
Step eight Thread a bead over the drawstring ends and then tie the two ends together. 6