Hobby Bags
Here's a great idea for a last-minute gift: Personalize one of these cute little bags for someone special on your list.
I am always looking for ideas for small gifts, especially ones that can be tailored to someone's preferences. That makes it a special gift that I enjoy planning and giving.” —Chris Malone
PROJECT NOTES
Read all instructions for each project before beginning. Stitch right sides together using a 1/4" seam allowance unless otherwise specified. Refer to photos and placement diagrams for placement of appliqués and embellishments. If you plan to make multiple bags, consider buying zippers in bulk. They are inexpensive and usually come with a choice of sizes and colors or as an assortment. Oversize zippers can easily be cut to size with scissors. If the zipper is plastic, just cut through the teeth. If it is metal, cut between the teeth.
SKILL LEVEL
Confident Beginner
FINISHED SIZE
Bag Size: 81/2" x 51/2" x 2"
MATERIALS
• Fat quarter white with black sewing
text print • Fat quarter red • 2 (7" x 9") rectangles low- to medium
loft batting • 12" black zipper • 3 (3/ 8") white buttons • 8" ( 1/ 8"- wide) black ribbon • 5 black and white pony beads • 3/4" wood spool • Red pearl cotton or embroidery floss • Template material • Fusible web with paper release • Craft glue • Zipper foot • Walking foot (optional) • Thread to match fabric • Basic sewing tools and supplies
CUTTING From white with black sewing text print cut:
• 2 (7" x 9") A rectangles • 2 (2" x 4") B zipper tabs
From red cut:
• 2 (7" x 9") C rectangles
APPLIQUÉING THE SEW BAG
1. Cut a 1" square from the two bottom corners of all A, C and batting rectangles as shown in Figure 1.
2. Baste a batting rectangle to the wrong side of each A, matching outside edges.
3. Referring to Raw-Edge Fusible Appliqué on page 40, prepare the “s,” “e” and “w” appliqué letters using the patterns provided.
4. Center and fuse the letters on one A, 2" up from the bottom edge and overlapping each other slightly. Machine blanket-stitch around the edges using matching thread, referring again to RawEdge Fusible Appliqué.
5. Sew three white buttons in a line on the “e.”
INSERTING A ZIPPER CLOSURE
1. To prepare the zipper tabs, press in a 1/4" hem on short sides of each B as shown in Figure 2. Fold each B in half, right sides together. Press. 2. Trim the bottom end of the zipper just above the metal tab as shown in Figure 3.
3. Slip B over the trimmed end, overlapping about 1/4", and pin. Sew B to the zipper by topstitching close to the folded ends as shown in Figure 4. Add a second line of stitches close to the first.
4. Measure and mark the zipper from the edge of B out 71/2". Open zipper partially and cut the top end of the zipper off at the mark as shown in Figure 5.
5. Repeat step 3, adding the second B to the top end of the zipper. Trim the B zipper tabs lengthwise to match the sides of the zipper as shown in Figure 6.
6. Layer A, right side up; zipper, centered and right side down; and C, right side down; matching top edges as shown in Figure 7. Pin or baste to hold.
7. Using a zipper foot, sew along the top edge.
8. Turn A and C away from the zipper with wrong sides together and press along the seam edge. Trim zipper tabs even with sides of bag.
9. Repeat steps 6–8, attaching A and C to opposite zipper tape.
10. Topstitch along the exterior on either side of the zipper.
COMPLETING THE SEW BAG
1. Open the zipper. Position the bag so that the A and C rectangles are right sides together. Push seam allowances toward C as shown in Figure 8.
2. Pin and sew along all edges except the square cut outs at corners. Leave a 3" turning opening along the bottom edge of C referring again to Figure 8.
3. To box bag bottom, open a notched corner, match seams and raw edges and sew across raw edge, backstitching at each end as shown in Figure 9. Repeat on remaining corners.
4. Turn bag right side out through the opening in C. Hand- or machine-sew the opening closed. Push C into the bag and carefully push out all corners.
5. To make a spool and bead pull, apply craft glue to the spool and carefully wrap pearl cotton or embroidery floss around the center to cover.
6. Insert ribbon through the hole in the zipper pull and bring ends even.
7. Thread ribbon ends through four beads and then through the spool. Add one more bead and tie a knot in the ribbon just below the last bead. Apply a dot of craft glue to the top of the knot to prevent the ribbon from slipping through. Sew Bag Placement Diagram 81/ 2" x 51/ 2"x 2"
CUTTING Pencil Bag SKILL LEVEL
Confident Beginner
FINISHED SIZE
Bag Size: 101/4" x 31/2" x 2"
MATERIALS
• Fat quarter black • Fat quarter gray • Scraps of 10 different colored solids,
including pink and tan • 2 (5" x 103/4") rectangle low- to
medium-loft batting • Gold pearl cotton or embroidery floss • 14" gray zipper • 7" ( 3/ 8"- wide) multicolored ribbon • Zipper foot • Walking foot (optional) • Thread to match fabric • Basic sewing tools and supplies
From black cut:
• 2 (1" x 21/2") A strips • 2 (1" x 2") B strips • 2 (21/2" x 103/4") C strips • 1 (5" x 103/4") D rectangle • 2 (2" x 4") E zipper tabs
From gray cut:
• 2 (5" x 103/4") F rectangles
From assorted colored solids cut:
• 8 (1" x 11/4") G pieces, 1 each from all the
colors except the pink and tan • 1 (1") pink H square • Use Pencil Tip pattern provided to cut 1
Pencil Tip from tan.
PREPARING THE PENCIL INSERT
1. Arrange and stitch G pieces short end to short end to make the pencil body. Add the pink H square to one end. Press.
2. Stitch A to a long side of Pencil Tip as shown in Figure 10. Press.
3. Trim the top angle of A to match the opposite Pencil Tip side, referring again to Figure 10.
4. Stitch the remaining A to opposite side of Pencil Tip. Press. Trim the unit to 1" x 11/4" with Pencil Tip centered as shown in Figure 11.
5. Sew the pieced Pencil Tip to the end of the pencil opposite the pink H square as shown in Figure 12.
6. Referring to Figure 12, sew B strips to each end to complete the pencil unit.
7. Sew C strips to the top and bottom of the pieced pencil insert to complete the Pencil Bag front.
8. Make 3 to 4 stitches, using the gold pearl cotton or floss, between the pink H eraser end and the rest of the pencil as shown in Figure 13.
COMPLETING THE PENCIL BAG
1. Cut a 1" square from the two bottom corners of the pieced bag front, D and F rectangles and batting pieces referring to Figure 1.
2. Baste a batting rectangle to the wrong side of the pieced bag front and D, matching outside edges.
3. Follow steps 1–9 of Inserting a Zipper Closure to prepare the zipper and E zipper tabs. Change the zipper measurement to 91/4".
4. Follow steps 1–4 of Completing the Sew Bag to complete the Pencil Bag.
5. To make a zipper pull, thread the ribbon through the hole in the zipper pull and tie a knot near the end.
Hexie Bag SKILL LEVEL
Confident Beginner
FINISHED SIZE
Bag Size: 7"x 5"x 2"
MATERIALS
• Fat quarter black and white print • Fat quarter black with multicolored
dots • Scrap black with white dots • 2 (71/2" x 61/2") rectangles low- to
medium-loft batting • 9" green zipper • 4" ( 1/ 8"- wide) white ribbon • 9 precut 3/4" hexie papers or
lightweight cardstock • Zipper foot • Walking foot (optional) • Thread to match fabric • Basic sewing tools and supplies
CUTTING
If not using precut hexie papers, trace the pattern provided 9 times onto a piece of lightweight cardstock. Cut out shapes carefully.
From black & white print cut:
• 2 (61/2" x 71/2") A rectangles • 2 (2" x 4") B zipper tabs
From black with multicolored dots cut:
• 2 (61/2" x 71/2") C rectangles
COMPLETING HEXIE APPLIQUÉ
1. For hexie appliqué, place hexie patterns onto wrong side of fabric. Pin or hold in place and cut out fabric 1/4"–3/8" larger all around. Cut eight hexies from black with multicolored dots. Cut another hexie from black with white dots.
2. Fold the fabric over the edge of the paper. Finger-press. Make a stitch through the fabric and paper to baste together referring to Figure 14.
3. Continue stitching around the hexie shape, folding and basting as shown in Figure 14. Make a small backstitch at the end and clip thread, leaving a short tail. Repeat with all the hexies.
4. Hold a black with multicolored dots hexie and the black with white dots hexie, right sides together, and stitch together with small whipstitches, just catching the edges of fabric as shown in Figure 15a.
5. Continue to add hexies around the black with white dots hexie, joining all touching sides of all hexies, until you have a flower shape as shown in Figure 15b.
6. Follow steps 1 and 2 for Appliquéing the Sew Bag using all A and C rectangles and batting pieces.
7. Pin and center the hexie flower to one of the prepared A rectangles, 13/4" up from the bottom edge.
8. Hand- or machine-appliqué the edges down. If desired, quilt around the appliqué. Set the remaining two hexies aside for a zipper pull.
9. Follow steps 1–9 of Inserting a Zipper Closure to prepare the zipper and B zipper tabs. Change the zipper measurement to 6".
10. Follow steps 1–4 of Completing the Sew Bag to complete the Hexie Bag.
11. To make a zipper pull, thread ribbon through the hole in the zipper pull and bring ends even.
12. Whipstitch the two remaining hexies, wrong sides together, leaving one side open.
13. Slip the ribbon ends inside and finish joining the sides, making several stitches through the ribbon to hold.