Today’s project is a quick but sweet one. I came up with a fun little idea to elevate your Valentine’s Day treat using a few scraps that comes together quickly. You can add fun embellishments, applique, or patchwork to make it extra special or just leave it plain and simple. Let’s get started.
Supplies:
- 8.5”x12.5” rectangles of two coordination cotton fabrics
- One 8.5×12.5” rectangle of HeatnBond Fusible Fleece
- One 8.5×12.5” HeatnBond Soft Woven Fusible Interfacing
- ⅛” grosgrain ribbon
- Toggle or button
- Needle and thread
Before we get started, I’ll be showing you how to form the bag. If you want to piece the outer panel together do so before following these steps. For this version I used 24 2-inch squares laid out 3 across by 8 down. I sewed those together then attached a 2.25”x12.5” strip on the outside edge on both sides. Lining is the same as stated above.
Adhere your main fabric to the HeatnBond fusible fleece and quilt it. If you want to add any appliqued embellishments now would be the time.
Decide how low you want your button or toggle. Measure how far down. Cut a piece of ribbon double that amount and tie a knot in the end. Place the ribbon centered on one end of your main panel. Tack in place.
Take your lining fabric and fuse the HeatnBond Soft Woven Fusible Interfacing to the wrong side (I did so before remembering to photograph it). Now lay it over your main fabric, right sides together.
Sew along the top and bottom (shorter ends) edges only. Turn right side out. Press and top-stitch making sure your ribbon is now caught in your stitches. I’ve found it way easier to do the next few steps if you sew a straight stitch on the edge of both raw edges as well to make sure the two layers stay together.
Now let’s form our bag. With the right side up, measure in 1.5” on one raw edge of your bag. Fold the fabric over at that point and press. Retreat on the opposite side.
Take to your sewing machine and top stitch along those two pressed edges with a ⅛” seam allowance.
This is what it should be like once you are done with the above step.
Perfect, now to finish we will be doing a french seam. Fold your fabric in half and match the raw edges of your fabric bag together, right sides facing out, and pin together. This feels wrong, but never fear, you are doing it right. Take to your sewing machine and sew using and ⅛” seam allowance.
Next turn the bag so the lining side is out, get the bottom corner tuned out nice and neat and press.
Now sew those two same seams again using a ¼” seam allowance trapping the raw edge inside.
Turn right side out again. Do not push the corners out, it is so tempting to do so. You want it to have the accordion like fold. Press the bag so the fold is nice and crisp. Now all you have left to do is hand stitch your button or toggle in place on the front.
Fill it with a treat and gift it to a friend. Thanks for sewing along!
