Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects (28 page)

c.
Follow the instructions in step 5a to mark the lining bottom panel into fourths, and then follow the instructions in steps 5d and 5e to attach the lining bottom panel to the bag lining. Leave the bag lining with the
Wrong
side facing out.

FIGURE 2F, G, H

FIGURE 4B

FIGURE 5D

FIGURE 5E

FIGURE 6F

Step 8. Attach the lining to the bag.

a.
With the exterior of the bag
Right
side facing out and the lining
Wrong
side facing out, slip the bag inside the lining. (The
Right
sides of the bag and the lining will be together.) Match the seams and pin them in place.

b.
Now, stitch a
¹
/
₂
″ seam around the top raw edge, leaving a 6″ opening for turning the bag
Right
side out, backstitching at each end.
(
FIGURE 8B
)

c.
Reach through and pull the bag out through the 6″ opening. The lining will turn
Right
side out as the bag is pulled through the opening.

d.
Then, tuck the lining down inside the bag.

e.
Turn under the raw edges of the opening
¹
/
₂
″ and press. Slip stitch
*
the opening closed by hand.

*
See page 171
for an explanation of slip stitching.

f.
Press the top seam.

Step 9. Stitch the drawstring casing.

a.
Measure 1
³
/
₈
″ down from the top finished edge and lightly mark a line all the way around the bag. This will be the topstitching line for the drawstring casing. This line should be at the top of the buttonholes.

b.
Now, measure 1
¹
/
₄
″ down from the first line and lightly mark a second line all the way around the bag. This will be the bottom stitching line and should be at the bottom of the buttonholes.

c.
Press completely around the top of the bag. Match the side seams on the bag and lining, and pin them in place. Then continue to pin the bag to the lining around the marked topstitching lines. Center the strap over the side seam and pin it in place.

d.
Then, stitch along each line, all the way around the bag. Make sure that the strap is flat against the bag. Stitch through the strap to secure it. Then, stitch across the strap again over the original stitching line to give it extra reinforcement.
(
FIGURE 9D
)

Step 10. Make and insert the drawstring
*
to complete the bag.

*
See page 170
for an explanation of how to make a drawstring.

a.
First, place the 2 3″ × 30″ drawstring strips
Right
sides together, matching up one short raw end on each strip, and pin them in place. Stitch a
¹
/
₂
″ seam across the matched edges, creating a single 3″ × 59″ strip. Press the seam open.

b.
Now, fold the strip in half lengthwise, with
Wrong
sides together, and press a center crease.

c.
Open the strip and fold each long raw edge in to meet the center crease, and press.

d.
Then, at each short end, fold under
¹
/
₂
″ to the
Wrong
side, and press.

e.
Now, fold the strip in half again at the center crease (enclosing all the raw edges), and press well. Pin the folded edges together and edge stitch close to the folded edges completely around the drawstring. The drawstring should now measure approximately
³
/
₄
″ wide × 58″ long.

f.
Attach a large safety pin to one end of the drawstring and insert it into one of the buttonholes. Thread the drawstring through the casing and out the other buttonhole. Remove the safety pin.

g.
If you wish, sew a small button or two to each end of the drawstring for detail.

FIGURE 8B

FIGURE 9D

DECORATIVE HANGING TOWELS

FINISHED SIZE: THE FINISHED SIZE WILL BE THE SAME AS THAT OF THE BATH OR HAND TOWEL USED. BATH TOWEL FINISHED BAND: 5″ WIDE | HAND TOWEL FINISHED BAND: 2
¹
/
₂
″ WIDE

Here’s a simple way to give your plain towels a splash of color—decorate them with gorgeous fabrics that highlight the hues in your bath. And the added towel loops make for easy hanging.

FABRICS

FOR A BATH TOWEL

• Bath towel of your choice

• 1 yard (44″-wide) cotton fabric for the decorative band and hanging loop

FOR A HAND TOWEL

• Hand towel of your choice

•
¹
/
₃
yard (44″-wide) cotton fabric for the decorative band and hanging loop

OTHER SUPPLIES

• Coordinating thread

• Yardstick or ruler

• Chalk pencil or fabric marker

• Scissors

• Straight pins

• Iron

• Turning tool (such as a closed pair of scissors)

NOTES

• All seams are
¹
/
₂
″ unless otherwise stated. (The
¹
/
₂
″ seam allowance is included in all cutting measurements.)

• Preshrink your fabric by washing, drying, and pressing it before starting your project.

Step 1. Determine the length of the towel bands and cut the strips.

a.
First, measure the width of the end of your towel, across the short end from one corner to the other.