Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects (40 page)

Set the exterior of the bag aside.

Step 6. Make and attach the divider to the lining panels.

a.
Place the
Right
sides of the divider panels together (one panel has the Timtex already attached), matching up the top raw edges, and pin them in place. Attach the divider panels by stitching a
¹
/
₂
″ seam across the top raw edges, backstitching at each end.

b.
Turn the divider panel
Right
side out and press along the top finished edge. Topstitch across the top finished edge of the divider with a
¹
/
₄
″ seam, backstitching at each end.

c.
Match up the side and bottom raw edges of the divider and pin them in place. Then, machine baste a
¹
/
₄
″ seam down both sides and across the bottom raw edges to hold the panels together.

d.
Now, sandwich the divider in between the
Right
sides of the lining panels, matching up the side and bottom raw edges, and pin them in place.

e.
Starting on the right side of the panels,
¹
/
₂
″ down from the top raw edge, stitch a
¹
/
₂
″ seam down both sides and across the bottom raw edges, stopping
¹
/
₂
″ down from the top raw edge on the left side, backstitching at each end.

f.
Using your scissors, trim the seam allowances to
¹
/
₈
″ around the outside curved edges and clip into the seam allowance along the inside curves. Then press the top part of the side seam allowances open. (You may find it difficult to maneuver the panels to press the seam allowances, so use the tip of your iron and press a little bit at a time.)

Step 7. Attach the lining to the exterior of the clutch.

a.
With the
Right
side of the exterior facing out, you’ll need to fold the sides in and the bottom of the bag up to allow room to fit the exterior of the bag inside the lining. Then, with the
Wrong
side of the lining facing out, slip the lining over the exterior of the clutch, matching up the side seams, and pin the exterior to the lining around the top raw edges. (The tab closure is tucked down in between the panels.)

b.
Starting 1″ in from the side seam on the front of the bag, stitch the top raw edge across the back of the clutch with a
¹
/
₂
″ seam, stopping on the front of the bag, 1″ in from the side seam on the other side of the front of the clutch, backstitching at each end. This will leave a front section on the front of the bag open, which will allow you to turn the bag
Right
side out.
(
FIGURE 7B-01
AND
7B-02
)

c.
Turn the bag
Right
side out by pulling the exterior and lining through the front opening. Place the lining down inside the exterior, using a turning tool to push the bottom corners of the lining into the corners of the exterior clutch, and press. (Your bag will be stiff with the Timtex inside the divider.)
(FIGURE 7C, D)

d.
Fold the top raw edges in
¹
/
₂
″ along the front of the clutch, and then pin the opening closed. Topstitch with a
¹
/
₈
″ seam completely around the top finished edge of the clutch to close the opening.
(FIGURE 7C, D)

Step 8. Make the fabric flower.

a.
First, fold the fabric flower strip in half lengthwise with
Wrong
sides together and press a crease along the folded edge.

b.
Then, fold the one raw end of the strip to form a triangle, matching the raw end with the matched raw edges, and pin it in place. Repeat this step to make a triangle on the other end of the fabric flower strip.
(FIGURE 8B)

c.
Machine baste a long, loose
¹
/
₂
″ seam across the matched raw edges of the fabric flower strip, leaving about 6″ of thread on each end of the strip to be used to gather in the strip.

d.
Gather
*
the strip by pulling the bobbin thread a little at a time, moving the gathers in toward the center of the strip. Draw the strip in to measure 18″ in length, making the gathers evenly spaced. The tighter you draw in the strip, the more open your flower will look.

*
See page 171
for an explanation of gathering
.

e.
Start rolling one end of the gathered fabric strip, keeping the raw edges together. Begin slip stitching
*
along the base of the coiled flower by hand to secure the flower. Roll the strip all the way to the other end, slip stitching along the base as you go to keep the base secure. Tie off the end of your thread by stitching a couple times in the same place, and then cut the thread to free your needle.
(
FIGURES 8E-01
AND
8E-02
)

*
See page 171
for an explanation of slip stitching
.

f.
Place the flower upside down and use your iron to steam across the bottom raw edges of the flower. This will squash the flower to help spread out the petals and give the flower some shape. Turn the flower over and, using your fingers, spread the flower petals open.

g.
Using a hot glue gun, attach the flower to the outside of your clutch, following the placement mark on your main panel pattern piece. Hold the flower in place for just a moment while the hot glue cools and sets.

FIGURE 7C, D

FIGURE 8B

FIGURE 8E-01

FIGURE 8E-02

SASH WITH BEADED FRINGE

FINISHED SIZE: 5
¹
/
₂
″ WIDE × 59″ LONG

You can use this adorable sash in so many ways! Used as a belt, it makes boring old blue jeans suddenly chic. Worn as a neck scarf, it adds elegance to a plain sweater. Bad hair day? It works as a beautiful head scarf as well. And it makes a simple and quick sewing project that’s perfect for gift giving. It’s a fashion emergency staple!

FABRICS

• 1
³
/
₈
yards (44″-wide) light- to mid-weight cotton for the sash

•
¹
/
₂
yard (1″-wide) decorative beaded trim

OTHER SUPPLIES

• Coordinating thread

• Scissors

• Straight pins

• Yardstick

• Chalk pencil or fabric marker

• Zipper foot

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

• Hand sewing needle

NOTES

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

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

Step 1. Cut out the pattern pieces.

First, cut out the Sash pattern pieces provided in the pocket at the front of this book.

• Sash right end

• Sash left end

Step 2. Measure and mark the sash onto your fabric.

a.
First, open up your piece of fabric. Fold it with the
Right
sides together on the bias of the fabric.
*
Do this by matching one of the selvage edges
*
with one of the cut edges to make a triangle shape. Press the folded edge and then pin along the fold to keep the fabric from slipping.
(FIGURE 2A)

*
See pages 170
and
171
for explanations of bias fold and selvage edge
.

NOTE
: The sash right and left end pattern pieces are provided. You will be measuring the length of the sash directly onto your fabric and then using the pattern pieces to make the point for each end of the Sash with Beaded Fringe.

b.
Place the sash’s left end pattern piece with the top edge on the fold of the fabric and pin the pattern piece in place.

c.
Then, starting on the folded edge at the dotted line on the pattern piece, using a yardstick and a chalk pencil, measure over 47″ and make a mark. Take the sash’s right end pattern piece and place the top edge on the fold of the fabric, matching up the dotted line on the pattern piece so it’s even with the mark you just made, and pin this pattern piece in place.