PATCHWORK BOW BAGS

Instructions

Notes

(WOF) Width of Fabric

All seams are 1/4" unless stated otherwise

100% cotton fabric is used throughout

Patchwork Bow Bag

Preparation And Cutting

From the red solid fabric cut eight 2" squares for half square triangles and thirteen 1 1/2" squares.

From the hot pink solid fabric cut eight 2" squares for the half square triangles and twenty 1 1/2" squares.

From the green solid fabric, cut two pieces 1" x 7 1/4" and two pieces 1" x 8 1/4" for the border around the pieced bow.

From the check fabric, cut four 2 1/2" strips (WOF) for bag handles, cut one strip 18 1/4" (WOF) and crosscut into one 18 1/4" x 15 1/4" piece for the back of the bag, from the remaining fabric cut two 4" x 8 1/4" pieces for sides, one 4" x 15 1/4" for top border and one 15 1/4" x 6 1/2" for bottom border.

From the lining cut two 15 1/4" x 18 1/4" rectangles.

Making The Patchwork Bow Block

Take the 8 hot pink 2" squares and draw a line diagonally across the back of each square. Pair these to a red 2" square and stitch 1/4" either side of the line. Cut along the drawn line and press seams open. Trim the units so that they are 1 1/2" square.

Lay all of the red and hot pink squares out so that you create a bow pattern. Stitch all the pieces together firstly into rows, pressing the seams in opposite directions for each row. Then stitch the rows altogether to create the bow block. Press the seams open along the rows to give a nice flat finish.

Putting It All Together

Stitch the 1" x 7 1/4" green strips to each side of the bow block and then the 1" x 8 1/4" strips to the top and bottom of the bow block. Press seams towards the green strips.

Next stitch the two 4" x 8 1/4" check fabric pieces to each side of the bow block and then the 4" x 15 1/4" to the top and the 6 1/2" x 15 1/4" piece the bottom of the bow block. Press seams towards the border fabric.

Taking the bag front and back, right sides together, then pin all around and stitch around leaving the top of the bag open. Repeat this for the lining fabric.

To create a box-like base to the bottom of the bag, open the bag seams at the corners and align the side seam with the base seam, creating a point. Stitch across the corner about 1" from point. Trim off the point and turn the bag back to right side.

To make the bag handles, place two of the pieces, right sides together and stitch down the length of the handle on both sides and then turn through the handles back to the right side, using a safety pin and press firmly. Top stitch the bag handles to finish. Trim handles to a length of about 34" or your desired length.

To put the bag together, firstly find the centre front and centre back of the top of the bag and place a pin. Measuring out 2 1/2" from the centre pin on either side, pin the bag handle in place, making sure not to twist the handle. Repeat for the other handle.

With the lining bag, turned inside out, slip it up over the bag, from the bottom of the bag to the top and matching seams, pin in place around the top edge, tucking the bag handles in out of the way as you go. Stitch around the top edge of the bag, leaving an opening of about 3", so that you can turn through your bag once stitched.

Turn through your bag through the opening, then push the lining into the bag and press neatly around the top of the bag edge. Slip stitch the opening closed and then top stitch around the top of the bag to finish. Give your bag one last press and then it's ready use.

Christmas Patchwork Bag

Preparation And Cutting

From the eight assorted Christmas prints, cut one strip 2 1/2" and then crosscut into 2 1/2" squares.

From the three solid fabrics, cut one 2 1/2" strips and then crosscut into 2 1/2" squares.

You will need a total of 84 squares for the bag front and back and 20 squares for the bag handle.

From the lining fabric, cut two pieces 11 1/2" x 14 1/2".

From the bag handle lining fabric, cut one strip 42".

From the wadding cut two pieces 12" x 15" and one strip 42".

Making The Patchwork Panels

Lay out 42 squares into a grid of 6 across and 7 squares down in an assorted pattern for the front of your bag.

Stitch the squares together into rows, then stitch the rows together, to form a patchwork panel. Repeat the same process for the back of the bag. Press the seams open as you go to create a nice flat finish.

Stitch 20, 2 1/2" squares together into one long strip for the bag handle and press the seams open.

Lay the front panel onto a piece of wadding and pin layers together. Quilt together using a 1/4" top stitch either side of the seam. Repeat for the back panel and bag handle. Trim wadding around the edges to neaten if needed.

Putting It All Together

Taking the bag front and back, place them right sides together, then pin all around, and stitch around leaving the top of the bag open.

To create a box-like base to the bottom of the bag, open the bag seams at the corners and align the side seam with the base seam, creating a point. Stitch across the corner about 1" from point. Trim off the point and turn the bag back to right side. Repeat this process for the lining fabric, stitch the lining together and then square of the base.

To make the bag handle, place the patchwork strip with the lining strip, right sides together and stitch down the length of the handle on both sides and then turn through the handle back to the right side, using a safety pin and press firmly. Top stitch the edges of the bag handle to finish. Trim the handle to your desired length.

To put the bag together, firstly find the centre front and centre back of the top of the bag and place a pin. Next taking the bag handle, pin it in place at the side seams, running the handle under the bag to keep it out of the way.

With the lining bag, find the centre front and back and place a pin, turn the bag lining inside out and slip it up over the bag, from the bottom of the bag to the top and matching seams and centre pins, pin it in place around the top edge, tucking the bag handle in out of the way as you go. Stitch around the top edge of the bag, leaving an opening of about 3", so that you can turn through your bag once stitched.

Turn through your bag through the opening, then push the lining into the bag and press neatly around the top of the bag edge. Slip stitch the opening closed and then top stitch around the top of the bag to finish. Give your bag one last press and then it's ready use.

Christmas Pocket Bow Bag

Preparation And Cutting

From the white Christmas bow fabric, cut two pieces 16"x 18" for back and front of the bag, cut two pieces 1 1/2" x 34" for the decorative bow.

From the red Christmas bow fabric, cut two pieces 16" x 18" for back and front lining pieces.

From the red & white stripe fabric, cut two pieces 10" x 16" for pocket fronts, cut four strips 2 1/2" x 30" for bag handles.

From the green solid fabric, cut two pieces 10" x 16" for pocket linings.

Making The Pocket

Take one pocket front and one lining piece and with right sides together, stitch a 1/4" seam across the top of the pocket. Turn to the right side and press seam flat. Repeat for the other pocket.

Place the pocket onto the bag front and pin it in place at the bottom edge and sides of the bag front and then top stitch down the centre of the pocket piece creating two pockets. Repeat for the back of the bag. Remove the pins and press.

Putting It All Together

Taking the bag front and back, place them right sides together, pin all around, and stitch around the edge leaving the top of the bag open.

To create a box-like base to the bottom of the bag, open the bag seams at the corners and align the side seam with the base seam, creating a point. Stitch across the corner about 1" from point. Trim off the point and turn the bag back to the right side. Repeat this for the lining fabric.

To make the bag handles, place two of the pieces, right sides together and stitch down the length of the handle on both sides and then turn through the handles back to the right side, using a safety pin and press firmly. Top stitch the bag handles to finish.

To put the bag together, firstly find the centre front and centre back of the top of the bag and place a pin. Measuring out 2 1/2" from the centre pin on either side, pin a bag handle in place, making sure not to twist the handle. Repeat for the other handle on the other side of the bag.

With the lining bag, turned it inside out, slip it up over the bag, from the bottom of the bag to the top and matching seams and the centre pins, pin it in place all around the top edge, tucking the bag handles in out of the way as you go. Stitch around the top edge of the bag, leaving an opening of about 3" in the middle of the bag back, so that you can turn through your bag once stitched.

Turn through your bag through the opening, then push the lining into the bag and press neatly around the top of the bag edge. Slip stitch the opening closed and then top stitch around the top of the bag to finish.

To make the feature bow decoration, take the two, 1 1/2" strips and right sides together pin all around the strip. At each end of the strip draw a diagonal line at 45 degrees. Stitch all around the strip, making sure to stitch on the line at the ends to create a point. Leave a 3" opening in the middle of the strip so that you can turn through the strip. Trim of the excess fabric at the point so it's easy to turn through.

Turn the bow strip to the right side and press it nice and flat. Slip stitch the opening closed. Fashion a bow and stitch in place onto your finished bag. Give your bag one last press and then it's ready to use.

Christmas Bow Bag

Preparation And Cutting

From the Christmas Bow fabric, cut two pieces 18 1/2" x 17" for back and front of the bag, cut four strips (WOF) 2 1/2" for the bag handles, and cut two strip (WOF) 3 1/2" for feature bow decoration. From the lining fabric, cut two pieces 18 1/2" x 17".

Putting It All Together

Taking the bag front and back, place them right sides together, then pin all around, and stitch around leaving the top of the bag open. Repeat this for the lining fabric.

To create a box-like base to the bottom of the bag, open the bag seams at the corners and align the side seam with the base seam, creating a point. Stitch across the corner about 1" from point. Trim off the point and turn the bag back to right side.

To make the bag handles, place two of the pieces, right sides together and stitch down the length of the handle on both sides and then turn through the handles back to the right side, using a safety pin and press firmly. Top stitch the bag handles to finish. Trim handles to a length of about 34" or your desired length.

To put the bag together, firstly find the centre front and centre back of the top of the bag and place a pin. Measuring out 2 1/2" from the centre pin on either side, pin the bag handle in place, making sure not to twist the handle. Repeat for the other handle.

With the lining bag, turned inside out, slip it up over the bag, from the bottom of the bag to the top and matching seams, pin in place around the top edge, tucking the bag handles in out of the way as you go. Stitch around the top edge of the bag, leaving an opening of about 3", so that you can turn through your bag once stitched.

Turn through your bag through the opening, then push the lining into the bag and press neatly around the top of the bag edge. Slip stitch the opening closed and then top stitch around the top of the bag to finish.

To make the feature bow decoration, take the two 3 1/2" strips and right sides together pin all around the strip. At each end of the strip draw a diagonal line at 45 degrees. Stitch all around the strip, making sure to stitch on the line at the ends to create a point. Leave a 3" opening in the middle of the strip so that you can turn through the strip. Trim of the excess fabric at the point so it's easy to turn through.

Turn the bow strip to the right side and press it nice and flat. Slip stitch the opening closed and then top stitch all around the bow edge. Fashion a bow and stitch in place onto your finished bag. Give your bag one last press and then it's ready use.