Project by Paula Milner at The Crafty Lass
A practical, wearable project that won’t fail to brighten you day - a fun symbol of love, hope and pride!
You Will Need
Fabric: Rainbow colour fabrics for the front, fabric for the back, and the inner lining.
Ribbon: Around 1cm wide and minimum 3 metres long
Thread
Tools:
Fabric scissors
Pins
Needle
Measuring tape
Pencil/Pen
Iron and ironing board
Large safety pin
Method:
1. Choose and Measure
For the front rainbow panel you will need the below sized pieces, in rainbow pallette – or whatever colour/patterns you would like!
1 x top piece 36cm x 10cm (Red in the example)
8 x pieces 36cm x 6cm (Orange – Purple in the example)
1 x bottom piece 36cm x 7cm (Pink in the example)
2. Rainbow – Sew
Sew your strips together using a 1cm seam allowance lengthwise starting with your 36cm x 10cm top part, then the rest, finishing with the bottom 36cm x 7cm piece.
3. Bag Outer - Marking
Turn your now completed sewn rainbow piece over and on the wrong side we will now mark the casing position. On the top ‘Red’ part measure down the side edges by 6cm and 7.5cm from the top and mark these measurements on either side. At the bottom of the bag front also measure up the side edges by 3cm and 4.5cm and mark these points - this will be where the ribbons will later be inserted to form the bag handles.
4. Bag Outer - Sewing
Place your rainbow bag front and your back fabric right sides together. Using a 1cm seam allowance, stitch the side seams from the top edge to the first mark. Backstitch to secure the stitching. Start stitching again at the second mark, leaving the casing section unstitched. Again, backstitch at the start to secure the stitching, then continue towards the bottom of the bag until you meet your first bottom mark. Backstitch to secure the stitching. Start stitching again at the second mark - again, backstitch at the start to secure the stitching, leaving the gap between unstitched. At the bottom of the bag, pivot with the needle down and stitch bottom edge. Pivot again at the second corner then stitch the second side edge as the first, leaving the gap at the bottom and casing section unstitched.
5. Bag Outer – Casing Part 1
To make the first part of the casing, turn under the top ‘Red’ edge enough so that your casing gap will be enclosed and press. Stitch all the way round, just below the open casing gap seam section at the side edges. You will later stitch a parallel row of above the first row to create your channel (see below) but this will happen once the ribbons are inserted and the lining has gone inside.
6. Ribbons
Cut your piece of ribbon into two equal lengths. This will need to be just over the same length as the width of the bag + the height of the bag around twice over, around 120cm. Using a safety pin, feed one end of the ribbon through the gap of the casing – push all the way around and out the same side. Then, push both ends of the ribbon through the gap at the bottom of the bag. On the inside, stitch over the gap/ribbons to secure them into place. Feed the second piece of ribbon from the other side edge, again all the way around, and then repeat by pushing through the gap at the bottom of the bag and on the inside, stitch over the gap/ribbons to secure them into place.
7. Inner Lining
Place the bag front and back right sides together and, taking a 1cm (½in) seam allowance, stitch the side seams from the top edge to the bottom of the bag. Pivot with the needle down and stitch along the bottom edge. Pivot again at the second corner then stitch up the second side edge as the first. Turn under the top edge so your lining is the same height as your outer and press. Place inside the bag outer and line up the pressed edges together. Pin into position.
8. Casing Part 2
Finally stitch both the outer bag and the inner lining together with a parallel row of stitches above the first row as near to the top of the bag as possible to create your ribbon drawstring channel – ensuring not to trap the ribbons inside!
Et voila! A rainbow drawstring… Enjoy!
The Crafty Lass®
Made by Paula Milner for The Craft Cotton Company 2021
Comments