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Liven up your outfit with this vibrant fun Tropicana bag. Perfect for summer days, shopping or the beach. Get your Tropicana fat quarters here! PDF bag pattern You will need: Cotton fabrics: Centre Front panel 60cm wide x 40cm tall Centre Side panel 80cm wide x 40cm tall Side panel 80cm wide x 40cm tall Lining: ½ m x 110cm wide Plated straps: 3 strips of fabric at 8cm x 1 m or 2-3cm wide ribbon Medium weight cotton iron on interfacing: ½ m of 110cm wide (available from www.craftysewandso.com) Prym 14mm metal eyelets with washers (available from www.craftysewandso.com) 1 magnetic bag fastener (available from www.craftysewandso.com) Matching thread Sewing machine Approx 75 cm x 2 of decorative trims (optional) Step 1: Cut out the fabric and lining panels Transfer the dart markings to the lining panels only (not the outer panel 2) at this stage. Cut out the Interfacing panels Cut three strips of contrasting fabric at 8cm by 65cm for the plaited handles or 65cm of ribbon, tape or rope. Step 2: Making the outer bag: Iron the interfacing on to the wrong side of the outer bag panels. Now use the panel 2 pattern piece to transfer the markings for the darts into the interfacing side of panel 2. Sew the darts on panel 2 and press towards the centre. Cut trims to fit along the seams of the outer bag panels. Step 3: Baste the trims in place along each edge of panel 2- stitch approximately half a centimetre from the edge of the fabric. Step 3: With right sides together join panel 3 to panel 2 and then panel 2 to panel 1 then repeat for the opposite side to complete the front of the bag. Press the seams towards panel 2 and topstitch to hold on place. Repeat with the remaining panels to complete the back of the bag. Step 4: Making the lining: Sew the darts in the 1 lining pieces. Iron a small piece of interfacing onto the wrong side of the lining to strengthen it. Step 5: Insert a magnetic fastening into the lining. Optional: Make a patch pocket by cutting a rectangle of fabric, pressing in the 3 side edges and then pressing over the top edge as a double fold. Step 6: Stitch along the top edge then pin the patch pocket in place on the lining and stitch around the 2 sides and the bottom to secure the pockets in place. Step 7: Making up the bag: Position the front outer and front lining with right sides together aligning the top edges carefully and stitch all along the top of the bag to secure the outer to the lining. Repeat for the back outer and lining panels. Clip the corners and snip into the curved seam. Step 8: Open out the front and back joined panels and place 1 on top of the other with right sides together (lining to lining and outer to outer) Step 9: Align the seams and the outer edges then stitch together leaving a hand sized gap in the lining. Step 10: Slip into the curved seem all the way around the bag outer and lining. Turn bag the right way out through the gap in the lining. Press, taking care to roll the lining towards the inside of the bag at the top opening. Step 11: To make the straps: You may choose to use ribbon, rope or tape for the handle or To make a plaited handle: Take your strips of fabric, fold each one over by one third of the total width and press. Next fold over the other 3rd to cover the first then tuck under approximately 1cm of the exposed raw edge and press. Step 12: Zigzag stitch over the folded edge down the centre along the full length of the strip. Layer the strips one on top of the other and stitch together at one end only. I used 2 strips of folded fabric and one strip of ribbon. Using a large bulldog clip attach the joined strips to something heavy and begin plaiting fairly tightly. Step 13: When you reach the end again lay the three strips on top of each other and stitch together and trim. Next insert large eyelets following the instructions on the packaging – you can buy these 14 mm silver eyelets from our online shop (link at bottom). Thread the plat from front to back through the eyelet and handstitch to secure. Cover the join with some ribbon and hand stick this in place. Ta-Da! You now have a wonderful beach-to-bar worthy Tropicana bag! For more from Crafty Sew and So, visit their blog here craftysewandsoblog.wordpress.com #freesewingtutorials #accessories

Liven up your outfit with this vibrant fun Tropicana bag. Perfect for summer days, shopping or the beach. Get your Tropicana fat quarters here! PDF bag pattern You will need: Cotton fabrics: Centre Front panel 60cm wide x 40cm tall Centre Side panel 80cm wide x 40cm tall Side panel 80cm wide x 40cm tall Lining: ½ m x 110cm wide Plated straps: 3 strips of fabric at 8cm x 1 m or 2-3cm wide ribbon Medium weight cotton iron on interfacing: ½ m of 110cm wide (available from www.craftysewandso.com) Prym 14mm metal eyelets with washers (available from www.craftysewandso.com) 1 magnetic bag fastener (available from www.craftysewandso.com) Matching thread Sewing machine Approx 75 cm x 2 of decorative trims (optional) Step 1: Cut out the fabric and lining panels Transfer the dart markings to the lining panels only (not the outer panel 2) at this stage. Cut out the Interfacing panels Cut three strips of contrasting fabric at 8cm by 65cm for the plaited handles or 65cm of ribbon, tape or rope. Step 2: Making the outer bag: Iron the interfacing on to the wrong side of the outer bag panels. Now use the panel 2 pattern piece to transfer the markings for the darts into the interfacing side of panel 2. Sew the darts on panel 2 and press towards the centre. Cut trims to fit along the seams of the outer bag panels. Step 3: Baste the trims in place along each edge of panel 2- stitch approximately half a centimetre from the edge of the fabric. Step 3: With right sides together join panel 3 to panel 2 and then panel 2 to panel 1 then repeat for the opposite side to complete the front of the bag. Press the seams towards panel 2 and topstitch to hold on place. Repeat with the remaining panels to complete the back of the bag. Step 4: Making the lining: Sew the darts in the 1 lining pieces. Iron a small piece of interfacing onto the wrong side of the lining to strengthen it. Step 5: Insert a magnetic fastening into the lining. Optional: Make a patch pocket by cutting a rectangle of fabric, pressing in the 3 side edges and then pressing over the top edge as a double fold. Step 6: Stitch along the top edge then pin the patch pocket in place on the lining and stitch around the 2 sides and the bottom to secure the pockets in place. Step 7: Making up the bag: Position the front outer and front lining with right sides together aligning the top edges carefully and stitch all along the top of the bag to secure the outer to the lining. Repeat for the back outer and lining panels. Clip the corners and snip into the curved seam. Step 8: Open out the front and back joined panels and place 1 on top of the other with right sides together (lining to lining and outer to outer) Step 9: Align the seams and the outer edges then stitch together leaving a hand sized gap in the lining. Step 10: Slip into the curved seem all the way around the bag outer and lining. Turn bag the right way out through the gap in the lining. Press, taking care to roll the lining towards the inside of the bag at the top opening. Step 11: To make the straps: You may choose to use ribbon, rope or tape for the handle or To make a plaited handle: Take your strips of fabric, fold each one over by one third of the total width and press. Next fold over the other 3rd to cover the first then tuck under approximately 1cm of the exposed raw edge and press. Step 12: Zigzag stitch over the folded edge down the centre along the full length of the strip. Layer the strips one on top of the other and stitch together at one end only. I used 2 strips of folded fabric and one strip of ribbon. Using a large bulldog clip attach the joined strips to something heavy and begin plaiting fairly tightly. Step 13: When you reach the end again lay the three strips on top of each other and stitch together and trim. Next insert large eyelets following the instructions on the packaging – you can buy these 14 mm silver eyelets from our online shop (link at bottom). Thread the plat from front to back through the eyelet and handstitch to secure. Cover the join with some ribbon and hand stick this in place. Ta-Da! You now have a wonderful beach-to-bar worthy Tropicana bag! For more from Crafty Sew and So, visit their blog here craftysewandsoblog.wordpress.com #freesewingtutorials #accessories

New to sewing? Have a go at this sweet little elephant cushion – you can draw your own pattern from your head or download an outline shape and use that, but it will help work on your pattern making skills. Just remember to include the seam allowance! Click here to see the tutorial. By Katherine Smith for Hobbycraft #elephant #cushion #hobbycraft #freesewingtutorials #home #kids

Spring! Spring! I love Spring. Flower, bright colours, sunshine, new grass, and, importantly, new fabric ranges! I was really excited to get my hands on the new Spring fabrics from the Craft Cotton Company. There were 6 different designs, in a range of prints with different colour bases. Aren’t they pretty? I love the Easter egg bright colours. A bunny pom pom cushion seemed like a great way to make these gorgeous colours really stand out. I’ve designed a cushion that a) has an envelope opening on the back which means this can be put together in a ridiculously quick time and b) uses wadding rather than a cushion pad so you can adjust the size if you want to. This project works out at 24” x 12” when finished. You will need: Easter Egg Hunt Fat Quarter Pack - 5 different fabrics 9”x4” Co-ordinating/contrasting fabric fat quarter for binding 5 pom poms Neutral material (I love this one with the subtle flower pattern) – one piece measuring 25” x 13”, two pieces measuring 15” x 13” One pack of wadding Bunny template First step, print and cut out the bunny template at the end of the post. Make sure you print it at 100% (rather than fit to page) to get the sizing correct. It should measure approximately 8.5” x 4” if you want to check. Use the template to cut out 5 bunnies. You could use an iron on interfacing but I prefer to cut directly and then use quilt spray to attach the bunnies onto the front fabric piece. You can appliqué the bunnies using any stitch but I used a zig zag with a narrow width (on my Brother Innov-is 1250, stitch 24, with a width of 0.3mm which gives a nice satin stitch). When you have completed the applique, handsitch the pom poms as tails. While these look good white, they would also look super cute if you had a range of pastel pom poms. To make the cushion up, with right sides facing, lay the two back pieces so that they overlap to create your envelope. The top piece will the outside piece so make a double hem and sew so that you have a tidy hem on display. Pin your overlapping back pieces to the front and sew around all four sides. Turn right way round. Make up your binding by sewing 2” wide strips of fabric together. Arrange them right sides facing and draw a diagonal line through. Pin and sew this line. Template here #freesewingtutorials #home

These fabric pictures are ideal for adding a bit of interest into a room and with their bright colours and textured appearance they are guaranteed to stand out. Materials Paisley bird fabric from The Craft Cotton Company White fabric from The Craft Cotton Company Pins Buttons Sequins Scissors Thread Pencil Paper Needle Making the templates for the birds and flowers: Take a piece of the paisley bird fabric and cut out a bird and a flower. Place them on a piece of paper and draw around them – making sure you leave a 1 cm gap the whole way around. This will give you a bird and flower template. ​Cutting out the birds and flowers Using the paper template, cut out 4 birds and 3 flowers. Sewing the branch detail Using a pencil draw 2 light lines on the fabric where you want your branches to be. Now sew along this line using brown thread either by hand or machine. I used a machine and a zigzag stitch for this, with the length of the stitch reduced so there wasn’t much of a gap between the zigzag stitches. Sewing the birds and flowers Lay out the birds and flowers on the fabric into the positions you want them and pin them in place. Sew around the birds using a straight stitch, and sew straight lines across the flowers also using a straight stitch. Adding button and sequin detail Sew buttons into the middle of the flowers, and sew sequins onto the birds bodies. Finally sew some sequins onto the background. © By Lesley Foster at Hook, Stitch Sew for The Craft Cotton Company 2016. #craft #craftcottonco #freesewingtutorials

After stumbling upon this picture on Pinterest I knew I had to find out more about graffiti knitting. Otherwise known as yarn bombing or guerrilla knitting, people around the world are transforming iconic figures/buildings/areas with vibrant knitted or crochet designs. Knit the City's Phone Box Cosy by Deadly Knitshade Some are enormous for example the knitted bridge in Pittsburgh. 'Knit the Bridge' was a grassroots, community-led arts project that brings the many diverse communities of Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania together to create a large-scale, aesthetically stunning, fiberarts installation on the Andy Warhol/7th Street Bridge. The installation unfortunately isn't on display anymore. Yarn Bus by Mrs Sayeg The difference between 'yarn bombing' and graffiti is that it does no damage to public property or historic structures and can easily be removed. What do you think? Send us your thoughts!

After stumbling upon this picture on Pinterest I knew I had to find out more about graffiti knitting. Otherwise known as yarn bombing or guerrilla knitting, people around the world are transforming iconic figures/buildings/areas with vibrant knitted or crochet designs. Knit the City's Phone Box Cosy by Deadly Knitshade Some are enormous for example the knitted bridge in Pittsburgh. 'Knit the Bridge' was a grassroots, community-led arts project that brings the many diverse communities of Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania together to create a large-scale, aesthetically stunning, fiberarts installation on the Andy Warhol/7th Street Bridge. The installation unfortunately isn't on display anymore. Yarn Bus by Mrs Sayeg The difference between 'yarn bombing' and graffiti is that it does no damage to public property or historic structures and can easily be removed. What do you think? Send us your thoughts!

These fabric pictures are ideal for adding a bit of interest into a room and with their bright colours and textured appearance they are guaranteed to stand out. Materials Paisley bird fabric from The Craft Cotton Company White fabric from The Craft Cotton Company Pins Buttons Sequins Scissors Thread Pencil Paper Needle Making the templates for the birds and flowers: Take a piece of the paisley bird fabric and cut out a bird and a flower. Place them on a piece of paper and draw around them – making sure you leave a 1 cm gap the whole way around. This will give you a bird and flower template. ​Cutting out the birds and flowers Using the paper template, cut out 4 birds and 3 flowers. Sewing the branch detail Using a pencil draw 2 light lines on the fabric where you want your branches to be. Now sew along this line using brown thread either by hand or machine. I used a machine and a zigzag stitch for this, with the length of the stitch reduced so there wasn’t much of a gap between the zigzag stitches. Sewing the birds and flowers Lay out the birds and flowers on the fabric into the positions you want them and pin them in place. Sew around the birds using a straight stitch, and sew straight lines across the flowers also using a straight stitch. Adding button and sequin detail Sew buttons into the middle of the flowers, and sew sequins onto the birds bodies. Finally sew some sequins onto the background. © By Lesley Foster at Hook, Stitch Sew for The Craft Cotton Company 2016. #craft #craftcottonco #freesewingtutorials

I came across @thewellgroomedfox on Instagram and loved how our fabrics were used to make an awesome pencil case with our Peter Rabbit fat quarters. I had to share some pictures, check them out.

I came across @thewellgroomedfox on Instagram and loved how our fabrics were used to make an awesome pencil case with our Peter Rabbit fat quarters. I had to share some pictures, check them out.

Make the perfect roomy shopping bag, ideal for a Mother’s Day gift or for a gift for yourself. What you will need: Craft Cotton Company supplies: Painted Floral Fat Quarters available at Hobbycraft Plain white 100% cotton fabric Heritage Medium weight Quilt Batting Other supplies: Card Bondaweb/fusible webbing Heat erasable pen and a pencil Quilting ruler and rotary cutter Step 1: Using your rotary cutter and ruler, cut your white cotton fabric into 20 ½ “x20 ½ “square. Cut two of the same sized pieces out of wadding/batting Step 2: Draw an outline shape of a teacup and a saucer onto card as your template. If you’re not confident at drawing your own shape then download a suitable image. Flip your template over and draw around this nine times onto the bondaweb. Step 3: Roughly cut out your paper cups and saucers and iron these onto your chosen fabrics. Carefully cut out your fabric teacups and saucers. Step 4: Draw a centralised square onto your white cotton base fabric to help position your appliqué pieces. Once happy with position, peel off paper backing then iron fabric pieces in place with a dry iron. Step 5: Using a free motion embroidery foot on your sewing machine, stitch around the outline of the cups and saucers. Sewing around a couple of times can give more definition and a ‘sketchy’ appearance. Step 6: Using the rotary cutter and ruler, cut out 12 strips of floral fabric 2 ½ “in width. Step 7: Position your first strip onto your quilt batting with the right side facing up. Stitch along edge to hold in place. Position your second strip on top of the first with right sides together. Stitch along the edge with a ¼” seam allowance. Fold open your first seam and iron along, making sure the fabric is lying nice and flat. Step 8: Position your next strip on top with right sides together again. Stitch along the edge with a ¼” seam allowance. Repeat this until your batting is covered. Use the rotary cutter to trim off the excess fabric. Step 9: Layer up the front and back bag pieces. Draw a 4” square in each of the bottom corners and cut this away, this will give the bag a bottom. Step 10: Make your bag lining in the same way. I didn’t have large enough pieces of fabric so I joined two together for the lining then cut them 20 ½“ x 20 ½” before removing the bottom 4” squares. Step 11: Cut out two strips of fabric 4” by the width of the fabric for the handles. Fold and iron the strip centrally. Open up and fold each raw edge into the centre crease line. Fold these again to sandwich the raw edges inside. Press firmly in place. Step 12: Position the bag handle under the sewing machine foot, aligning the edge. Move needle position to the right then stitch along the edge of the bag handle. Turn and stitch along the other edge. Step 13: Position the bag handles where required and pin in place. Repeat this on the back of the bag too. Step 14: Position the lining on top of the outer fabric with right sides together, make sure bag handles remain in position. Stitch along the top of the bag, reverse stitching over the bag handles will give extra strength. Repeat this on the back of the bag too. When opened the bag handles should hang down over the face of the bag. Step 14: Open out bag pieces and position together, making sure seams are aligned. Pin in place and stitch around all sides, leave a gap in the bottom lining seam to turn bag around. Step 16: Open out the cut out corners of the bottom of the bag and position these together to stitch the bag shaping seam in place. Repeat with the base of the bag lining. Turn the bag the right way out then stitch the turning gap in the lining closed. Step 17: Make a mock bag edging by positioning the lining slightly above the top of the bag. Topstitch along the top of the bag to keep the lining in place, making sure handles are sitting in correct position before stitching them down. You now have your very own appliqué teacups shopping bag for a Mother’s Day gift. © by Angela Harkness for The Craft Cotton Co #freesewingtutorials #accessories

Make the perfect roomy shopping bag, ideal for a Mother’s Day gift or for a gift for yourself. What you will need: Craft Cotton Company supplies: Painted Floral Fat Quarters available at Hobbycraft Plain white 100% cotton fabric Heritage Medium weight Quilt Batting Other supplies: Card Bondaweb/fusible webbing Heat erasable pen and a pencil Quilting ruler and rotary cutter Step 1: Using your rotary cutter and ruler, cut your white cotton fabric into 20 ½ “x20 ½ “square. Cut two of the same sized pieces out of wadding/batting Step 2: Draw an outline shape of a teacup and a saucer onto card as your template. If you’re not confident at drawing your own shape then download a suitable image. Flip your template over and draw around this nine times onto the bondaweb. Step 3: Roughly cut out your paper cups and saucers and iron these onto your chosen fabrics. Carefully cut out your fabric teacups and saucers. Step 4: Draw a centralised square onto your white cotton base fabric to help position your appliqué pieces. Once happy with position, peel off paper backing then iron fabric pieces in place with a dry iron. Step 5: Using a free motion embroidery foot on your sewing machine, stitch around the outline of the cups and saucers. Sewing around a couple of times can give more definition and a ‘sketchy’ appearance. Step 6: Using the rotary cutter and ruler, cut out 12 strips of floral fabric 2 ½ “in width. Step 7: Position your first strip onto your quilt batting with the right side facing up. Stitch along edge to hold in place. Position your second strip on top of the first with right sides together. Stitch along the edge with a ¼” seam allowance. Fold open your first seam and iron along, making sure the fabric is lying nice and flat. Step 8: Position your next strip on top with right sides together again. Stitch along the edge with a ¼” seam allowance. Repeat this until your batting is covered. Use the rotary cutter to trim off the excess fabric. Step 9: Layer up the front and back bag pieces. Draw a 4” square in each of the bottom corners and cut this away, this will give the bag a bottom. Step 10: Make your bag lining in the same way. I didn’t have large enough pieces of fabric so I joined two together for the lining then cut them 20 ½“ x 20 ½” before removing the bottom 4” squares. Step 11: Cut out two strips of fabric 4” by the width of the fabric for the handles. Fold and iron the strip centrally. Open up and fold each raw edge into the centre crease line. Fold these again to sandwich the raw edges inside. Press firmly in place. Step 12: Position the bag handle under the sewing machine foot, aligning the edge. Move needle position to the right then stitch along the edge of the bag handle. Turn and stitch along the other edge. Step 13: Position the bag handles where required and pin in place. Repeat this on the back of the bag too. Step 14: Position the lining on top of the outer fabric with right sides together, make sure bag handles remain in position. Stitch along the top of the bag, reverse stitching over the bag handles will give extra strength. Repeat this on the back of the bag too. When opened the bag handles should hang down over the face of the bag. Step 14: Open out bag pieces and position together, making sure seams are aligned. Pin in place and stitch around all sides, leave a gap in the bottom lining seam to turn bag around. Step 16: Open out the cut out corners of the bottom of the bag and position these together to stitch the bag shaping seam in place. Repeat with the base of the bag lining. Turn the bag the right way out then stitch the turning gap in the lining closed. Step 17: Make a mock bag edging by positioning the lining slightly above the top of the bag. Topstitch along the top of the bag to keep the lining in place, making sure handles are sitting in correct position before stitching them down. You now have your very own appliqué teacups shopping bag for a Mother’s Day gift. © by Angela Harkness for The Craft Cotton Co #freesewingtutorials #accessories