Back Tiny Treasures Tote I just love this little bag. Can t help myself, it s just one of my favorite things. The techniques are a lot of fun and the lining is a snap! It s both pretty and practical and it s easy to make. Even the cord can be made and attached by machine. It s big enough to hold identification, money and a lip stick and pretty enough for any occasion. It s perfect for dancing or any time that a purse would be in the way. But, the real truth is I just like owning it. My own little treasure. Materials 1996 by Jill McCloy www.jillmccloydesigns.com PO Box 1206 Langley, WA 98260 info@jillmccloydesigns.com The embroidery designs of your choice* Scraps of fabric large enough to fit into the hoop 3 yd. lining fabric Thread to match Machine Embroidery threads Pearl cotton or other fiber for the twisted cord Purchased tassel, optional Tear away stabilizer *Sample bag stitched with Husqvarna\Viking 5001, fan trio section and diving crane. Supplies Template plastic Extra Fine point Sharpie pen Metallica needle, if using metallic thread Size 80 needle, for construction and hoop embroidery Fine point water soluble fabric marking pen Feet and Misc. Edge Joining foot Clear foot Empty bobbin Construction Fold Trace the stitching line of the bag pattern, page 5, onto the template plastic and cut out the template. Use a fabric marker to trace the bag shape onto the center of the back\flap fabric. Also, draw the fold line for the flap. Do not cut out. Select the desired embroidery design and, following your sewing machine manufacture s instructions, draw placement guidelines and the center points for each design onto the fabric. Note the orientation of the designs - the curved ends are down at each end of the bag 1
Place the fabric and stabilizer in embroidery hoop and stitch the designs. If your fabric is not large enough to fit in the hoop, hoop a sitck-on type stabilizer, remove the protective covering to expose the sticky surface and press the fabric onto the stabilizer. Embroider. Remove the hoop and the stabilizer. Set the fabric aside. Cut a piece of fabric slightly larger than the bag front, draw parallel vertical lines 3" apart across the bag front. Insert and thread a Metallica needle. Sulky gold metallic thread was used to stitch the sample. Use Front an entredeux stitch (see illustration), but no wing needle. Or, select a very narrow decorative stitch. Use stabilizer underneath and stitch on each guideline. Remove the stabilizer. Quick Tip: Try this technique for easier stabilizer removal: Cut stabilizer into 1" strips. Use one strip under each row as it is stitched. Remove the stabilizer as soon as each row of stitching is completed. This is much easier than removing a large piece of stabilizer that has been heavily stitched to the fabric. Use the patterns, pgs. 4 and 5, to cut out the bag, the bag front, and the lining pieces. The bag front pattern is also used to cut the bag front lining piece. Bag Right Side Lining Wrong Side Lining Press under a 2" hem on the flap lining piece. Wrong Side Place the bag right side up. Place the flap lining right side down on the bag piece. The folded hem should show. Place the bag lining piece right side down on top of the bag. It should over lap and cover the hem of the flap lining. Pin the lining in place. Stitch all the way around the bag using a 3" seam allowance. Trim and clip the seams. (Use pinking shears to trim and clip in one step.) Turn the bag right sides out through the lining opening and press. You may hand stitch the lining closed if desired, or use a small piece of fusible web to seal it closed. Place the purse front and front lining piece right sides together and stitch with a 3" seam allowance. Leave an opening for turning on straight edge. Trim and clip the seams. Turn right sides out and press. Stitch the opening closed. With wrong sides together, pin the bag front to the bottom of the bag. Attach the Edge Joining foot. Move needle 3 mm to left of guide. Butt fabric against left side of guide and stitch layers together. Front Twisted Cord Trim: Measure around the bag. It should be about fifteen inches around. Add to that, the length of cord needed to hang the bag around your neck. (About 30" for an adult for a total of 45") The total is the amount of twisted cording needed to finish the bag. www.jillmccloydesigns.com PO Box 1206 Langley, WA 98260 info@jillmccloydesigns.com 2
Cut the cord fibers 3 times the finished length needed. Example: 3" X 45" = 135". Four 135" strands of #5 pearl cotton were used in the sample. Knot the strands together at one end. Place the knotted end through an empty bobbin with 2" or so of the cord hanging out of the bobbin on the side which is placed against the sewing machine when using the bobbin winder. Hold the unknoted ends of pearl cotton stretched out and taut. You may need to move the foot control away from the sewing machine to reach the control and hold the cord taut. Depress the foot control. The fibers will start twisting together. When the cords are twisted enough they will start to pull your hand toward the bobbin. This is a gentle pull. Stop winding. Grasp the center of the cord with your free hand and keeping the cord taut, fold it back on itself. Place the end of the cord that is in your hand with the end that is in the bobbin. Remove the bobbin while holding the ends of the cord together in one hand. Without letting go of the ends of the cord, (it will untwist if you let go) release the center of the cord and let the cord twist back on itself while smoothing it with your free hand. Tie a knot in the ends that you are holding so that the cord doesn t untwist. Tack the twisted cord around the bag. Start with the unknotted end even with the top edge of the front and attach it all the way around the bag. Attach the Edge Joining foot and select, the Bridging stitch, width 5.0 to 6.0. If the illustrated stitch is unavailable, use a zigzag stitch, width about 5. Start Place the bag under the foot. Butt the bag against the left side of the guide and the cord against the right side. Take a few test stiches to see that the stitch is stitching through both the cord and the bag. Adjust width as necessary. Stitch. If you happen to enjoy handwork, the cord may be attached by hand. Bag Front Bar Tack Bar Tack When the cord is stitched all the way around the bag, bar tack it in place by dropping the feed or otherwise disengaging the feeding system, and selecting a three step zigzag stitch. Take about three or four stitches in place. With the feeding system disengaged the fabric doesn t move and a strong bar tack is formed. Tuck the knotted end of the cord into the other side of the bag and bar tack it in place. The knot may be clipped off after bar tacking. Remember to raise the feed teeth when you are finished tacking the cord onto the bag. Option Option: A purchased or hand made tassel may be attached to either the flap or the bottom of the bag. www.jillmccloydesigns.com PO Box 1206 Langley, WA 98260 info@jillmccloydesigns.com 3
Tiny Treasures Tote Bag Front Pattern Cut 1 Fabric Tiny Tote Bottom Lining 4
Bag and Templete Pattern Fold Line Back Tiny Tote Pattern and Embroidery Placement Template Fold Tiny Treasures Lining Questions? Contact Jill at www.jillmccloydesigns.com PO Box 1206 Langley, WA 98260 info@jillmccloydesigns.com 5