Flower Bag

The flower ruffle is one of the easiest techniques to add personality to anything. This is my new church bag.

What you need:

2- 17x14" rectangles for main bag fabric

1- 11 x 14" rectangle for inside pocket (When cutting the 17 x 14" rectangle, you should have this amount left)

2- 17 x 14" rectangles lining fabric

3- 6 x 45" strips for ruffles (cut one of these strips into one 12 x 6" and one 33 x 6")

1- 4 x 45" for strap

Total Fabric Requirements:

1/2 yd outside bag fabric (you only need 14" so you will have some extra)

1 yd of lining fabric

Fold the four 6" strips in half and press. Then gather all four pressed pieces. Want to know the easy way to gather? (This is my favorite sewing secret.) Take a piece of string and place it on the raw edge of the fabric. Zigzag stitch across the string the length of the fabric.

Hold one end of the string and pull the other. (Simple right!)

Start making the flower by pinning one gathered 45" strip in a spiral. When pinning, fold under the beginning and end of the strip so that raw edges are hidden.

When you use one strip of fabric, start using the other 45" strip to spiral. Use the 12" piece to make the center of the flower.

Pin the 33" gathered piece onto the other outside bag fabric and sew using 1/2" seam allowance.

With right sides together, sew outside of bag together along the three edges leaving the top open using 1/2" seam allowance.

With right sides together, fold the pocket in half. Sew all three sides leaving a 2" opening to turn right side out. Turn and press. Pin on the inside of bag piece of fabric and sew along three edges, leaving top of pocket open.

Sew the lining of the bag together along the three edges, leaving a three inch opening at the bottom. Make straps by folding the 4 x 45" strip in half, wrong sides together, and sewing closed one short side and the long side using 1/4" seam allowance. Turn strap inside out placing sewn short side over a pencil and pulling fabric down, turning it inside out. Press. Top stitch along both long edges and pin to the outside of bag.

Place the outside of the bag into the lining of bag with right sides together. Sew lining to the outside of bag along the open edge using a 5/8" seam allowance. Pull the outside of bag through the hole left in the lining. Sew opening closed. Press and top stitch around the opening of the bag.

I would love to see your finished bags! Head on over to facebook and post them.