Sewing Projects
Rhododendron Bag
Designed by Sally McCollin of www.stitcharena.com for Brother UK, this delightful little bag is a great make for the 
Spring! Soft, petal clusters in delicate shades of violet flutter in the gentle breeze.
FABRIC REQUIREMENTS
1/2 m of Rowan Ikat Wash 100% Cotton fabric, in shade SIW02 Blue
1/2 m of lining fabric in toning shade
1/2 m of Calico
1/2 m of Vilene cotton batting (or polyester wadding)
1/2 m of Buckram (or fine-woven Canvas) for stiffening
1/4 m of Habotai or crêpe silk (undyed) Anchor Alcazar Bobbin: 1 spool of Black
Anchor Alcazar Rayon Machine Embroidery thread: 1 spool each of 0355 Pale Pink and 0527 Green
100% Cotton machine thread in a toning shade to Main Fabric
Tacking thread
Pebeo Silk Paints: Dark Green, Violet and Pink
Pipette or small paintbrush
Sharp-pointed sewing needle
Prym Bag Handles: 1 pair of 'Peggy' (ref. 615 110)
Small G-clamp and two coins (5p pieces are ideal)
Small dish or tray for dyeing fabric
Steps to make
Cut the Habotai silk in half. Putting one half to one side for the Leaves.
How to work the Petal Clusters
You need approximately 40 petals. Dampen the Habotai silk and wring out the excess water (this will make it easier to control). Concertina-fold the silk lengthways into a 5 cm (2") wide strip then concertina-fold widthways to form a block measuring 5 cm x 5 cm (2x2 "). Take the G-clamp and secure the fabric between the small coins.
Pour a small amount of Pink silk paint into the dish and dilute 50/50 with water. Using the pipette, soak around the edges of the clamped silk with the paint.
Whilst the fabric is still wet and using the pipette again, add a small amount of undiluted Violet paint to a couple of the outer edges of the fabric and let the colours bleed together. Leave to dry then open out and press under a dry cloth using a hot iron to fix the silk paint.
Cut into 5 cm x 5 cm squares - one for each Petal Cluster.
How to work the Leaves
Lightly dampen the Habotai silk, scrunch it up and place it on a dish or tray. Using the pipette, squirt with the Dark Green dye randomly, so that some areas are lighter coloured than other areas. Leave to dry then press under a dry cloth using a hot iron to fix the silk paint.
Cut out the Leaf Templates. Cut out 8 x 6" long and 8 x 4" long leaves from the green-dyed silk fabric using the templates as a guide. Put to one side.
How to work the Bag
The Cutting Diagram shows how to place the pieces on the Main Fabric (at the end of this page).
Scale up all of the pieces for the Bag as shown on the Cutting Diagram, adding 0.5 cm (3/8") seam allowances all round the Bag Template, Lower Lining, Upper Lining and Gusset pieces only. Cut out from fabrics as detailed below:
From Main Fabric
Cut 2 x Main Bag; 1 x Gusset; 3 x Bias Strips 5 cm (2") wide (for enclosing raw outer edges and for enclosing Gusset ends); 6 x Handle Strips measuring 6.25 cm x 15 cm (2 ½ x 6") cut on the straight of the fabric grain;
From Lining Fabric
Cut 2 x Main Bag, 1 x Gusset;
From Calico, Vilene Cotton Batting (or polyester wadding) and Buckram (or canvas)
Cut 2 x Main Bag.
To make up the Front Panel
Position Calico behind Main fabric on both pieces. Put one panel to one side.
To work the Leaves
Work each leaf one at a time, positioning each so that they radiate from a point on the Front Panel of the Bag.
To do this: Place a larger cut leaf on the front panel so that the tip overlaps the raw edge. Set machine to free machine embroidery and using 0527, machine stitch leaf veins on each leaf, ensuring that stitching reaches only to within 1cm of the raw edges.
Once the outer leaves have been stitched, place smaller leaves to overlap them and repeat the sewing.
To work the Petal Cluster
Foundation: Place 6 petal squares on the centre so that one is in the middle and the remaining 5 are evenly spaced around the outer edge, overlapping edges.
Take one petal square and make a small, horizontal pleat in the centre, then make another vertically. Keep tight hold and position in the centre of the foundation squares. Free-machine stitch in place with 0355 using a small circular motion in the centre over all of the folded layers to secure the petal in place. Start working in rounds to add further petals, working towards the outer edges of the foundation squares, ensuring that there are no large gaps in between.
On completion, fold the ends of the leaves towards the centre and pin in place so that they will not catch in the construction seam.
When constructing the Bag, use 0.5 cm (3/8") seams throughout and a toning sewing thread in top and bottom.
Top Handle Seam
With right side of Front panel face down (calico backing visible), place Wadding then Buckram or Canvas Stiffener on top.
Turn to right side face-up (Main fabric showing) then position Lining on top of this (with wrong side of Lining face-up).
Pin around inner curved area for Handle. Sew seam then clip seam closely to stitching line. Fold Lining to Wrong side. Press seam flat then top-stitch. Baste all layers together around outer raw edges.
Gusset
Place Lining behind Main fabric with right sides facing outwards. Pin and baste edges together.
Cut off 2 sections of Bias Strip. Fold in half and pin raw edges to each end on right side of Main Fabric. Machine stitch in place. Fold folded side edge over to wrong side and stitch in place to enclose raw edges.
With right sides facing out, pin Gusset to Bag matching raw edges and dots at centre of base. Baste raw edges together.
Join remaining Bias Strips together. Fold in half lengthways and pin all round outer edges of Back and Front as for Gusset ends, matching raw edges but leaving 2 cm extra at top corners of Top Handle Seam. Sew in place.
Trim then fold over raw end of Bias Strip at top to Gusset side then fold long folded edge of Bias strip over to Gusset side around outer curved edge of Bag. Pin then stitch in place, enclosing all raw edges.
Handle Strips
Fold in half with right sides together and machine-stitch down long side to form a tube. Turn to right side. Position seam to centre and press flat. Fold raw ends under to the inside (side with seam down centre).
Fold in half end to end with ends tucked inside, then pin to Lining side so that ends are approximately 0.25 cm below top edge and loop end is lying inside Bag. Baste in position across the top edges and machine-stitch through all layers securely. Bring the folded loop end to right side, threading through one of the handles and pin in position on right side 1 cm down from top edge. Machine-stitch in position securely (you may need to use a zipper foot or piping foot).
Work other side to match to complete the Bag.
Further information
The following materials used for this project are available for purchase from www.stitcharena.com.
* Rowan Ikat Wash 100% Cotton fabric
* Calico
* Vilene cotton batting
* Fine-woven Canvas (14# and 18#)
* Habotai silk (undyed)
* Anchor Alcazar Bobbin thread
* Anchor Alcazar Rayon Machine Embroidery thread
ED260 Rhododenderon Bag Page 1 of 4
Sally used a Brother sewing machine for this project. For details of all Brother machines and local stockists, visit: www.brother.co.uk.
Cutting Diagram Template
