Variegated thread used for the sunflower make it pop on a dark background. This lovely fully lined zippered pouch is made in the hoop. The wristlet and tab are stitched at your sewing machine.
Your nylon zipper can be of any length longer than 9” as both ends of the zipper will be removed in the final trimming of the project.
Step 1:
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Cut the fabrics as follows:
a. 1 each 8” x 10” navy fabric, plaid lining and knit interfacing b. 1 each 8” x 8” navy fabric, plaid lining and knit interfacing c. 2 2” x 8” of the plaid and 1 knit interfacing. One of the plaids will be for the top fabric of the bag and one is used for the lining. d. 1 3” x 4” of the plaid for the tab e. 1 12” x 4” of the plaid for the wristlet
Step 2:
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Fuse the knit interfacing to the back of the 2 navy pieces and 1 of the 2” x 8” plaid pieces. following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Step 3:
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While at the ironing board take the 3” x4” tab fabric and the 12” x 4” wristlet fabric fold the edges 4” of each piece into the center and press. Fold the fabrics in half lengthwise and press again.
Step 4:
Stitch down both sides of the tab and feed it into the D-ring.
Step 5:
Feed the wristlet strap through the base of the lobster clasp without stitching the sides of the wristlet yet.
Step 6:
Open up the fabrics and stitch a ¼” seam the fabrics together.
Step 7:
Finger press the seam open; refold the strap; stitch down both sides of the strap feeding the lobster clasp along the strap as needed.
Step 8:
Fold the strap so that the joining seam is about ½” above the lobster clasp. Stitch back and forth across the seam line to enclose the lobster clasp in the wristlet.
Step 9:
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Tautly hoop the stabilizer and run the first color stop (CS) 1 as a placement line for the zipper and fabrics.
Step 10:
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Place your zipper face up over the zipper placement lines, have the pull tab at the top and the metal stop at the end of the zipper extend well beyond the outside placement lines. Note not all zippers are the same width so even if your zipper is not exactly as wide as the placement lines be sure the zipper teeth follow the center placement line. Tape both ends of the zipper to the stabilizer outside the placement lines.
Step 11:
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Run CS 2 to tack down both sides of the zipper.
Step 12:
Remove the hoop from the machine, do not unhoop. Align the 2” x 8” interfaced plaid fabric face down along the top of the zipper placement line. Tape in place with embroidery tape outside the placement lines.
Step 13:
Turn the hoop over. Align the 2” x 8” strip of lining fabric face down along the top zipper placement line. Tape in place along the side edges outside of the placement lines.
Step 14:
Return the hoop to the machine and run CS 3 to seam the fabrics together.
Step 15:
Remove the hoop from the machine, do not unhoop. Remove the tape from the fabric ends. Spray adhesive on the back of the fabric and while pushing the fabric away from the zipper smooth it up over the bag placement line.
Step 16:
Turn the hoop over and remove the tape from the ends of the lining. Spray adhesive on the back of the lining and smooth it up away from the zipper and towards the top of the pouch.
Step 17:
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Return the hoop to the machine and run CS 4 to topstitch the upper fabrics.
Step 18:
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Remove the hoop from the machine, do not unhoop. Align the edge of the 8” x 8” navy fabric, face down, with the lower zipper placement line and tape into place outside the bag placement line stitches.
Step 19:
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Turn the hoop over and align the corresponding 8”x 8” lining fabric face down with the lower zipper placement line. Tape into place. Return the hoop to the machine and run CS 5 to seam the fabrics.
Step 20:
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Remove the hoop from the machine. Spray adhesive on the back of the lower front navy fabric smooth away from the zipper and over the placement lines. Do not spray adhesive on the lining and smooth it down yet. Ignore the tape in this picture. A tack down stitch has been added to this design to tack down the navy fabric. Run CS 6 to tack down the navy fabric.
Step 21:
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Run CS 7 to stitch the petals. A variegated gold/dark gold thread to give depth to the flower. CS 8 stitches the center of the sunflower.
Step 22:
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Turn the hoop over. Spray adhesive on the back of the lining and smooth down away from the zipper and over the placement lines of the pouch.
Step 23:
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Return the hoop to the machine and run CS 9 to topstitch the lower front of the pouch.
Step 24:
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IMPORTANT: Remove the hoop from the machine, do not unhoop. Unzip the zipper about half to three-quarters of the way across the bag. Fold the tab in half. Tape the tab over the zipper with the raw edges extending about ½” beyond the topstitching stitches. The folded edge of the tab and D-ring will point towards the inside of the bag.
Step 25:
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Place the navy pouch back, face down, over the front of the bag and tape down on the sides.
Step 26:
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Run CS 10 to stitch the pouch back to the front.
Step 27:
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Remove the hoop from the machine, do not unhoop. Place the back lining, face down, over the lining on the back of the hoop and tape down on the sides of the pouch.
Step 28:
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Return the hoop to the machine and run the final CS.
Step 29:
Remove the project from the hoop. Cut away the excess stabilizer from around your fabrics. Note the area at the bottom of the pouch where the final stitching leaves a gap at the bottom of the bag. Clip through all fabrics at an angle to where the final stitching started and stopped. Trim the fabrics to a ¼” seam allowance except for the area across the opening at the bottom of the pouch. Clip the seam allowances at the corners of the pouch. Lift the two lining pieces back and trim the outer fabrics and stabilizer to ¼” across the opening. Trim the two lining fabrics to a ½” seam allowance.
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Step 30:
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Turn the pouch lining side out through the opening. Use a turning stick or other implement to round out the corners.
Step 31:
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With a seam ripper or small sharp scissors remove the stabilizer from behind the zipper. Be careful not to cut the zipper.
Step 32:
Turn in the lining opening seam allowances and stitch closed.
Step 33:
Open the zipper and turn the pouch right side out through the zipper using your implement to round out the corners. Steam-press the outside seams to have the pouch lie flat.
Step 34:
Congratulations you ITH String Stitch Sunflower Pouch is complete!
Award winning Digitizer, Embroidery Educator, Author and a Consultant to the Industry, Pat Williams has 30 years of experience in the embroidery industry. Pat has won multiple awards for her digitizing expertise including the 2007 Impressions Awards Grand Championship, Best of Show as well as the 1st and 2nd Place Awards. Pat’s love of digitizing has afforded her the opportunity to write numerous articles for Impressions magazine in the United States and Images Magazine in Europe. In 2001 Pat was named “Embroidery Educator of the Year.” For many years Pat taught digitizing seminars at the ISS Shows in Long Beach, CA and for Compucon software. She now resides in Tucson, AZ.
