Three Things . . .

I say "three things" to help me remember what I want to say--otherwise, I'd probably get to the end of this post and forget I wanted to mention two of them! Getting older means not remembering quite as easily as we did when we were 20, doesn't it?! Sometimes I think that's just as well, though.

Okay, first thing: Those people with asterisks next to their names in my sidebar--the ones who finished three or more projects in August--please privately email me your addresses. I have little "prizes" for you. I was going to do this near the beginning of September, but I didn't want to have to worry about mailing things out before I left for camp. Don't look for BIG prizes--I just have a few little things to give away that I thought you might enjoy.

Second thing: I said I'd give you the directions for making the pumpkin treat bags. Here they are:

CUTTING DIRECTIONS:

From outside (orange) fabric (fat quarter):
Cut two (2) pumpkin shapes using outside template line (*see pattern sheet)

From fusible craft interfacing (quarter yard):
Cut two (2) pumpkin shapes from inner template line

You will also need orange fabric (fat quarter) for the inside of the pumpkin bags, but those pieces will be cut later.

Cut two eyes and a mouth from scraps of black wool–*see shapes on pattern sheet or design your own

Cut a length of ribbon or trim for handle 18" long

MAKING THE BAG:

According to manufacturer’s directions, center and iron each of the pieces of fusible interfacing to the “wrong” or back side of the fabric that will become the inside of the bag (this is that "other" fat quarter you didn't cut), making sure to leave at least 1/2" between the two interfacing shapes. Trim the excess fabric from around the interfacing, leaving at least 1/4" seam allowance between the edge of the interfacing and the edge of the fabric.

Fabric side up/interfacing side down, layer each of the two fused pieces with the outside pumpkin fabric, right sides of the fabric together. Pin to secure layers. Turn over; with interfacing side up, sew around the pumpkin, just to the outside of the interfacing, leaving the bottom of the pumpkin open to turn. Turn and press; press the raw edges of the fabric at the open seam to the inside.

For the next “quilting” step, I prefer to use the free motion foot and settings on my machine, but a regular stitching foot and settings will work also. “Quilt” in the vertical pumpkin definition lines on both pumpkin pieces. On whichever piece will be the front of the bag, layer and pin the wool eyes and mouth. Using black thread, sew near the edges of the wool to secure the eyes and mouth to the pumpkin.

Pin the back of the pumpkin to the front of the pumpkin, “wrong” sides together; insert the ribbon/trim handle near the top on each side and pin in place–*see markings on pattern sheet. Top stitch the front of the bag to the back, beginning and ending at the black circles on the pattern sheet. At the bottom of the bag, stitch close enough to the edge to ensure the seam that was left open for turning is secured.

*NOTE: THERE IS NO PATTERN SHEET for purposes of this blog post! Where you see a reference to the pattern sheet in the directions above, you'll need to come up with your own designs/drawings. For the pumpkin shape, I drew a shape that was just a little smaller than an 8-1/2" x 11" piece of paper. The fabric pumpkin shape was about 1/4" larger than the fusible interfacing. I hope this is enough to get you started.

Finally, third thing: If you'd like to WIN a pumpkin treat bag, leave me a comment on this post saying you want to be entered--U.S. addresses only for this one, okay? Besides the obvious cuteness of the bag itself, there are a few treats I gave my students, including a printed pattern for the bags and ribbon and wool to make another bag.

That's three things, right? Okay, then, I'm done! Oh, yeah--you probably want to know when I'm going to draw a winner for the pumpkin bag, don't you? Let's make it Thursday night, and then I'll announce the winner on Friday's post. Good luck!

COMMENTS CLOSED NOW, SO I CAN PICK A WINNER!