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Spring Time Birdie Bag
Mandy Murray
Created & Designed by Mandy Murray for AccuQuilt Australia 2015©
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Materials
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45cm x 90cm White Waffle
Weave Fabric
45cm x 90cm Pellon
45cm x 90cm Pre-Quilted Lining
Fabric
4 x 15cm Co-ordinating Fabric
for Bird Appliqué
20cm x 25cm Rectangle of
Fabric for Internal Pocket
15cm Heat & Bond
1 x Brown Felt Square for Stems
3-5 Different Coloured Felt Squares for Flowers
7 x 20mm Wooden Buttons
3 x 10mm White Buttons
1 x 8mm White Button
Large Pre-purchased Sew on Handles
Additional Requirements
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Variegated Thread for Bird and Leaf Appliqués
Wax Coated Thread
Contrasting Thread for Embroidery on Flowers
Tools
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AccuQuilt GO! Big (AQ55500A), GO! Fabric Cutter (AQ55100 or
AQ55100S) or GO! Baby Cutter (AQ55300 or AQ55600)
AQ55324 GO! Birds
AQ55331 GO! Stems & Leaves
AQ55334 GO! Fun Flower
AQ55326 GO! Crazy Petals
AQ55137 GO! Cutting Mat – 6” x 6"
AQ55112 GO! Cutting Mat – 6” x 12”
Sewing Machine
Hand Sewing Needle
Iron
Created & Designed by Mandy Murray for AccuQuilt Australia 2015©
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Cutting Instructions
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Iron Heat & Bond onto the reverse side of the 4cm x 15cm fabric
for bird appliqué.
Position the fabric onto the GO! Birds die (AQ55324) and cut 4
birds and wings using either the GO! Big, GO! Cutter or GO! Baby
Cutter. (As Heat and Bond counts as half a layer of fabric,
remember to cut no more than four layers of fabric with Heat and
Bond at any one time).
Cut the branches out of the brown felt square using the GO! Stems
and Leaves die, (AQ55331).
Note: Depending on the thickness of the felt, only one to two layers
should be cut at a time!
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Using the GO! Fun Flower die, (AQ55334), cut 3 different coloured
flowers out of the coloured felt (2 layers per flower).
Using the GO! Crazy Petals die, (AQ55326), cut 20 of the large
individual petals from 2 different coloured felt squares.
Cut the waffle weave fabric, pellon and lining into two 45cm x
45cm squares.
Iron the pellon squares to the wrong side of the waffle weave fabric
Created & Designed by Mandy Murray for AccuQuilt Australia 2015©
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Instructions
Step 1: Using one of the squares of the waffle weave fabric, position the
felt branches and pin in place.
Step 2: Select a blanket stitch on your sewing machine and stitch
around the outside edge of the branches using brown thread
Step 3: Arrange the birds with their wings around the branches,
removing Heat & Bond paper backing and ironing onto position. Using a
variegated thread, blanket stitch around the outside of the birds & wings.
Step 4: Repeat this process on the other square of waffle weave fabric
if desired, as per the example of reverse side below.
Step 5: Eyes: Sew the large white
buttons onto the larger birds and the
small white button onto the smaller bird
using black thread.
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Reverse Side
of Bag
Created & Designed by Mandy Murray for AccuQuilt Australia 2015©
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Step 6: Set free-motion sewing on your sewing machine by dropping the
feed dogs. Free-motion leaves using a green variegated thread. It may
be helpful to use a fabric marker or chalk to
draw the leaves as a guide. Using the same
process free motion: tweet tweet tweet onto the
back of the bag
and give your
birdies their little
legs!
Step 7: Select a decorative embroidery stitch on your sewing machine
and a contrasting thread. Sew down each petal of the Fun Flowers.
Step 8: Position 5 petals for each flower onto the
front side of your bag, leaving a 1 ¼” (3cm)
seam allowance from the sides. Free-motion into
position, ensuring that you only sew half way to
maintain a 3D effect. Position and pin the GO!
Fun Flowers (AQ55334) alternatively along the
top. Sew wooden buttons into the centre of each
flower.
Created & Designed by Mandy Murray for AccuQuilt Australia 2015©
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Step 9: As an option, paint the leaves and heat set to fix (following
manufacturers instructions). I used water colour paints, blending Lemon
Yellow, Sap Green, Green Deep and Phythalo Blue. You could also use
acrylics, fabric pens or stamps!
Step 10: Fold the rectangle for the pocket in half long ways so that right
sides are together. Stitch around the outside with a ¼” (6 mm) seam
allowance, leaving a gap approximately 2” (5cm) to turn inside out.
Press and fold the longest side down 5/8” (1cm) and repeat, topstitch in
position. Position onto the right side of the lining fabric, 6” (15cm) from
the top and topstitch around the other 3 sides.
Created & Designed by Mandy Murray for AccuQuilt Australia 2015©
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Bag Construction
Step 1: Place the front and back piece of waffle weave right sides
together, pin and sew using a ½” (1.2cm) seam allowance around the
outside, except for the top opening.
Step 2: Repeat this step with the pre-quilted lining fabric, however leave
a 4” (10cm) gap in one side for turning.
Step 3: The next step is to box the bottom corners, creating a base.
With right sides together, pinch corners so that the front and back seams
are aligned vertically, creating a triangle. Measure 2” (5cm) from the
point and stitch horizontally across the triangle. Trim off triangle tip ½”
(1.2cm) from seam to reduce bulk. Repeat on the opposite corner and
lining.
Step 4: Place your outer bag inside of your lining so that the right sides
of the outer bag and lining are together. Pin the tops together by aligning
the side seams with each other.
Tip! It is helpful to pin the petals down to ensure that they do not
get caught in the seams.
Step 5: Sew completely around the top of the bag using a ½" (1.2cm)
seam allowance.
Step 6: Turn bag right side out through the opening in the lining. Pin the
outer bag and lining together at the top seam and topstitch along the
edge.
Created & Designed by Mandy Murray for AccuQuilt Australia 2015©
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Step 7: Measure along the top of the bag and find the centre.
Depending on the size of your handles, measure 3 1/8” (8cm) either side
of the centre marking. Sew the handles on using a wax coated thread for
added strength.
Step 8: Slipstitch the opening in the lining closed and press your
finished bag!
Well done! Enjoy using your gorgeous bag!
Designed By
Mandy Murray © 2015
Created & Designed by Mandy Murray for AccuQuilt Australia 2015©