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Easy Quilt Block Drawstring Bag | Patchwork Week

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Easy Quilt Block Drawstring Bag | Patchwork Week

Half Yard Sewing Club member Chrissy Yeomans revisits our much-loved patchwork drawstring bag project.

This versatile bag is ideal for corralling crafty bits and bobbins, storing knitting on the go, packing toiletries for a weekend away, organising sewing notions, or even wrapping a special handmade gift (double handmade points!).

For this remake, we’ve chosen two timeless quilt blocks:

  • Pinwheel Block
  • Diamond Block
  • With so many block designs in our archive, you can easily swap in your favourites and create your own fabric story.

    Expert Techniques

    Half Square Triangles (HSTs)

    Half Square Triangles (HSTs) are simple and can be applied to so many different quilt blocks. So, if you’re new to quilting it’s definitely a skill to pick up right away.

    Rotary Cutting

    Trimming your blocks and units for quilting with a rotary cutter not only makes it easier and more accurate when you sew them together, but also creates a neat, professional finish.

    Trimming Quilt Blocks

    Taking the time to trim your quilt blocks and units ensures everything fits together beautifully. It improves accuracy during assembly and gives your finished project a crisp, professional look.

    Top Patchwork Tips

    • Press the seams of your HSTs open to reduce bulk. If you want to keep the seams to one side, make sure they’re toward the darker fabric to keep hidden.
    • Chain piecing your HST units is quicker and saves on thread.
    • To ensure the accuracy of your HSTs, make sure you trim on all four sides.
    • I highly recommend investing in a large cutting mat for all your rotary cutting, so you can make long continuous cuts into your fabric with ease.

    Finished size: 12 x 14in (30.5 x 35.75cm)

    Note: use a ¼in (5mm) seam allowance throughout, unless otherwise stated.

    MEMBERS ONLY: To gain full access to the Half Yard Club projects please login or sign up

    You will need:

    Equipment

    • Sewing machine
    • Iron
    • Safety pin, to thread ribbon

    Materials

    • Two 12½in (31.75cm) quilt blocks: this project uses a Pinwheel and Diamond block
    • 2½ x 25in (6.5 x 63.5cm) strip of fabric, for the border
    • Two 25 x 15½ (31.75 x 39.5cm) pieces of lining fabric
    • 26 x 15in (66 x 38cm) piece of fusible fleece
    • 30in (76.25cm) length of ribbon

    MEMBERS ONLY: To gain full access to the Half Yard Club projects please login or sign up

    Project steps:

    MEMBERS ONLY: To gain full access to the Half Yard Club projects please login or sign up

    Step 1

    This is content that only logged members can see! Please create an account or login to be able to view project steps, otherwise you'll be limited to non-member content.

    This is content that only logged members can see! Please create an account or login to be able to view project steps, otherwise you'll be limited to non-member content.

    MEMBERS ONLY: To gain full access to the Half Yard Club projects please login or sign up

    Step 2

    This is content that only logged members can see! Please create an account or login to be able to view project steps, otherwise you'll be limited to non-member content.

    This is content that only logged members can see! Please create an account or login to be able to view project steps, otherwise you'll be limited to non-member content.

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