APRIL
Umbrella
PIECED BY Leila Beasley • FINISHED SIZE of paper-pieced block and sashing: 12˝ × 12˝
Liven up those gray and rainy April days with this pretty umbrella! I used a vivid Liberty Lifestyle floral print for the umbrella.
Materials and Supplies
CD content is available to download from http://tinyurl.com/11026-patterns.
•Gray: 1 fat quarter for background
•Floral: 1 fat eighth for umbrella
•Black: 2˝ × 10˝ scrap
INSTRUCTIONS
All seam allowances are ¼˝.
Assemble the Block
1. Assemble all sections.
2. Join A to B. Join C to AB. Join D to CAB. Join E to CABD. Trim to 10½˝ × 10½˝.
3. Sew the gray 1½˝ × 10½˝ strips to both sides of the block.
4. Sew the gray 1½˝ × 12½˝ strips to the top and bottom of the block.
Cutting
GRAY
•2 strips 1½˝ × 10½˝ for sashing
•2 strips 1½˝ × 12½˝ for sashing
Rainy Day Tote
MADE BY Leila Beasley • FINISHED TOTE SIZE: 15˝ × 16˝
Tote bags are easy to make and so very practical. The main body of the bag is made using yarn-dyed Essex linen; Flea Market Fancy for the umbrella; a gray chevron by Moda for the background; and a fun, striped calendar print by Kumiko Fujita for the lining.
Materials and Supplies
CD content is available to download from http://tinyurl.com/11026-patterns.
•Paper-pieced April umbrella block: for tote center (page 38)
•Black linen: ⅝ yard for sashing and for back of tote
•Lining: ⅝ yard
•Fabric for handles: ¹⁄3 yard
•Fusible fleece: 2 pieces 15½˝ × 16½˝
•Fusible interfacing: 2 strips 1¼˝ × 28˝ for handles
•Wool felt: gray and white scraps at least 3½˝ × 7˝ for cloud and raindrops
•Perle cotton or embroidery floss in white or pale gray
Cutting
BLACK LINEN
•2 strips 3˝ × 10½˝ to sash the umbrella block
•1 strip 2˝ × 15½˝ to sash the umbrella block
•1 strip 5˝ × 15½˝ to sash the umbrella block
•1 piece 15½˝ × 16½˝ for the back
LINING
•2 pieces 15½˝ × 16½˝
HANDLES
•2 pieces 5˝ × 28˝
GRAY WOOL FELT
•1 cloud using the cloud pattern (page CD23)
•2 raindrops using the raindrop patterns (page CD23)
WHITE WOOL FELT
•1 cloud using the cloud pattern
•3 raindrops using the raindrop patterns
INSTRUCTIONS
All seam allowances are ¼˝.
Assemble the Block
1. Assemble the umbrella block following the April block instructions (page 39).
2. Sew the black 3˝ × 10½˝ strips to both sides of the umbrella block.
3. Sew the black 2˝ × 15½˝ strip to the bottom of the block and the black 5˝ × 15½˝ strip to the top. Remove the paper foundation.
Appliqué and Embroidery
1. Apply the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the bag front and back pieces. Quilt, if desired.
2. Machine appliqué the clouds and raindrops.
3. Use embroidery floss to sew a running stitch from the bottom of each cloud to convey rain.
Make the Bag Handles
1. Fold the 5˝ × 28˝ handle strips in half lengthwise and press.
2. Apply the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the strips, aligned with the center fold.
3. Fold the long edges toward the center and press. Fold the straps in half again to enclose the raw edges; press.
4. Topstitch both sides of the straps ⅛˝ from the edge.
Assemble the Tote
1. Place the front and back of the bag together, right sides facing. Sew around the sides and bottom edges. Turn the bag right side out.
2. Place the lining pieces right sides facing and sew around the bottom and side edges, leaving a gap of approximately 5˝ on one side for turning.
3. Position the ends of the handles on the right side of the bag exterior 4˝ from the side edges and 4½˝ apart. Pin in place.
4. Place the bag exterior inside the lining, right sides facing, and stitch together around the top edge.
5. Turn the bag right side out through the gap in the lining and press the top edge of the bag so the lining sits neatly inside.
6. Topstitch around the top of the bag ¼˝ from the edge.
7. Slipstitch the opening in the lining closed.