1

Four Leaf Clover Bag Pattern

What You Will Need 1 FQ fabric for outer

1 FQ fabric for lining

1 FQ fusible fleece

A small piece of co-ordinating fabric

for a pocket (approx. 10” X 4 ½”)

1m ribbon (approx. 3/8”-1/2” thick)

1 magnetic snap closure (1/2”

diameter)

Usual sewing bits & pieces plus

freezer paper & a stitch ripper

When sewing please remember to use ¼” seam allowance throughout

(unless otherwise indicated) & backstitch at both ends

2

STEP 1: Cut your pieces Trace the template onto the paper (not the waxy) side of your freezer

paper

With your lining fabric:

_ Carefully fold into four & pin

around the edge (this will help

in a wee moment when you go

to cut the fabric)

_ Place your template waxy

side down onto the folded

fabric so that it edges the

edge of the fold

_ Iron the template onto the

fabric (MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE WAXY SIDE DOWN otherwise

you will make a bit of a mess of your iron ) & cut out your petals

_ Unfold the fabric once (so it is still folded over once) & you will see

you should have about 4½” down one side. Cut this into two & you

should have two strips measuring 2½” X 21”

With your outer fabric:

_ Repeat all these steps

With your fusible fleece:

_ Using your petal template as a guide (DO NOT IRON IT ON), cut out

four pieces of fusible fleece & fuse to the back of the four outer

petals

D TIP: When you need to cut out fusible fleece: Roughly cut out the shape you need Iron the fleece to the back of the fabric IN THE CENTRE ONLY Trim the excess fleece away from the edge of the fabric piece (ideally the fleece should be slightly smaller than the fabric piece) Press again to fuse the piece completely Well done! You now have 4 fantastically fused petals!

_ Cut two strips measuring ¾” X 21”

Cut your ribbon in half so that you have two equal pieces

Cut 2 pocket pieces from the co-ordinating scrap measuring 4 ¾” X 4 ¼”

STEP 2: Making the pocket Pin two pocket pieces right sides together

Starting approx. 3” in from the edge of a

long side, stitch around the pocket & stop

approx. 2” from where you started, so you

have a 2” gap in one of the long sides of

the pocket. (This side with the gap will be

the bottom of your pocket, but you don’t

need to worry about stitching it up just yet,

as you will be stitching all around the

pocket in a wee moment)

Clip the corners, turn right side out & press.

3

Place your pocket piece on top of one of your lining petals (with the gap

edge to the bottom of your petal) & position in the middle & 1¾”down from

the top

D TIP: To help you center your pocket piece: Fold the pocket in half lengthwise & press along the fold Take one of your lining petals & fold in half lengthwise, press along the fold Now position your pocket piece making sure the crease line on the petal matches the crease line on the pocket You now have a perfectly centered pocket!

Pin in place & using an 1/8” seam (or as near as you can to the edge of

the pocket piece), stitch around the two sides & bottom of your pocket

piece

Well done! You should now have a lovely pocket

STEP 3: Inserting the magnetic snap On the FRONT of the lining petal piece which has the pocket on it, make a

small mark 1” down from the top &

in the centre

Turn the petal over & fuse one of

your small pieces of interfacing over

the dot. Turn the fabric over so that

it is right side up again

Take the washer from the magnetic

snap and place the center hole on

the dot & make 2 marks in the slits

on the sides of the washer (this is

where the holes will need to be cut)

Slit the holes open with the seam ripper

(going through the fleece too) & place the

prongs through the holes.

Turn the fabric over, place the washer over

the prongs & bend the prongs toward the

middle of the magnet

Take another small piece of fusible fleece

& fuse on top of the folded prongs (just to

protect your fabric a wee bit)

Repeat with opposite side of magnetic snap

on another piece of petal lining

Step 4: Making the lining of your bag Pin two lining petals right sides together, carefully making sure the points

match. One should have one of the metal snaps on it, the other shouldn’t

4

Starting at the point of the petal (at the bottom) stitch towards the top of

the petal (the flat bit).

Repeat for the other two lining petals (making sure that when you put all

the petals together the magnetic snaps are

opposite each other)

Clip your seam allowance a little around

the curves (careful not to cut into your

stitch line) & press seam open

With right sides together, carefully pin the

two joined petals to the other two making

sure the sewn seams are aligned

Stitch all the way round so that your

seams all intersect evenly

Well done! You’re half way there!

Step 5: Making the outer layer of your bag Pin two outer bag (& fleece) petals right sides together, carefully making

sure the points match

Starting at the point of the petal (at the bottom) stitch towards the top of

the petal (the flat bit). Stop 1½” from the top & backstitch. Leave a gap of

½” & continue stitching to the top

(again backstitching at both ends)

Repeat for the other two outer bag

petals

Clip you seam allowance a little around

the curves (careful not to cut into your

stitch line) & press seam open

With right sides together, carefully pin

the two joined petals to the other two

making sure the sewn seams are

aligned

Stitch the two pairs together again stopping 1½” from the top & backstitch,

leave a gap of ½” & continue on to the top as you did with the other seams.

Step 6: Making the straps Take lining fabric straps & fold in half

lengthwise wrong sides together. Press along

fold

Open up and fold in ¼” at each side. Press

along fold

Open up & place fleece strap along the fabric

centering over the middle fold crease. Fold

the top edge over the wadding along the top ¼” crease line. Fold the

bottom edge over the wadding

along the bottom ¼” crease line.

Fuse in place

Repeat for the second strap

5

Take outer fabric straps & fold in half lengthwise wrong sides together.

Press along fold

Open up and fold in ¼” at each side.

Press along fold

Take one lining/fleece strap & place

an outer strap carefully on top

WRONG SIDES together. Pin in place

Stitch down each side of the strap

1/8” from the edge

With right sides together, pin straps to

the outer bag centre petals (the one

with the magnetic clasps) 1” in from

the side seam line

Stitch in place with 1/8” seam

Step 7: Putting it all together Well done! We’re nearly there

Thread the ribbon through the

openings at the sides of the outer

bag & tie a knot in each end

Place bag outer (RIGHT SIDE

OUT) inside the bag lining

(WRONG SIDE OUT) & carefully

match up all the seam lines,

making sure your handles are

tucked down & the ribbon is out

of the way

Stitch all the way around leaving a 3” gap at one of the side petals

Pull the bag through the gap & press along the seam line which joins the

lining & outer bag (this means you will be also pressing closed the turning

opening)

Push the lining into the bag &, starting at one of the side petals, topstitch

around the bag edge with 1/8” seam, closing over the turning as you stitch

Press the bag again & adjust your ribbons

Sit back & admire your work!

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial. When you get a moment, do drop by

at http://listentothebirdssing.blogspot.com/ for more creative projects

6

Template for petal

Cut Outer Fabric X 4 Lining Fabric X 4 Fusible Fleece X 4

© listen to the birds sing