Folding Bag with Opium Poppy Applique Flowers

This folding "semi-purse" bag is meanwhile our favorite of the entire pack of poppy projects. This one was also created by Bobbie Berry. Bobbie, thank you again!

Here Bobbie used the Poppy 2 design as patch, and created a standalone bag closing with it. This is really cool!



Items needed:
3 guest towels (1 is for handles and fold over tab)
Small piece fabric for appliqu�
2 buttons
Very small cording about 9� long
Water-Soluble Stabilizer


Hoop Water-Soluble Stabilizer. Stitch first color of thread and remove hoop. Spray WSS. When sprayed area becomes tacky, lay appliqu� fabric on WSS and hand press in place. Stitch second color, remove hoop and trim around appliqu�. Return hoop and finish stitching design. Remove from hoop and trim excess WSS.



Hold under running water and wash away WSS. Set aside to dry. Then press. Stitch front and back of bag, right sides together.



Making tab: Cut as piece of fabric about 6 1/2� long by 4� wide. Fold in half top to bottom and stitch sides.



Turn under bottom and make narrow hem. Place in center of back section, above hemstitching and stitch in place.



Double stitch then serge bottom seam.



Handles: Cut 2 strips of fabric about 3 �� wide by 15� long.



Fold sides to center and press, then fold over and top stitch both sides.



Stitch to bag.

Finishing: Using a template of the design, trace around it on a piece of felt or similar stable fabric.



Cut out felt around tracing and make a very small slit in the center. Insert small cording through the slit and make a double knot.



Run a short line of stitching across the cording fastening it to the felt. Spray the back of the felt and let stand to get tacky.



Hand press it onto wrong side of appliqu�.



Adjust flower to a position centered between handles.



Stitch to tab.



Sew buttons in place adjusting location to make loop go around button when it is folded (back button)





and when bag is open fully extended (front button)



Finished.