Tutorial: Trick or Treat Bag

What's Halloween without a bag to hold candy in? This tutorial uses three prints from our Trick or Treat collection (plus black jumbo rick rack) to make a fun bag ready to fill with treats. Make one (or several!) before October 31st!

We've used the pumpkin and ghost print for the outer bag, the yellow spiderweb print for the lining, and the orange mini pumpkin print for an accent.

Supplies:

(See our entire Trick or Treat fabric collection here)

• 1/3 yard ghost/pumpkin print
• 1/2 yard yellow spiderweb print
• 1/3 yard orange mini pumpkin print
• 2" x 4" piece of a black solid
• Black jumbo rick rack
• Fusible web

Cutting:
Ghost/pumpkin print:
Two 8" x 13" pieces

Yellow spiderweb print:
Two 13" x 14" pieces
Two 2" x 12" strips

Orange mini pumpkin print:
Two 2-1/2" x 12" lengthwise strips
Two 2" x 13" strips
Two 5" x 13" pieces

Black jumbo rick rack:
Four 14" lengths

Make the Bag:
Step 1: Download the pdf of "Boo!" letters template page here. Trace the appropriate number of letters to spell out "Boo!" onto the paper side of fusible web. Fuse to the wrong side of the orange mini pumpkin print, making sure the pumpkin faces are oriented correctly.

Step 2: Adhere fusible web to the back of the 2" x 4" black solid piece. Trace two circle shapes, approximately 7/8" in diameter, onto the fusible web. (We used the cap of a glue stick as a circle shape.) Cut out the circles on the drawn lines. 

Step 3: Cut out the Boo! letters. Arrange the letters on one 8" x 13" ghost/pumpkin piece, centering from left to right and approximately 2-1/4" up from the bottom edge. Tuck a black circle inside each "O" as an eye. Fuse all pieces in place. Use a decorative stitch to secure the appliques in place. 

Step 4: To add rick rack to the top of appliqued ghost/pumpkin piece, lay out a length of rick rack and position the appliqued piece on it, right side down, so the "valleys" in the rick rack just show above the fabric edge. Pin in place. 

Step 5: Flip over so the fabric is right side up. Layer the 2" x 13" orange mini pumpkin strip on top, right side down, matching raw edges, with rick rack sandwiched in between. Make sure pumpkins on fabric are oriented correctly. Pin in place and stitch using a 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat on bottom edge, using the 5" x 13" orange mini pumpkin strip.

Step 6: Add rick rack and orange mini pumpkin strips to the top and bottom of the remaining ghost/pumpkin piece to make the bag back. Trim rick rack on both bag front and back even with the fabric. Press so rick rack points down.

Step 7: Layer the bag front and back right sides together, matching seam allowances. Sew along the sides and bottom. Cut 2" squares from both bottom corners. 

Step 8: To box the corners, match the side and bottom seams and flatten fabric so raw edges are touching. Pin in place and stitch across the opening using a 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat on opposite side of the bag. 

Step 9: In the same manner, layer the two 13" x 14" yellow spiderweb pieces right sides together and sew both sides and the bottom, leaving an opening on the bottom for turning. 

Step 10: Layer a 2" x 12" yellow spiderweb strip right sides together with a 2" x 12" orange mini pumpkin strip. Sew along both long sides and turn right side out. Topstitch along both long edges if desired. 

Step 11: Position a handle on the front of the bag, matching raw edges and measuring 2-1/2" in from the outer edges to pin the handles in place. Repeat on bag back.

Step 12: Slide the outer bag, right side out, inside the lining, right side in. Match raw edges along the top edge, make sure handles are tucked inside. and pin in place. Stitch around the top edge of the bag using a 1/4" seam allowance. 

Step 13: Turn bag right side out through the opening in the lining. Slip stitch lining closed. Topstitch along the top edge of the bag.

Here's another look at the bag front:

And the bag back:

Now you're ready for trick or treating to begin!

Did you see our Halloween door banner tutorial? Find it here!

Tutorial: Halloween Door Banner

It's October, so Halloween is fast approaching! 

Dressing up isn't only for kids--dress up your front door with a Halloween banner. It's easy enough that you'll be able to finish it before trick or treating begins, so you'll be ready to welcome witches, goblins, and ghosts who come knocking! 

Start with these fun Halloween prints from our Trick or Treat collection: spooky haunted houses, golden spider webs, and tiny jack o'lanterns:

Supplies:

(See our entire Trick or Treat fabric collection here)

• 1/4 yard orange pumpkin print
• 1/2 yard haunted house print
• 1/4 yard yellow spiderweb print
• 1/2 yard black solid
• 5/8 yard backing fabric
• 22" x 30" batting piece
• Fusible web

Cutting:
Orange pumpkin print:
Six 2-1/2" squares
Reserve remainder for applique

Haunted house print:
Two lengthwise 3" x 12" strips 
From remaining piece: two 4" x 26" strips

Yellow spiderweb print:
Six 2-1/2" squares
Two 1-1/2" x 12" strips

Black solid:
One 8-1/2" x 18-1/2" piece
Twelve 2-1/2" squares
Three 2-1/2" x 42" strips for binding


Step 1: Download the pdf of "Happy Halloween" letters template page here. Trace the appropriate number of letters to spell out "Happy Halloween" onto the paper side of fusible web. Fuse to the wrong side of the orange pumpkin print, making sure the pumpkin faces are oriented correctly.

Step 2: Cut out each letter on the drawn line. Remove backing, position letters on the 8-1/2" x 18-1/2" black piece and fuse in place. 

Step 3: Draw a diagonal line on the back of each yellow and orange 2-1/2" square. Note: The orange pumpkin print is directional, so make sure you have all the orange squares oriented the same way when you draw the line.

Step 4: Pair each marked square right sides together with a black square. Sew 1/4" away from each side of the marked line. Cut on the line and press HST units open.

Step 5: Trim HST units to measure 2" square. Make 12 black/yellow units and 12 black/orange units. Sew 6 black/yellow alternating with 6 black/orange units to make a top border as shown. (Choose the using the black orange units with the pumpkins oriented up when the black triangle is positioned at the bottom of the HST.) Repeat to make a bottom border. (The remaining black/orange units will have pumpkins oriented up  when the black triangle is positioned at the top of the HST.)

Step 6: Sew the HST borders to the top and bottom of the black center piece. Sew 1-1/2" x 12" yellow spiderweb strips to opposite sides, press, and trim excess. Sew 3" x 12" haunted house strips to opposite sides, press and trim excess.

Step 7: Sew 4" x 26" haunted house strips to the top and bottom of the quilt. 
Step 8: Layer the backing right side down, batting, and quilt top right side up. Baste the layers together. Quilt the quilt however you like. (We used a spider web motif for extra spookiness!)
Step 9: Use the three 2-1/2" x 42" black solid strips to bind the quilt. Add a sleeve to the back side of the quilt so it can be hung like a banner on your door or wall. (If you need help making a sleeve, see this video tutorial.)

Are you ready?!

Fall may not officially start until September 22, but with September here, Labor Day come and gone, and school starting, the retail world is looking ahead to the next holiday.

How do we know? 

Well, there this pumpkin-themed deliciousness, from Tim Hortons Cafe and Bake Shop:

Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte:

And "Pumpkin's Back" at Dunkin' Donuts:

Don't forget the gourds appearing at farmer's markets and grocery stores, and the harvest and Halloween-themed decor popping up in craft stores. Despite what the calendar says, it's time to start thinking about all things fall! 

So as you sip your pumpkin-flavored drink and and start stocking up on trick-or-treat candy(!), keep an eye out for these fun Halloween prints from our Trick or Treat collection. They're perfect for a trick-or-treat bag, wall hanging or table runner! What would you use them for?

See the entire Trick or Treat collection here and ask for these prints at your local quilt shop.