The Rainbow 'Stache Bag Tutorial

With St. Patrick's Day being so close to Easter this year (and me having limited time for holiday crafts), I've been working on projects with double-duty themes.  Today's tutorial has some moustache whimsy AND a splash of leprechaun luck: The Rainbow 'Stache Bag.



A roomy, deep tote to haul books, craft supplies, your stash or 'stache-related items, a giant leprechaun costume, whatever floats your boat. And it shows off a reverse applique (meaning it's sewn under a cut out shape instead of just stitched on top).  The rainbow is made with some bright solids, so even if you're not a moustache fan, you can rock a colorful looking applique with this how-to.

You'll Need:
- 6 strips of cotton fabric 2.5 inches wide by 5 inches high for the rainbow (I used Red, Orange, Daffodil, Lime, Royal and Grape from Timeless Treasures Soho Solids collection - they're super vibrant)
- 7/8 yd winter white cotton fabric (Milk from the same collection)
- 7/8 yd lining fabric (I went with more of the Red)
- 1yd fusible lightweight stabilizer
- Iron & ironing surface
- Paper & pencil
- Sewing Notions (shears, thread scissors, disappearing marker, pins)

Draw out a moustache on the paper that is about 4 inches high by 12 inches wide and cut out. Next take the rainbow pieces and, with right sides facing, stitch together the color strips as shown, with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Press seams to one side and then press flat on right side and set aside.

Cut a 19 1/2 inch wide by 32 inch long rectangle from the stabilizer and white & lining fabrics.  Iron the stabilizer to wrong side of the white fabric.  Center the pattern piece on one side of the white fabric and trace shape on with disappearing marker.

 

Cut a second rectangle of stabilizer that's slightly bigger than the applique window (mine was 15 inches wide by 6 inches high).  Place wrong side up over the traced moustache and stitch into place:

Cut out center of moustache and clip around the curves:

Carefully pull interfacing through to the back and press into place.

Place the "window" over the rainbow piece.  I angled mine slightly since that looked better against the curved outline.  Pin the layers together.

Topstitch along the edge of the applique window.

With right sides facing, stitch together sides of bag outer & repeat with lining.

Square off bottom corners by stitching 3 inches inward to create the bag depth:

Cut a strap piece 5 inches wide by 32 inches high from the white fabric and stabilizer.  Fuse together and then with the right sides facing stitch along one short and the entire length sides.  Turn right side out, press and topstitch.

Center and pin each end to the top sides of the bag and baste together.

With right sides facing, insert bag lining into outer bag and pin along top.  Stitch all the way around with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, leaving a 2 inch gap for turning.  Turn right side out and then top stitch along top.

Now the Rainbow 'Stache is ready to roll!

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