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We hope you enjoy this special Cut the Scrap project. For more projects and ideas, click here.

Bowtie Bunny Bag

Bowtie Bunny Bag
Designed by June McCrary Jacobs

Materials
3/4 yd. green wool felt fabric
Wool roving in light pink and white
Coats & Clark
  Dual Duty XP All-Purpose Thread in No. 4480 Caspian Sea
  Multicolor Machine Quilting Thread in No. 813 Over the Rainbow
  Anchor Threads embroidery floss in No. 1007 Dark Chicory and No. 390 Light Linen
Dill Buttons of America, Inc.
  Article 181093 5/16” diameter round blue buttons, two
  Article 221223 11/16” diameter round red button, one
5/8”-wide striped grosgrain ribbon in primary colors, a 10” length
Cup or curved-edge tool, embroidery needle, felting needle, iron and ironing surface, needle felting mat, non-permanent marking tool, pins, pressing cloth, rotary cutter/ruler/mat, scissors, sewing machine, sewing needle, tape measure
 
For pattern, click here. (PDF)

Instructions

Note: Unless otherwise noted, a 1/4” seam allowance has been used throughout these instructions. The barbs on the felting needle are very sharp, so please store tool in “locked” position and keep out of reach of children at all times.
  1. Cut the green wool felt into four 8” x 9” rectangles, two 4” x 27” rectangles, and one 4” x 18” rectangle.
  2. Cut the striped grosgrain ribbon into one 7-1/2” length and one 2-1/4” length.
  3. Layer the four 8” x 9” green wool rectangles and pin securely. Using cup or curved-edge tool, trace a rounded shape at two of the corners on one 8” edge. Trim off excess fabric. (Note: Rounded edges will be at bottom of bag.)
  4. Place pattern of bunny’s head in center of one green wool rectangle, about 1-1/2” from the lower edge of the felt. Trace around the pattern with non-permanent marking tool.
  5. Lay marked wool felt rectangle on felting mat. Beginning on the outer edge of the circle, place 3” – 4” lengths of white wool roving on the line and use felting needle to felt roving to green wool. Continue felting white roving in a circular fashion until entire bunny’s face is filled in. If desired, add another layer to give a textured look.
  6. Use a small amount of light pink roving in the center of each ear. Add a triangular nose of light pink roving to the center of the bunny’s face with the top of the nose placed about 2” from the upper edge of the bunny’s head.
  7. Using two strands of Caspian Sea thread, sew blue button eyes about 1-3/4” from side edges and about 1-3/8” from upper edge of bunny’s head.
  8. Using three strands of Dark Chicory embroidery floss and a stem stitch, embroider the bunny’s mouth beneath the nose.
  9. Using three strands of Light Linen embroidery floss and a running stitch, embroider four rows of “whiskers” on either side of the nose.
  10. To make the bowtie, fold the longer length of ribbon into a loop with raw edges overlapping in the back and tack at center front of loop. Wrap the shorter length in a loop around the center of that loop. Tack entire bowtie to green felt just below bunny’s head at center front of unit.
  11. Using three strands of Light Linen embroidery floss, anchor red button to center of bowtie, sewing both securely to bag front.
  12. To make the handle, fold the lengthwise edges of the 4” x 18” green felt rectangle to the inside of the strip, then fold strip in half and press. Using Over the Rainbow thread, sew around outer edges. Sew inside those two stitching lines, about 1/4” from each other.
  13. Layer the decorated b0ag front with a plain green bag shape, right sides together. Pin the two layers of the “insert” to the bags. Stitch around entire edge with Over the Rainbow thread.
  14. Repeat step 13 for the bag back.
  15. Insert about 1” of the handle between the two layers of the insert at the center point of the upper edge. Stitch around all layers of the upper edge with Over the Rainbow thread.
  16. Fill bag with books, games, toys, and treats, or use the bag for gathering eggs at the family’s annual Easter egg hunt.