A cute little Monster Coloring Bag.

Sometimes I can talk my girls in to hanging out with me in the sewing room.  It was Chelsea's day off today... 

Supplies / Cut List:

13" x 20" rectangle for bag

2  -  2-1/2" x 16" strips for handles

9" x 12" piece of craft felt

scraps / buttons for eyes

1 box of 8 to 10 jumbo crayons

1)  PRESS 13" x 20" rectangle in half

2)  CUT an 8-1/2" square from the felt piece.  Free-form cut it to the monster shape desired.  We included a couple of ears and rounded the sides.   Or use this PATTERN.  Keep the bottom straight. With the long edge of the 13" x 20" rectangle up, center the monster's head in position on one half of the rectangle and about 2" from the top edge.

3)  STITCH all around the edges using either a straight stitch or blanket stitch.

4)  CUT a 3-1/2" x 8-1/2" rectangle from the felt.   MARK the center, then MARK at 1" increments from the center.  We used a FRIXION pen (marks disappear when ironed).

5)  Round off the bottom corners, then PIN in place, overlapping about 1".  STITCH the outside edges, through all layers, back-stitching at the top of the pocket, leaving the top edge free.

 6)  STITCH along the marked lines, backstitching at beginnings and endings.  This forms the crayon pockets.  PRESS to remove marking lines.

7)  Add felt/buttons for Monster's eyes, a little offset for personality... We used a zig-zag stitch on the machine to sew the buttons in place.

8)  On the top long edge of the rectangle,  PRESS under 1/4", then PRESS again, at about 1/2". 

9)  FOLD the bag in half, right sides together, leaving 1/4" folded at the top. PIN and STITCH raw edges along the side and bottom of the bag.  Zig-Zag or serge raw edges for a clean finish.  Chelsea likes sewing on one of our old beater sewing machines.

(Optional)  BOX the bottom edges of the bag, if desired.  We measured down 1/2" from the tip.

10)  PRESS handle strips in half lengthwise.  Fold raw edges to align with the center pressed line, then PRESS again.  FOLD in half and EDGE-STITCH to create bag handles.

 11)  FOLD top edge of bag down 1/2" (pressed line).  Slide handle pieces inside top edge and PIN at about 2" from the outside edges of the bag.

12)  EDGE-STITCH along the hem, stitching over the bag handles.  Then, flip the handles to the top and EDGE-STITCH all around the top edge, stitching through the bag handles to keep them in place.

Fill your fancy little monster with crayon "TEETH", and fill the bag with coloring books.  Ready for babysitting, or little-kid visitors.  Nice work, Chels!  Cute bag--cute girl.

Thanks for hanging out today!

p.s.  Linky party over at Sew Many Ways.