Embroidered Clothespin Bag

To begin, we will fold and cut the pillowcase to size. Lay the pillowcase flat with the open end facing up. Fold the pillowcase lengthwise, aligning the bottom edge with the top edge. Turn the pillowcase around so that the top edge is facing up. With an air-erase pen (or other marking tool), mark the center top of the pillowcase by measuring and dividing by two. Then, align the center of the hanger with the mark. Next, measure out 3 inches from the ends of the hanger and mark the fabric along the top edge of the pillowcase.

Measure the distance between the marks you just made and the top corners of the pillowcase. Using that measurement, mark in from the bottom corners. Draw lines to connect the top and bottom marks. Pin the layers of the pillowcase together along the inside of the lines. Cut along the lines and be sure to cut through all of the layers.

Finger press the bottom fold so you have a clean line.

Fold back the front layer and pin the remaining layers together.

Now, we will mark the rectangular "window" which will be cut out later on. Lay the front layer flat with the right side facing up. Measure and mark down 3 inches from the top center mark.

Draw two 3 inch lines, parallel to the top edge of the fabric, out from the mark you just made. Then, draw two 4 inch lines, parallel to the side edges of the fabric, down from the ends of the line. Finally, draw a line connecting the bottom ends of the last lines you drew.

Now we will prepare the fabric for the embroidery.

Create a paper template of the designs by printing them at full size using embroidery software. If you don't have embroidery software, you can cut a piece of paper the shape and dimensions of the designs to help with placement and centering. Arrange the designs on the fabric how you want them. Be sure to keep the designs at least one inch from the edges of the window and the edges of the fabric. Also, leave at least 6 inches of space open on the bottom of the fabric - this is where the ribbon will be added later on.

After the templates have been positioned, poke a hole in the center and mark the fabric. Also, mark the horizontal and vertical axis points on each template.

Remove the templates and draw lines connecting the axis points. We will use these lines for hooping.

Spray a piece of cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric. Attach the hoop to the machine and move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design.

When the design has finished, unhoop the fabric and trim away the excess stabilizer on the back of the embroidery. Repeat the hooping and embroidering process for each design.

Now, remove the pins from the back layers of the pillowcase and align the second layer on the backside of the embroidered front layer. Pin in place along the sides of the fabric and along the outer edges of the window.

Cut out the window, through both layers of fabric.

Measure each edge of the window and cut strips of bias tape to those measurements. Wrap the bias tape around the edges of the window and pin in place. Sew a seam along the inner edges of the bias tape.

Cut four 1/2 inch strips of bias tape (in a different color if you prefer) and add them to the ends of the existing tape in the corners of the window. We added a drop of fabric glue on the fabric to hold the small pieces in place. Then, sew a seam around the edges of the tape.

To add the ribbon, cut a piece of one inch wide ribbon a bit longer than the width of the front of the fabric. Place the ribbon about 2 inches from the bottom fold and pin it in place.

Sew a vertical seam across the ribbon directly in the center

Next, we will add the inner lining piece. Lay the fabric flat with the right sides facing down. Measure the dimensions of the inside back layer (ours is 14 inches wide by 14 1/2 inches high). Add one inch to the height dimensions (our final measurement is 14 inches wide by 15 1/2 inches high). Then, cut a piece of the print cotton fabric to those dimensions. Fold the top and bottom edges of the cotton fabric over (to the wrong side) 1/2 inch and press with an iron. Align the print cotton piece with the inside of the back layer and pin in place. Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the bottom edge of the print cotton.

Align the front and back layers together, right sides facing, and pin in place. Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the side and bottom edges only, leave the top edge open.

Turn the bag right side out and press the seams. Align the hanger with the top center point and then mark the sides of the top portion of the hanger (the section that will stick out of the top of the bag). Pin the top edges of the bag in place.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the top edge of the bag starting at the outer edges and ending at the marks you just made. This leaves an opening for the top of the hanger.

Insert the hanger through the window and then through the opening on the top of the bag.

Add some clothespins to the bag and let the organization begin!