Make a Tote Bag

1. Cut out a 28cm x 103cm rectangle of white cotton fabric. Fold in half, to create a 28cm x 51.5cm rectangle, and pin together. Work a straight machine stitch along the long edges, using a 1.5cm seam allowance. Finally sew along the short edge, leaving a 6cm gap in the middle.

2. Turn the work right sides outwards through the gap in the stitching, and slip stitch the opening closed by hand. Fold this shape in half again to form a bag and sew along each of the long sides. Cut another rectangle of white cotton fabric measuring 7cm x 50cm, and fold in half, to create a 7cm x 25cm rectangle (this will become a strap). Pin together.

3. With a straight machine stitch sew along the two long edges and one short edge of the shape, leaving a 1.5cm seam allowance. Turn the strap right sides outwards through the remaining open edge and slip stitch the opening closed by hand.

4. Repeat steps 2-3 to create the second handle. Hand stitch the handles into position on the top edge of the bag using white thread.

5. Add an appliqué detail. Locate the sewing machine templates within the Sew Pull-Out Workbook, and cut them out. Draw around them onto pieces of printed cotton, and apply fusible webbing to the back of each piece. Cut out each shape carefully.

6. Position the shapes onto the front of the assembled tote bag, and peel away the backing from the webbing. Iron into position to secure. Trace the text design with tailor’s chalk and embroider the design using two shades of pink thread and a simple running stitch. Add buttons for decorations.

Create a Needlecase

1. Take a rectangle of patterned fabric and a rectangle of plain cotton fabric, each measuring 13.5cm x 18cm, and place them right sides together. Layer them on top of a 13.5cm x 18cm piece of toy stuffing, and pin together.

2. Locate the needlecase template in the Sew Pull-Out Workbook and cut it out. Use it to draw the shape onto a piece of fabric and cut it out. Sew together along the outline with a straight machine stitch, leaving a 4cm gap unstitched. Turn right sides outwards through the gap and slip stitch the opening closed by hand.

3. Create a page insert. Take a piece of felt and, using the relevant template from the Sew Pull-Out Workbook, draw and cut out the page insert shape. Hand stitch the insert into place inside the case using a simple running stitch and contrasting-coloured cotton.

4. Decorate the case. Sew a button to the front edge. Take a length of ribbon long enough to loop around the button and hand stitch the ends to the opposite side of the sewing case, folding the raw edges under as you go to neaten.

Finish with a Cupcake Pincushion

1. Locate the cupcake templates provided within the Sew Pull-Out Workbook and cut them out. Lay out two 12cm squares of white cotton fabric and pin them right sides together before drawing around the ‘icing’ template and marking the centre with a water soluble pen.

2. Hand sew along the scalloped line of the motif with a small running stitch, taking care to work all the way into each of the points, leave a 3cm gap unstitched for turning through. Carefully cut around the scalloped edge, leaving a 3mm border between the stitching and the edge.

3. Turn the frosting shape through and press, before using tailor’s chalk to transfer the text motif, ensuring that the centre of the template lines up with the centre of the fabric shape. Using pink embroidery thread, work a simple running stitch over the transferred text.

4. Lightly pad the frosting by inserting toy stuffing through the gap in the seam. Slip stitch the unsewn section closed by hand. Use the rest of the templates to cut out the side and bottom pieces of the cupcake.

5. Bring the two short edges of the side section together, with right sides facing, and sew along the edge using a straight machine stitch leaving a 1.5cm seam allowance. Pin the base into position along the bottom edge of the side piece and stitch into place. Turn right side out.

6. Fill the cupcake base with toy stuffing and carefully pin the underside of the icing to the top edge of the cupcake side piece, folding the fabric inwards as you go to conceal any raw edges. Hand sew the two parts together carefully, taking care to hide the stitches where possible.

7. Cut a 5cm circle of cerise felt and stitch a line of running stitches 5mm from the edge. Do not tie them off, but instead leave them unfinished. Place a ball of toy stuffing the size of a walnut into the centre of the felt, and draw the edges together by pulling the thread. Knot the two ends of the thread together tightly to secure. Push the raw edges of the felt circle inside the ball and then hand sew to the centre of the cupcake to finish.