On Georgia’s book list this year is a recorder. She has been using one of monte’s old recorders that he used as a child. She loves this fact and is proud of using something linked to her father’s past. However, the other children’s recorders came with a little bag, and she did want one – so I made her one out of some of her favourite fabrics (all from Spotlight).

What follows is a photo story of how I made it. For some reason I felt compelled to document this on photos because I made it up as I went along.

1:: I cut rectangles of fabric to measure a total of 7″x18″ and a smaller one measuring 2″x6.5″. I also cut a lining fabric 7″x18″.

2:: I made the ribbon channel by pressing the two short ends in by 1cm*. Then I ironed it in half and pressed the long edges into the centre crease. Then I pressed it flat, leaving the raw edges of the long sides tucked under.

*its never a good idea to fluctuate between imperial and metric measurements, but I do it all the time anyway.

3:: I joined my strips together and pressed the seams flat (in quilting you really should press the seam allowances to one side).

4:: I sewed the two large rectangles – outer bag and the lining – together at the bottom and side seams. Trim the seam allowances if necessary. I pressed the seams flat and used a knitting needle to poke the corners so they were nice and square.

5:: this is where it gets fiddly. I pinned to channel strip onto the top edge of the outer bag. I made small whip stitches to attach the channel to the outer bag.

Don’t baulk at the hand stitching. I took mine outside and listened to music for 15 minutes while I did this part. It also gave me a chance to see the pretty clouds:

6:: Turn the top edges of the two bags in by 1cm and press. Attach the outer bag and lining together by putting the lining inside the bag, so wrong sides are facing. Make small whip stitches to attach the two bags.

7:: finish the bag by ironing it nice and flat and threading a safety pin onto a ribbon and threading a ribbon through the channel.

I had this on Georgia’s bed when she came home from school – she was delighted with it.