How to Make a Ladybug Bag

Make this cute ladybug bag for your little girl to carry her treasures to church, shopping with mom or on a play date. This bag will also make a sweet gift bag for a special gift. It is constructed of craft felt squares and is easily sewn with the seams exposed. Appliquéd ladybug spots are sewn using a simple straight stitch and your sewing machine. This ladybug bag is a quick craft that can be sewn in an hour.

Things You'll Need

• 2 yellow/gold felt craft squares
• 2 red felt craft squares
• Black felt craft square
• Notebook paper
• Ruler
• Compass
• Quarter
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Black thread
• Sewing machine
• 1 yard 5/8-inch wide black grosgrain ribbon
• 1 black chenille stem
• Straight pins

Instructions

1. Draw a rectangle on notebook paper 6 inches wide by 8 inches long. Round the corners to create a fat oval and cut out. This is your bag pattern and your basic ladybug shape. The top and bottom of the ladybug are the shorter sides. Pin the pattern to 2 layers of yellow/gold felt and cut out. These pieces are the underlining of the bag. Pin the pattern to 2 layers of red felt and cut out. These pieces are the outside body of the ladybug bag.

2. Draw a 2-inch equilateral triangle on notebook paper and cut out. Pin this pattern to the bottom center of 1 red oval and cut out. This is the notch for your ladybug wings. Use a quarter to trace a circle pattern on notebook paper for the ladybug spots. Use the circle pattern to cut out 6 circles from the black felt. Use a compass to draw a 2-inch circle on notebook paper and cut out. This is your ladybug head pattern. Cut 1 head from the black felt.

3. Space 6 spots on the notched red felt ladybug body. Place them so that there are 3 on one side of the center that mirrors 3 on the other side. Pin each spot to hold. Top stitch the spots 1/4 inch from their edge using black thread. Cut 2 pieces of black pipe cleaner 4 inches long. Wrap one end of each around a pencil, 1 time, to create a circle. Fold the ladybug head circle in half and pin. Place the circle ends of the pipe cleaners into the folded felt of the ladybug head 1/2 inch apart and at the top of the arch and pin. Top stitch 1/4 inch from the edge along the arch. Wrap the ends of the pipe cleaners around a pencil several times to create a curl on the exposed antennas.

4. Fold a length of the spotted ladybug body in half to find the center. Place a pin in the top center of the body and unfold. Slip the flat edge of the head under the marked edge at the top of the ladybug body and pin to hold. Lay a yellow/gold underlining on your table. Place the spotted body piece on top. Match the edges and pin. Top stitch around the oval shape, sandwiching the head in between. Top stitch a black line down the middle of the red body and along the notched triangle sides. Layer the remaining yellow/gold felt and the red felt side and top stitch the edges together.

5. Place the front of the ladybug bag and the back of the bag together, matching the edges with the red sides out and pin. Cut a 14-inch piece of 5/8-inch wide black grosgrain ribbon. Pin the ends of the ribbon in between the top sides of the bag. Since the bag is oval, you will need to determine the top of the bag sides. Starting at the pinned ribbon on one side of the bag, zigzag stitch over the previous top stitching, down and around the bag, ending by connecting the other side of the ribbon handle. Leave the top of the bag open.

References

• Cyndee Kromminga, Craft and Interior Designer; Kro Crafts; Winfield, Kansas