Level: Beginner - Intermediate
Time: 2 hours

As Seen on Quilt Central TV

Pick a theme, and let your imagination run wild for the favorite person in your life! Here's a chance to use up your scraps of Ultrasuede, and have fun with decorative stitches. The washable gift bag can be used after the gift-giving for anything and everything. A great gift duo for any age!

• Any Janome Sewing Machine (with Decorative Stitches)
• Ultraglide foot or Roller foot
• Topstitch needle Size 14

Fabric and Notions Required

• Watch
• Assorted scraps of Ultrasuede
  • For watchband - 2 strips 7" to 8" long times the width of the watchband
  • For bag - seven 1" x 10" strips (assorted colors) and one 3" square for bag bottom
• Lightweight tear-a-way stabilizer
  • One piece 8" x 11" for bag
  • Two strips slightly larger than the watchband x 9"
• Paper backed fusible web for watchband
• Temporary spray adhesive
• Monofilament thread (to attach Velcro_ to watchband)
• 60 wt Bobbin thread for watchband only
• 3/4 yd. Decorative cord for bag closure
• 1 inch of 3/4" Velcro_ in a color to coordinate with watchband
• Robison-Anton Polyester thread - assorted colors to coordinate with Ultrasuede
• All-purpose sewing thread
• Chalk marker or water soluble pen
• Permanent marker
• Rotary cutter, clear ruler and cutting mat

Hint: It is recommended to use a rotary cutter and clear ruler for the most accurate results when cutting Ultrasuede.

Watchband

1. Measure the width of the original band (where it connects to the watch) to determine the width of Ultrsuede you will need to cut.
   Note: A larger watch gives you more decorative stitch possibilities.
2. Press a piece of paper backed fusible web to the wrong side of the watchband fabric, using a medium-low iron setting and pressing cloth.
3. Cut two 7" to 8" strips, with straight of grain (non-stretch) going the length of the band. Cut the width of the strips determined in step 1. Remove the paper-backing from the fusible web.
4. Spray the back side of both 7"-8" strips with temporary spray adhesive (over the fusible web) and temporarily stick these to a piece of lightweight tear-a-way stabilizer. Using a chalk marker or water soluble pen, mark each band at the half-way point.
   
   
   Note: Decorative stitches will be sewn on one half of the length of band only. The remaining half will be threaded through the watch and will serve as a facing to the back side of the watchband.
5. Attach either the Ultraguide foot or Roller foot to your machine. Thread a size 14 topstitch needle with the Robison-Anton Polyester thread color of your choice. Place bobbin weight thread in bobbin.
6. Stitch one half of band length only using decorative stitches of your choice. Be sure to start and stop stitching by using a locking stitch to secure.
7. After stitching, peel bands away from stabilizer and remove any excess bits of stabilizer to expose fusible web on back of band. Slide un-stitched half of band through watch with stitched side up, and the ends and sides aligned.
8. Press folded band together with iron and pressing cloth. Let cool and make sure pieces are secure. Repeat pressing if necessary. Repeat process for the opposite side of the watchband.
9. Check length of band and cut to approximate size of wearer's wrist, adding enough for approximately 1 1/4" overlap to attach Velcro_.
10. Cut Velcro_ to 1" length. Round corners slightly.
11. Place monofilament thread in the needle. Straight stitch the Velcro_ to opposite sides of band, making sure one side is attached to top of band and one side is attached to back side of band. Velcro_ should be close to the short edge of band.

Gift Bag

1. Cut several 1" wide strips. These will be cut in assorted lengths needed to fill a 7" x 10" gridded piece of lightweight tear-away-stabilizer. For bag bottom, cut one 3" circle (a glass or coaster works well as a template).
2. Using a permanent marker, mark a grid on the 8" x 11" lightweight tear-a-way stabilizer according to the chart below. Leave a 1/2" border of unmarked stabilizer around the edges.
3. Spray the grid area of stabilizer with temporary spray adhesive.
   Note: If desired, decorative stitches can be sewn on Ultrasuede before the next step.
4. Taking 1" wide pieces of Ultrasuede, fill the grid with varying lengths of strips (logs), staggering cut edges in a random pattern, making sure edges are tight and square to each other.
   
5. Place chosen Robison-Anton Polyester thread in both needle and bobbin. Attach either the Ultraglide foot or Roller foot. Select a decorative stitch that will swing to both the left and right side when sewing. If necessary, adjust stitch width and length so that stitches are bridging both sides and stitch length is short enough to keep both sides of the Ultrasuede strips together.
6. Sew on all "log" intersections, so that you create one joined piece of fabric. Do not sew down outside perimeter of rectangle.
7. Carefully remove the stabilizer, gently pulling it away from the stitching.
8. Trim stitched fabric to 7" x 10".
9. Place all purpose sewing thread in the needle and bobbin. Select a straight stitch. To create the bag, sew the bottom seam first, joining the long side of the rectangle to the circle. To do this, place a "starting pin" 1/2" in from the short edge of the rectangle. Place the long edge of the rectangle to the circle, right sides together.
   
10. Start sewing at this point, using a scant 1/4" seam allowance. Sew slowly, keeping edges of circle and rectangle aligned to each other. It will be necessary to stop (with the needle in the down position) every five stitches or so, raise the presser foot and re-adjust the rectangle, keeping edges even as you sew around the circle. Sew around the circle, stopping 1/2" from your starting point.
11. Check to see if long edge needs to be trimmed. You should have enough fabric for a 3" to 3 1/4" circumference circle. Allow for a 1/4" seam on both sides of the final vertical seam that encloses the bag. Sew the vertical side seam, then trim off excess fabric, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance.
12. Next, finish sewing the bottom edge of the circle. You should now have a cylinder.
    
    
13. Fold down the top edge of bag 1/2 width of top "log" to the inside. Stitch in the ditch between the logs, catching raw edge of folded edge.
14. To create the drawstring "casing", cut small slits 1/2" apart and 1/8" in length approximately 1 3/4" down from the top folded edge of the bag. Avoid cutting through stitched seams, adjusting slits as necessary.
15. Thread the cord back and forth through slits.