Crafts : Children / Infants : Watermelon Baby Bag : Home & Garden Television

This eggplant-shaped baby bunting bag is made using the oval pattern and purple, cotton velvet. It's lined in light beige fabric.

Rubber stamp designer and owner of Museum of Modern Rubber Jane Beard developed this design more than a decade ago for her niece. Over the years, she's made about 20 of them.

Materials:

Museum of Modern Rubber Baby Bag Kit - Watermelon (includes pattern, rubber stamp for the seed and instructions)
3/4 yards solid red quilting cotton (all yardage based on 45-inch wide fabric)
3/4 yards solid green quilting cotton
3/4 yards contrast print green quilting cotton
1-1/2 yards lightweight, fusible quilt batting
black thread
red thread
two large spools green thread
tailors' chalk
pins
hand sewing needle
scissors
sewing machine - straight stitch and zigzag

Steps:

Pre-wash fabric.

Figure A

Figure B

Following the Museum of Modern Rubber pattern instructions, cut six oval pieces of fabric (two of each color). The oval measures 18" x 24" (figure A). Cut four pieces of batting to match the size and shape of the fabric ovals (figure B). Clearly mark center notches on each piece.

Figure C

Figure D

Use chalk to mark the position of the seeds onto the two red pieces of fabric. Stamp the seeds (figure C), darken with a brush (figure D) and let dry. Cover your ironing board with plain paper and iron on the reverse side (cotton setting) to heat set. Set aside.

Figure E

Transfer the wavy lines from the pattern to the two pieces of solid green fabric (figure E).

Baste the solid green pieces over the contrasting green pieces with a piece of batting underneath. Use green thread to straight-stitch along the chalk lines.

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

Carefully trim away every other "stripe" close to the stitching (figure F) exposing lines of the green print underneath (figure G). Use a tight zigzag to satin stitch over the raw edges of fabric (figure H), making sure to cover the cut edges as you sew.

Baste a piece of batting to the back red fabric pieces.

Figure I

Using black thread, hand-stitch (quilt stitch) around each of the seeds (figure I). Pull the thread gently while stitching to give the seeds a little dimension.

Figure J

Figure K

Place one green and one red piece right sides together (figure J). Pin around the outer edges. Stitch around the upper half (the side with seeds). Fold the unstitched green fabric back on itself (figure K). Set aside.

Repeat the above step for the second red and green pieces. Trim excess fabric from seams if needed, turn to the right side and press the sewn edge.

Figure L

Figure M

Figure N

Place the two green pieces right sides together, folding up the lower half of the red layers so they are out of your way, then pin in place (figure L and M) and centering the ovals (figure N).

Figure O

Stitch around the lower half of the green layer (figure O). Trim excess fabric if needed.

Figure P

Figure Q

Figure R

Turn the entire bag inside out so the two unstitched red pieces are facing each other and the batting is exposed. Stitch around the outer edge of the red layers (figure P), leaving about an eight inches open at the bottom for turning (figure Q ). the bag right side out (figure R).

Figure S

Pull the bottom half of the red lining out. Tuck under the seam allowance on the opening (figure S), and stitch near the edge to close the bag's bottom. Push the red lining back inside.

Figure T

There may be small openings showing at the center of each side seam. If so, hand-stitch these closed (figure T).

Figure U

Fold back the top flap to accommodate baby (figure U).

Resources
watermelon baby bag kit - Museum of Modern Rubber
Sweet Stampen
Website: www.sweetstampen.com/products.php?x=1&cat=47&pg=2
Also in this Episode

Carol Duvall Show : Episode CDS-807
•	Watermelon Baby Bag
•	Candy Blowing
•	Rose Wedding Decor

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