Fleece Pumpkin Tote

Materials:

orange fleece
printed flannel
scraps of printed flannel
cotton batting
back wool felt
Therm O Web Heat’n’Bond iron-on adhesive
Beacon's Fabri-Tac
Sizzix die cuts: petals/leaves, large leaf #1, diamond #1, bat, ghost, upper and lower case fun serif alphabet sets
Sizzix die-cut machine
extra large gold eyelets
grommet tool
hammer
pinking shears
sewing machine
pumpkin pattern of choice

1. Enlarge pumpkin pattern to desired size. Cut two pumpkin patterns from orange fleece and two from print flannel for lining (figure A).

2. Cut one 23" x 1-1/2" orange fleece strip. Rip two 36" x 1-1/2" strips from print flannel.

3. Face right sides of orange fleece pumpkins together and pin. Stitch a 1/4-inch seam around the sides and bottom (figure B). Turn right side out.

4. Face right sides of printed flannel together pin and sew 1/4 inch around sides and bottom (figure C).

5. Slip flannel lining into sewn fleece (figure D) and top stitch 1/2 inch from edge all around the bag opening.

6. Trim around the edge with pinking shears (figure E).

7. Open the seam 1/2 inch down for top edge of bag and attach an extra large eyelet according to manufacturer's directions. Repeat on the other side (figure F).

8. Braid together the strips of fleece and flannel; push through eyelet and tie knot (figure G).

9. Heat set the black wool felt with Heat 'n' Bond. Cut out mouth (figure H). Die cut diamond shape and make the eyes and nose.

10. Heat set the pieces of the flannel with Heat 'n' Bond to the cotton flannel. Turn over the cotton batting and heat set another piece of flannel to that side (figure I). Think of it as making a flannel sandwich with the cotton batting as the meat.

11. Die cut leaves, bats, ghosts and any other shape you desire (figure J).

12. Heat set the black wool felt with Heat 'n' Bond. Die cut out desired letters. Heat set the letters on leaves or ghosts. Heat set face (figure K).

13. Arrange fall leaves and other shapes to bag and glue with Faric-Tac (figure L).

For high fashion, make a pumpkin purse--or reduce the pattern for a stylish cell phone case.