Sew Very Christmas Dress: Lavender bag tutorial

Here's a tutorial using the Christmas Dress from our  Sew Very Christmas pattern set to make a lavender bag dress hanger to hang in your wardrobe.

To make one lavender bag, you will need:

• Sew Very Christmas pattern set
• Free hanger template download here
• Fat eight lightweight linen (Robert Kaufman Essex linen blend is ideal
• Small scraps floral fabric
• 6" square backing fabric
• Lace trims, 6" lengths
• Hanging Ribbon, 10"
• Six strand embroidery floss in grey
• Perle cotton thread
• Embroidery needle
• Dried Lavender
• Button for decoration 

Finished size 4 ¼" x 5" (not including lace trim)
Seam allowances are ¼" throughout

1. Print the dress pattern at 75%.   This will make a 4.5" block rather than a 6" block   I find it easier to use the square pattern on page 9.  I also added on ½" at the top of the pattern to create extra room to add the hanger embroidery.   Cut your pattern along the section lines.  Print the template pattern.  Cut out.

2. Foundation paper piece your dress block following the pattern directions.  Leave large seam allowances around the outer edge.  Remove paper but do not trim your block.  Place the hanger template over the dress and using a pencil, lightly trace around it on to the background fabric only.  At the top of the hanger shape, lightly drawn in a question mark ? shape without the dot.

3.  Using three strand of floss and starting at the left armhole of the dress, stem stitch or back stitch following the pencil line to create the hanger.  When you come to the dress section, run your thread underneath catching it in the seams on the reverse side of the block.

4.  Trim and square your block keeping the dress and hanger central.  You will need at least ⅜"" above the top of the hanger to provide ¼" seam allowance.   The finished size will vary according to how much you allow but mine came out 5" wide  x 5 ½" long.  Place on top of your backing fabric, right sides together and use it as a template to cut out  the same size backing fabric.

5. Fold the hanging ribbon in half and place the raw ends at the centre top of the lavender bag front with the loop hanging down.  Baste in place inside the seam allowance. Place lace along bottom edge of the lavender bag front and cut to the same size.  Turn ¼" seam allowance at the side edges of the lace.  I double turned these edges using the ¼" seam allowance.   Place the lace right sides together with lavender bag front and with the scalloped edge facing upwards and stitch along the bottom using ¼" seam.

6.  Press lace downwards creating a hem  along the lower edge of the lavender bag front If you wish to add another narrower piece of trim on top of the lace, cut the length and finish the edges as in step 5 and sew on top of the  lower edge hem. 

7. On the bottom edge of the backing fabric, press and turn ¼" hem along the bottom edge.  Place lavender bag front and backing fabric right sides together, pin side and top edges and sew together using ¼" seam- check hanging loop is hanging down freely and not catching anywhere!  Turn  bag through bottom opening and press.

8.  Hand sew a running stitch around side and top edges of the bag using perle cotton.  Do not sew along the bottom opening.

9. Lightly fill the lavender bag with dried lavender and slip stitch the opening closed on the backing side.   Sew a button to the bottom of the hanging loop.  Your lavender bag is complete!

Let us know if you make a hanging dress lavender bag- tag us on Instagram, @sewichigo and use the hashtag #sewichigo, we're also on Facebook  and Twitter or send us an email, we'd love to see!