1 last gift bag and the beauty of the BQ3050’s help screen

Thanks for coming back to QUILTsocial as I make another quick and easy gift bag using just a few of the many techniques available on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 machine. So far this week, I’ve shown you how to use the cording bobbin cover to add decorative trim, create words to embellish fabric and using decorative stitching with bobbin work.

One of the features on this machine I’ve come to really appreciate is the easily accessible help screen. When I press the? key at the bottom of the LCD screen, this menu pops up.

Press Sewing Guide and I see this. Tap any of the words on the screen and multiple pages come up explaining each technique.

Page 2 of the Sewing Guide looks like this. Again, just tap any of the words for detailed explanations and pictures of each technique. Lots of quiltmaking tips here!

This machine is very smart! It lets me know when the bobbin is running low and then stops sewing so I need to stop and fill the bobbin.

If everything isn’t set up properly, there’s a message to tell me what I need to do. And it won’t let me sew until I do it!

I’ll finish off the week by making one more little gift bag. This one is really quick and easy!

materials

• (2) 7″ x 9″ for the outside of the bag
• (2) 7″ x 9″ for the lining
• 18″ of ¾” rick rack trim
• 40″ of ½” ribbon for ties

Casing for ties

• From scrap fabric, cut (2) 1″ x 5½”. Fold the short ends over ¼” and stitch in place.
• Fold the 2 long edges into the middle.

• Starting about 2″ down from the top of the bag, top-stitch one casing strip to the front of the bag and one to the back.

• Cut a 1″ square from the bottom of bag and lining pieces.
• With right sides together, sew 1 side seam.

• Stitch rick rack trim to the top edge.
• Cut off excess rick rack trim as needed.

• Sew the other side seam and then the bottom seam.
• Fold the bag right sides together, matching the side and bottom seams. Stitch across the opening at the bottom corners.

Lining

• Sew the side seams.
• Sew about 1½” in from each side across the bottom of the lining pieces, leaving an opening for turning the bag.
• Fold the lining, right sides together, matching the side and bottom seams. Stitch across the opening at the bottom corners.

Finishing

• With right sides together, stitch around the top to join the bag to the lining.
• Turn bag right side out through the opening in the bottom of the lining.
• Fold in the raw edges at the bottom of the lining and top-stitch the opening closed.
• Cut ribbon in half. Thread one piece through each casing. Fill the bag with treats, tie the ribbons on the sides and another gift bag is finished!

I hope you’ve enjoyed making gift bags on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 machine this week. I’m continually learning more tips and techniques on this great machine. We have to remember our machines can do so much more than straight stitching! Don’t be afraid to try all the features that are available. It’s fun to play and experiment with our machines. And if we can make some useful projects along the way, that’s even better.

Please join me again next month on QUILTsocial as I continue to learn and explore techniques on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 machine and share them with you!