The BQ3050 bobbin cover makes it easy to add decorative cording

Yesterday, using the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050, I showed you how to use some of the character stitches to make this little gift bag.

Today, I’m using the bobbin cover that lets me add some narrow cording to my project for a decorative finish.

materials

• (8) 2½” x 10″ strips of fabric for the bag. I cut strips from some precut 10″ squares from a layer cake.
• (2) 8½” x 10¾” for the lining
• (1) 16½” x 3½” in a contrasting color for the cuff at the top
• (1) 2″ x 10″ for the handle
• cord guide bobbin cover. This cover has a small hole in the top and is one of the many extras that comes with the Brother BQ3050 machine.
• 2 yd of narrow (about ⅛”) cord or ribbon. The ribbon needs to be narrow enough to feed easily through the small round opening in the cord guide bobbin cover.

Let’s start sewing!

• Sew 4 different 2½” x 10″ strips together for the front and 4 for the back.
• Press seams open.

• Remove the regular bobbin cover from the Brother BQ3050 machine.
• Thread the narrow cord through the hole in the cord guide bobbin cover as shown in the picture below.

• Because my cording was white, I chose a light-weight white thread for the machine and bobbin. The bobbin thread is the one that will show in the finished product, so you can choose a contrasting thread if you wish.
• Thread the machine and bobbin as usual.
• Snap the cord guide bobbin cover in place.

Choose a zigzag stitch and set the width to a size that will cover the cording. I could also use one of the many open decorative stitches that are available on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 machine.

Changing width and length of stitches is so easy on this machine. Once the stitch has been chosen, just tap the keys on the screen to change width and length. Again it’s a good idea to do some test samples first to make sure that the cording will slide easily through the opening in the bobbin cover and the zigzag stitch is the correct width and length for the product I’m using.

• Place pieced strips, right side down, with a seam on top of the cording.
• Stitch a zigzag or other decorative stitch. The bobbin thread will neatly cover the cording and I’ll have a nice, decorative finish over the front seam lines.
• Stitch cording over all the seams in the same way.

Finishing the bag

• Cut out a 1″ square from the bottom of all rectangles.
• With right sides together, sew the 2 side seams on both the outside and lining pieces.
• Sew across the bottom of the outside pieces.
• Sew about 1½” in from each side across the bottom of the lining pieces, leaving an opening for turning the bag.

• Fold the bag right sides together, matching the side and bottom seams.
• Stitch across the opening to make the bottom corners. Make the corners in the same way on the bag lining.

Make the top cuff

• Sew the 2 short ends of the 16½” x 3½” strip, right sides together, to make a tube.
• Fold in half lengthwise to make the cuff.

• Stitch the cuff to the outside of the bag.

• Place the bag inside the lining with right sides together.
• Stitch around the top to join the bag to the lining.
• Turn right sides 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.

Make the handle

• Fold in the 2 short ends of the 2″ x 10″ handle strip.
• Fold the long outside edges into the center.
• Fold along the center.
• Stitch along the edges to complete the handle.

Finishing

• Stitch the handle to the inside of the bag at the center front and back.
• Top stitch around the top of the bag to hold all the layers together. This is another good time to use the laser light on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 to easily topstitch along the seam line. Just line up the laser light with the seam line and then watch the laser light, not the needle, as I stitch around the top of the bag.

And now I have another gift bag all finished!

Please come back tomorrow as I explore creating bobbin work on the Brother Innov-ís BQ3050 machine!