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The CONNECTory www.connectory.theconnectionsnj.com Be Seen In GIFTS FOR THE BRIDE By: Carolyn Hanson Carolyn Hanson is a local knitting and crochet designer, teacher and fiber artist. She can be contacted at cchanson3@gmail.com . My son has a bride as of this spring. Wonderful memories! His bride was stunning; her dress, beautiful. Everyone so happy. Of course with such a special occasion, thoughts of something handmade were per- colating. The list of ideas included: her veil, a wrap, a purse, the garter, something blue… then finally settling on the money bag and something traditional. We’ve all heard the tradition of the bride wearing… Some Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and Something Blue as she marries. But LK told me there is another line that is often dropped and I had never heard, …And a Sixpence in her Shoe. A sixpence was traditionally a gift from the Bride’s father to the bride representing prosperity, happiness and love. I’m guessing it as dropped here in the US since a six- pence is an English coin. It’s about the size of a dime, and no longer minted. No problem. A quick internet search and I eas- ily found sixpence for sale on eBay for $1. (Bought 3 and saved on shipping.) Took less than a week to arrive. I wanted to mount the coin to a card along with the poem. I copied a shoe drawing found on the internet into MS Word, increased the drawing’s trans- parency and typed the poem over it. Added a border, sized to 4.25” x 5.5” and print- ed on 100 lb. card stock. A money bag is a simple project; a pattern is not needed. Think small pillowcase with a drawstring. [Variation: This one has a circular base. I used a small plate as a template.] Materials needed: - ½ yard of white satin - 2 yards of 1/4” satin ribbon for the drawstring - 10 yards of 1/8” satin ribbon for embellishment - White thread - Optional: Cardboard cut in a circle to fit the base of the bag Step 1: Cut fabric to 24” x 20”. Fold in half so piece measures 12” x 20” and sew a seam on the long side. Step 2: Use a 7” plate as a template, adding a 1/2” seam allowance. Cut 3. (one for base, 2 to cover cardboard) Step 3: Sew 1 circle to bottom of bag. Adjust base to fit the bag’s circumference. Step 4: Turn down top edge of bag and stitch to avoid fraying. Step 5: Make a small eyelet buttonhole by machine or by hand 6” from top edge opposite the side seam. This is for one of the openings for the drawstring. The other opening is created by opening the side seam by a few stitches. Step 6: Casing and Bag top - Turn down 3” to inside of bag. Stitch around close to finished edge and again ½” above to form a casing for the drawstring being careful to stitch just below and above the eyelet buttonhole. Step 7: Add Ribbon to casing - On right side, open side seam between stitch lines of casing for drawstring. Cut ¼” ribbon in half and feed through one of the openings all the way around the bag. Tie ends together in a same knot. Repeat starting and end- ing from the other opening. Step 8: Trim cardboard to fit bottom of bag. Cover cardboard in fabric and sew togeth- er. Place in bottom of bag. Step 9: Make 20 small bows using the 1/8” wide ribbon. [Note: I made 4 rows of 5 bows. Make a pattern you like.] Pin to the bag. Hand stitch each in place. Make something. It may someday pass down to her daughter and she’ll think of you. Ah, tradition!PAGE 86
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