Hanging out in style

Practical and charming, these peg bags make a wonderful gift.


Measurements: 34 x 32cm

Gather your supplies
Baby-sized (31cm) wooden coathanger with screw-in hook (or cut a larger hanger to size)
0.6m x 712cm-wide cotton print (without obvious one way pattern)
12 x 35cm rectangle of plain fabric, such as linen
Approximately 51 x 8mm buttons
2 x 15mm buttons
Sewing thread; contrast thread, for sewing buttons; pins

Here's how
Step 1
Form the word PEGS in burtons in centre of plain fabric rectangle. Stitch buttons in place using contrast coloured thread. Set aside. {This is section C).

Step 2
From cotton print, cut one 17 x 35cm rectangle 1 A), one 57 x 35cm rectangle (B), and one 44 x 35cm rectangle (D).

Step 3
Press under Icrn. then another 3cm on one 35cm edge of rectangles A and D. Stitch hems in place. Mark and stitch two evenly-spaced 2cm horizontal buttonholes in the hem of rectangle A.

Step 4
Place rectangles A and B right sides together, raw edges matching. Remove hook from hanger and place hanger along top edge of fabric rectangles, with the highest point of hanger 1cm below raw edge. Trace around top curve of hanger. Pin, then stitch rectangles together along traced line, leaving a 5mm gap in the centre to allow for insertion of hook. Trim excess fabric to 1cm and clip curves, but do not turn right side out yet.

Step 5
With right sides together and allowing a 1 cm seam, stitch top 35cm edge of section C (linen rectangle)
to remaining 35cm edge of B. Stitch lower edge of C to remaining raw edge of D.

Step 6
Bringing wrong sides together, fold fabric Strip you have created along seam line between C and B and press. Now, with the word PEGS face down, measure 23cm up from pressed fold on each side. Fold up bag front along this line (bottom fold line) and press. The word PEGS is now facing you Bring the back flap D around from the back and, bringing right sides together, fold it along the bottom fold line over the front of the bag. The hemmed edge should overlap the hemmed edge of section A. (If it doesn't, adjust and re-press your bottom fold line until the herns overlap exactly. l You should have two folds of fabric at the bottom. Pin the raw edges together on each side through all 4 layers.

Step 7
Stitch the sides as pinned, allowing 1cm seams. Trim corners, then turn the bag right side out and press. Sew two buttons to hem D to correspond with buttonholes in hem A. Insert hanger into curved top, screw in the hook, and button up the flap.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens August 2003