Bridal bounty

By Spotlight

Make & fill this bag with fun & functional items to help the bride’s special day run more smoothly. It’s a great Hens Night gift.

Final Result

Materials

• 80cm x 112cm dress satin - hot pink
• 1.4m marabou - pink with silver tinsel
• iron on rhinestone letters - B, R, I, D, E
• 2m silver cord
• sewing thread to match satin
• sewing machine
• scissors
• tape measure
• pins
• hand needle
• safety pin

Step 1

Cut
From dress satin, cut the following: four pieces 35cm wide x 40cm high and two 22cm diameter circles.

Step 2

Bag
On the right side of one 35cm x 40cm piece of satin, apply iron-on rhinestone letters (as per manufacturer’s instructions), in the centre of the fabric, 10cm up from bottom raw edge. Pin another piece of satin on top of this embellished piece, with right sides together.

Starting from the bottom edge, sew both side seams with a 1.5cm seam allowance up to a height of 25cm. Leave a 1.5cm gap, then continue the seam up to top edge of fabric. Press seams open.

With right sides together, and using a 1.5cm seam allowance, sew one of the satin circles to the bottom raw edge of the bag, adjust to fit. Clip seams and press open.

Press under 2cm along the top raw edge of bag. Turn right side out.

Step 3

Lining
Pin the remaining two 35cm x 40cm pieces of satin, right sides together and sew side seams with a 1.5cm seam allowance.

Sew the remaining circle to the bottom raw edges of bag lining using a 1.5cm seam allowance, adjust to fit. Clip seams and press open. Press under 2cm along the top raw edge of bag lining.

Step 4

Casing
Place lining inside bag and pin top edges together. Topstitch around top of bag 3mm in from edge.

To make casing for cord, measure 23.5cm up from the bottom of bag along both sides, to the opening in side seams. Mark then sew first row of stitching around the bag at this measurement. Sew a second row of stitching 2cm up from the first row.

Step 5

Cord
Cut the silver cord into 2 x 1m lengths. Tie a knot in one end of each cord. Place a safety pin through the knot in one cord and thread into opening on one side of the casing. Feed the cord around the bag and back out the opening on the same side. Tie the two ends of this cord together, and trim if necessary.

Repeat with the other cord, threading it through the opening on the opposite side of the casing.

Step 6

Trim
Cut marabou into two equal lengths. Hand sew one length to the top edge of bag and the other length over the bottom seam line where the sides of bag are joined to base.

Now have fun filling the bag with useful and inspirational treats such as a bottle of water, headache tablets, breath mints, emergency sewing kit, tissues & wet wipes, safety pins, toothbrush & toothpaste, bobby pins, clear nail polish, a spare pair of pantyhose and a photo of the happy couple.

Note

Did you know?
The concept of the Hens Night comes from the bachelor party where, traditionally, the bridegroom hosted a dinner for his friends. These days it’s members of the wedding party who organise these affairs. In Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the UK, the term ‘Hens Night’ is used but in the USA this shindig is normally referred to as a ‘bachelorette’ party. In Canada the term is ‘stagette’.