Women's Seafarers Friend Society

Make a Ditty Bag

NOTE: - Finished bag should measure approximately 16 inches long x 11 and one-half inches wide.

In this bag WSFS will place a T-shirt, knitted cap, mending kit, devotional material, candy, pen, calendar book and other "treats". (Packing Day is customarily held on the first Monday in December. Many volunteers are needed.)

HELPFUL HINT: - Prepare a 12"x18" heavy cardboard pattern. Write various sewing instruction markings on the board for your reference. Please see the drawing below.

MATERIALS:

-DRAWSTRINGS- A pair of 30-inch shoelaces or two 30-inch lengths of suitable drawstring yarn or cord, which slides smoothly, and will not unravel easily. Cording or yarn for Plastic Canvas works well.

CAUTION: Please do NOT use "knotty" yarns.

Please do NOT tie shorter shoelaces together, which result in knots in the middle of the casing, making use of the drawstring impossible.

(NOTE: Another way to do the drawstring, IF THE CASING IS AS WIDE AS IT SHOULD BE, is to pull both drawstrings through at the same time, knot the correct ends together and pull one knot to the other side. Sounds difficult but it isn't. However you do it, please test the open and close actions several times.)

-FABRIC- Fabric should be cut with pinking shears to prevent raveling of seams and edges, or all edges may be 'serged', if you have a serger machine. You will need two pieces of washable sturdy colorful cloth cut 12"x18" OR length as follows. A YARD of 36" wide fabric will make three (12"x36") bags; a YARD of 45" wide fabric will make four bags (11.25"x36"); and 60" wide fabric will make five (12"x36") bags. (By changing the drawstring after each '4-alike' bags will make that group different from others of the same design.)

SEWING INSTRUCTIONS:

Place the right sides of material together to make a 12"x18" rectangle. Stitch .25" seam on the 18-inch sides for 14 inches, leaving 4 inches to top.**

Stitch fully across bottom if two pieces of fabric are used. Finger press the .25" seam open flat for FOUR inches from the top of both side seams. Fold top down 2 inches and press. Be SURE seam excess lies flat. IF you have not used pinking shears, please turn raw edge under .25" and stitch hem. Place another row of stitching at least 1-inch above the opening to make a 1-inch casing for drawstring.

This makes a header of either.5 or .75 inch above the drawstring. Turn bag right side out. Insert 1 shoelace in one seam opening and bring it completely around inside the casing to exit at the same spot. Knot ends together. Repeat with second shoelace in the other seam opening. Laces should OPEN and CLOSE easily.

Your DITTY BAG efforts are greatly appreciated by the WSFS and especially by the SEAFARERS.

**(NOTE: If you are an experienced seamstress you may stitch about 14.5 inches, leave opening of 1 inch for casing, then sew last 1.5 inches together to the top, then proceed with drawstring casing.