Today we’re kicking off National Craft Month with our first free project. Let the spirit tempt you to try new techniques and mediums. For fresh ideas be sure to visit us here throughout March and stoke your creative juices.

Bring on the Monkey Around lunch bag! Creative Troupe member Sherry Payne took on our Insul-Fleece™ challenge and produced this adorable lunch bag. When you aren’t using it for lunch it could certainly serve as a hip handbag. Ok, now that you have the instructions and the link to Insul-fleece, now find your fabric and go bananas!

Monkey Around Insulated Lunch Bag Project

Designed by Sherry Payne

Materials:

• ½ yd 2 different fabrics of choice
• ½ yd Insul-Fleece™ insulated interfacing (Batting)
• 1 spool coordinating thread
• Coordinating embellishments (embroidery floss, paint, markers, etc)
• Pattern- click here for the pdf

Tools

• Straight pins
• Marker or fabric pen
• Scissors, rotary cutter or pinking shears
• Sewing machine

Instructions:

1. Place fabric right sides together, trace and cut out pattern for both fabrics (4 pieces total 2 will be opposite).
2. Place pattern onto Insul-Fleece trace and cut 2 pieces.
3. Pin Insul-Fleece to both back sides of fabric #1.
4. Stitch around perimeter of fabric and batting to hold in place.
5. Embellish fabric #1 and fabric #2 as you wish.
6. Place right sides of both fabrics together and pin in place.
7. Sew around perimeter of fabric leaving a space on bottom to flip right side out.
8. Flip bag right side out, baste along opening.
9. Pin and sew same sides of bag together with decorative stitching stopping before handles.
10. Pin in overlapping fashion and sew tops of straps together.

Now your bag is washable, reversible and insulated.

Related posts:

1. Free project—insulated hanging tote
2. Meet the Insul-Fleece Craft Pack and make a Christmas casserole carrier
3. iPad sleeve Timtex™ Craft Pack project
4. Wednesday Night Live – replay!
5. Soft tile trivets inspired by Tile Quilt Revival