Singer Retro Rescue Caddy by Kellie Brown

Retro Rescue Caddy

Give new life to this caddy pattern! Personalize it with some unique lettering, your favorite fabrics and appliques. 

This pattern includes optional instructions for embroidering lettering on to this project.

Shopping List

  • ¾ yard fabric for outer bag
  • ⅝ yard fabric for lining
  • ½ yard fleece or low-loft batting
  • One 12” zipper
  • All-purpose thread for construction
  • Bobbin thread
  • Assorted beads for zipper pull (optional)
  • Heavy duty thread (for sewing beads onto zipper pull)
  • Ruler
  • Hand sewing needle
Shopping List for Optional Embroidery:
  • Rayon thread for embroidery
  • Air soluble or water soluble fabric marker
  • One piece of tear-away stabilizer 18” x 12”
  • Singer Chromium Embroidery Needles (Style 2000, size 14) (if embroidering)

Fabric Preparation

  1. For optional embroidery, follow the Embroidery Fabric Preparation instructions and the At The Computer instructions before proceeding. 
  2. From outer fabric, cut one piece measuring 27” x 20”. 
  3. From the lining fabric, cut one piece measuring 13” x 18½”.
  4. From the fleece or low-loft batting, cut one piece measuring 13” x 18½”.

At the Machine

  1. Convert the Singer FUTURA™ Sewing and Embroidery Machine to regular sewing mode (for more information, see instruction manual). Thread the top of the machine as well as the bobbin with all-purpose sewing thread.
  2. Machine baste the fleece to the wrong side of the (embroidered) fabric piece ⅜” from raw edge. Place a mark at the center of each 18½” edge of the pouch piece.
Diagram 11 Cosmetic bag
  1. Place the zipper foot onto the machine’s presser foot holder. Center the right side of the zipper onto the right side of one top edge of the pouch piece. Machine baste in place.
Zipper insertion Cosmetic Bag
  1. Fold the zipper to the back side. Topstitch close to fold near the zipper teeth.
  2. Repeat steps 17 and 18 for the other side of the zipper.
  3. Unzip the zipper about half way. Fold the piece, right sides together, so zipper teeth match markings made in step 6.
Diagram 12 Cosmetic Bag
  1. Sew across each side using a ½” seam allowance.
  2. To box the corners, fold so that the side seam matches the crease at the bottom of the bag. Mark 1¾” from the point. Draw a line across fabric from fold to fold. Stitch on the drawn line. Trim off the excess from point, leaving a ¼” seam allowance.
Diagram 13 Cosmetic Bag
  1. Repeat step 12 for the remaining three corners of the pouch.
  2. Place a mark at center of each 18½” edge of lining piece. (see diagram from step 6).
  3. Press under ½” on each 13″ edge of the lining.
  4. Fold the piece right sides together, so that the pressed-under edges match the markings on the 18½” edge. Stitch across each side.
Diagram 14 Cosmetic Bag
  1. To box corners of lining, fold so the side seam matches the crease at the bottom of bag. Mark 1¾” from the point. Draw a line across fabric from fold to fold. Stitch on line. (see diagram step 12).
  2. Place the wrong side of the lining to the wrong side of the cosmetic pouch, matching openings. Pin in place. Hand stitch the lining to the pouch zipper tape.
  3. Turn right side out.
  4. If desired, string beads onto heavy duty thread. Tie securely to zipper tab for a decorative zipper pull.

Optional Embroidery Instructions For Singer FUTURA™

Embroidery Fabric Preparation

  1. From outer fabric, cut one piece measuring 27” x 20”. To mark position for embroidery, use fabric marker and a ruler. Mark a line 9” from top raw edge and at vertical center.
Cosmetic Bag Diagram 1
  1. From the lining fabric, cut one piece measuring 13” x 18½”.
  2. From the fleece or low-loft batting, cut one piece measuring 13” x 18½”.
  3. Place outer fabric over 18” x 12” tear-away stabilizer, having one 12″ edge matching the top, raw edge of the outer fabric piece.
  4. Place them together in the large embroidery hoop, matching the lines drawn in step 1 with the vertical and horizontal markings on the inner embroidery hoop frame.

At the Computer

  1. Set the Singer FUTURA™ Sewing and Embroidery Machine to embroidery mode. Connect the USB cable between the machine and the computer. Open the software for the Singer FUTURA™ machine and then turn on the machine.
  2. Click on the “T” icon, located in the horizontal tool bar, to open the Lettering program. After clicking on the Lettering icon, the Lettering toolbar will appear on screen.
Diagram 2 Cosmetic Bag
  1. Select desired font. Times Large was used on the bag in the image.
  2. Type in the word cosmetics in the frame. The word will appear in a “wire frame” mode in the hoop on screen.
Diagram 3 Cosmetic Bag
  1. If desired, change the layout, or “frame” of the text. There are 30 different frame styles from which to choose. To access the frame choices, in the Lettering toolbar, click on the frames icon. Select desired frame shape. (The upward curved banner was used in the bag that appears in the diagram below)
Diagram 4 Cosmetic bag
  1. Select desired height. It is possible to either select the height measurement from the drop down menu, OR type in the size desired. The height measurement used for our bag is 200mm (see below).
  2. Right click anywhere on the screen. A pop-up menu appears, offering some options. Select Advanced Spacing.
Diagram 5 Cosmetic Bag
  1. Type in 21 as the number between the first and second letter. This can be done to each space individually, OR select Apply All to register this change to all spaces of the text. Click OK. The change will be done automatically.
    Note: If more spacing is desired between specific letters, this can be done individually by simply typing in the desired number in the space then click OK.
Diagram 7 Cosmetic Bag
  1. Right click anywhere on the screen. A pop-up menu appears. Left click on Stitch It! The design frame will change to a stitched out view, OR select the Stitch It! icon on the Lettering toolbar to show a stitched out version of the design.
Diagram 8 Cosmetic Bag Diagram 9 Cosmetic Bag
  1. If desired, a realistic view of the design (as it will look when actually stitched out) can be previewed. To do this, in the main menu, go to View, and then scroll down to Realistic View.
  2. Place a bobbin wound with bobbin thread into the bobbin case. For embroidery, a Singer Chromium Embroidery Needle (Singer Style 2000, size 14) is recommended. Thread the top of the machine with rayon embroidery thread, and use bobbin thread in the bobbin.
  3. Attach the hoop to the machine. Transmit design to machine by clicking on machine icon on the tool bar. Send the design to machine for stitching, and then stitch out cosmetics.
Diagram 10 Cosmetic Bag
  1. Remove fabric from hoop. Remove stabilizer following manufacturer’s recommendations.
  2. Cut the embroidered piece so it measures 13″ x 18½”, making sure the bottom edge of the embroidered design will be 5¼” from the top cut edge and centered horizontally on the piece.