Now are the step-by-step instructions...
Step 1 : After you have prepared your fabric (washing, zig zaging ,etc.) select a co-ordinating fabric to go with your stitched piece.
Step 2: Baste stitched piece, this way you know where your finished edges will be when sewing. I like to use Sulky Silver to do my basting, it pulls out very easily.
Step 3: Press your co-ordinating fabric and stitched piece.
Step 4: Using your basted lines as a guide press the excess fabric on your stitched piece to the back.
Step 5: Carefully unfold the excess fabric you've pressed and trim away excess leaving you enough for your seam allowances.
Step 6 : Fold your seams back into place, press again if necessary. Measure your stitched piece to calculate the width and length of your co-ordianting fabric.
Ahhh there he is! This wouldn't be a proper tutorial without Hunter putting in an appearance!
Step 7: Cut two strips of fabric. I was overly generous with the length, the width I cut it the width of my finished piece+ 1.5 inches.
Step 8: Take your two strips and put them right sides together. Using a water soluble marking pen (in my case chalk because my pen had dried out) if your bell pull isn't straight trace those outlines on the back of one of your fabric pieces.
Ahem... excuse me that's my chair.
Step 9: Sew both pieces together following your edges/marked lines, leaving the top open.
Step 10: If there are any angles, trim away as much excess fabric as possible otherwise when you turn it inside out you won't have sharp points.
Step 11 : Turn right-side out.
Step 12 : Press.
Step 13 : Place your stitched piece on top of your co-ordinating fabric. Once you've got it in the right place, pin into place.
Step 14 : Sew your stitched piece to the co-ordinating fabric all the way around.
Step 15 : Snip any long threads left behind by the sewing machine.
Step 16 : Fold the top of your bellpull over, insert your dowel and pin top to the back of your piece below the dowel.
Step 17 : Sew a line across your bellpull below your marking pin.
Step 18 : Again, trim any long threads left by the machine.
Step 19 : Cut away your excess fabric.
Step 20 : Snip the outside edges of the fabric you folded over to the back on an angle. Now you won't be able to se the edge of that fabric from the front.
Step 21 : Measure and cut your dowel to the desired size (it must be wider than your bellpull!) Insert in the sleeve you made at the top of your bellpull, add ribbon/cord/beads/etc. for a hanger and embellishment!
You're done! You now have a beautiful bellpull to hang in your home or give away as agift!
