Purse Tutorial

I hope everyone is leaving comments on the purse giveaway post! You could win this adorable purse made with Duralee Fabric!

But if you don't happen to be the lucky winner never fear! I'll show you how to make your own. I'll show some of the highlights but I followed this tutorial from Craft Apple. It was super easy to understand and well detailed. And don't be alarmed if the pictrures I'm going to show here are different from the purse shown above, this was my practice one.

I started by measuring my fabric. I wanted the purse to be 9" x 12", so I cut my squares 10" x 13" so I could do a 1/2" inseam all around. In the Craft Apple tutorial she used one large piece of fabric and sewed up the edges to create a pocket to make the purse. The fabric I used was a sample piece, not large enough to fold in half so I had to cut 2 rectangles then sew them together.

All my pieces ready to be sewn. But first I ironed on some stablizer. The fabric I used is meant for curtains, so it was somewhat flimsy. The stablizer really helps the purse hold it's shape.

Satin Lining and Stablizer!

I began by making the straps. I folded the edges in 1/4" then folded the whole piece in half. I ironed it to it would hold the shape better. (I could never be a professional seamstress, to much ironing involved- and I don't like ironing!.) Then I sewed the strap closed.

Sewing the large rectangles together, right sides together, to make the purse.

Next up, boxing corners. I hadn't done this before but following the tutorial on Craft Apple, it was pretty easy. Here are the highlights:

Ironing the seams open.

Next measuring 1.5" down to make a triangle at each of the bottom corners of the bag. Then I drew a line to mark where I would sew across. I double stiched this seam to make it sturdy.

Example of the pen mark I am about to sew. After I sewed across this line I cut the corners off, the tutorial says to keep them to make a stablizer for the bottom.

Follow the same steps for the lining. Then sew your straps to the wrong side of the lining, from 1.5" in from the midseam. Next pin the lining to the inside of the exterior bag, right sides facing each other. Make sure the straps are hanging inside the purse. Then sew all the way around, starting at one strap and ending at the middle of the fourth. Don't sew it closed yet. Carefully turn the purse right side out.

Finally edge stitch along the top of the purse to finish is off. Then you're done!

Don't forget to enter the purse giveaway to win the purse pictured above, and please go to DIY Club Inc to vote for my VIntage Chair Rescue! It's #33!

Purse Giveaway!

So as promised, in celebration of reaching 100 followers (thank you so much!!); a giveaway! 

I made this purse following a tutorial I found online. For more information see the purse tutorial here. In the meantime, if you want to win this purse made from Duralee Fabric (which costs $40-60$ a yard!), here's what you need to do:

1. Become a Google Follower and comment on this post telling me that you have.
2. If you are already a follower just leave a comment on this post telling me that you are.

That's it! Easy!

You have until August 23rd at noon to enter. I will use Random.org to choose the winner and will annouce it Tuesday the 24th.

Good luck and thank you all so much!

This Giveaway has ended- check back to see who won!

Coming through in a Clutch

I was planning on using my new welder but some other projects took precedence. First, my sister's wedding was this past weekend! I was the Matron of Honor so I naturally had to get a bridesmaid dress. We had to have the dress hemmed and at the suggestion of my mom I asked them to save the leftover fabric for me; thinking I could turn it into a purse to match the dress. I thought this would be a quick project to get my creative juices flowing.

There was quite a bit of leftover grey silk fabric but not quite enough for the type of purse I had in mind. I remembered some leftover fabric I had from some chairs I had reupholstered and thought I could use that as the lining. So my purse could be sophisticated on the outside and funky on the inside. ;) Once I had gathered all my fabric I measured my wallet to get an approximate size for the purse. It was about 4" x 7" so I needed my fabric to be 5" x 8" wide for the seams and for any little mistakes I might make along the way.

Since the leftover fabric was odd cut out shapes (long thin strips about 5" tall) I had to cut and sew 3 together to get the size I needed for the outer portion. The above picture is after I has sewn the 3 together.

For the lining I cut one solid piece from my leftover upholstery fabric. I added a credit card pocket for convenience. I simply traced one of my credit cards, cut the fabric piece out, and centered it on the lining.

Then I sewed the silk and lining pieces together. It was looking a bit flimsy so I slipped some lightweight cardboard from the back of a spiral notebook in between them before I sewed it closed. I had to cut 3 pieces to size- one for the front, one for the back, and one for the flap.

Before I put the cardboard in the purse I had glued some magnets to the cardboard to act as a closer.

To finish it off I used a pin I had for decoration. It fit perfectly with the theme of the wedding which was in New Orleans. The purse matched my dress perfectly and I think I will use it again! It only took 2 nights after work to finish it up (most of that time was spent trying to remember how to use my sewing machine!). Now I'm tempted to hit up thrift stores and Marshalls to get old dresses and cut them up for this purpose!

It matched the bridesmaid dresses perfectly!

You could even do this with an old bridesmaid or prom dress you have laying around. Maybe you could use the fabric to make pillow covers or a clutch like this.

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