I'm baaaaaccckkk! I am feeling much better and ready to work! For this project I wanted to do something a little more time consuming to make up for not doing a craft while I was sick! I decided to make a quilted purse and matching zippered pouch. So, here we go......
I started by gathering the supplies I thought I would need. I also sketched a picture of the bag I wanted to make. The roll of fabric strips was my inspiration. It is a roll of pre-cut 2 1/2 inch strips in a palette of red, white, and blue.
I chose the strip colors I wanted to work with and started sewing them together using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.
After sewing all the strips together I ironed the piece flat.
I then cut the large panel of strips into two smaller pieces to use as the front and back of the purse. I also did this with the lining fabric.
I cut two matching panels of a medium weight batting and started to quilt the fabric to the batting. I decided to sew a top stitch 1/4 inch away from the seam of each piece to make a clean simple line.
Next, to give the bag a little shape, I sewed a pleat into the front and back center of the bag and lining.
The supplies for the flap. I sewed two pieces of the fabric together and attached one part of the magnetic snap to the flap and the other half to the front of the bag.
I sewed the front and back of the purse pieces together at the sides and bottom. To create some depth to the purse I "bagged" the bottom by matching the bottom and side seams and sewing across 2 inches from the edge.
With right sides together I inserted the bag into the lining and sewed around the top edge.
I left an opening in the bottom seam of the lining and pulled the bag through it. I sewed the seam closed and tucked the lining into the bag.
I sewed around the top of the bag again to make sure the lining stayed tucked in.
I made straps by sewing two long strips right sides together and then turned them right side out. I attached them to the sides of the bag, leaving some hanging down on both sides to tie into a knot.
The finished purse with the side knots and the flap closed!
A close-up.
To make the pouch I cut two smaller pieces of my fabric strip set and attached a zipper to the top of each piece before I sewed the sides and bottom.
The finished set! I love how these turned out and I am sure I will use them a lot! Hope you like enjoyed seeing my creative process!