Adventures in Sewing: Spring Purse

Sometimes when I am at a fabric store, I stumble upon fabric that I just need to buy. 

I don't have a project in mind for it.

I just need to take a yard of it home with me!

So I get a yard,

take it home,

look at it for a few days,

and then pack it away in my fabric tub...

which is very full right now!

Just before our vacation I was doing some organizing and re-discovered this beautiful, spring floral fabric in my stash. 

So I decided to whip up a quick little purse to use on vacation. 

I didn't do the best at taking step by step pictures,

and I didn't use a pattern,

but here it basically what I did...

Step 1: Fold fabric in half and cut out 4 "U" shapes, all the same size. Place 2 of the "U" shapes pretty sides together and sew a seam along the curved sides and bottom, leaving the straight top side open. Repeat with other 2 "U" shapes. You will end up with 2 large pockets.

Step 2: Leave one pocket with the pretty sides together and turn the other so the pretty sides are showing. Fit the "pretty sides showing" pocket inside the "pretty sides together" pocket. Match up the side seams and pin the straight top sides together all the way around the opening.  

Step 3: Get your straps ready. I just made mine with scraps of the same fabric. 

Step 4: You will need to put the straps in between the 2 pretty side of fabric on each side of the purse. 

I also added a few pleats to the top of the purse as I was pinning the straps in place. 

Step 5: Sew almost all the way around the top of the purse, make sure you leave about 2 inches of the seam open to pull the fabric through. 

Step 6: Pull fabric to make the purse right sides out. 

Step 7: Stitch the opening closed. 

Step 8: Make some kind of closure for the purse. Button, magnet, zipper...whatever you want to do to keep this little purse closed. I used a zipper...and I actually sewed in on by hand. I had one that was the prefect size. (I also randomly pick up zippers in a variety of colors and sizes...I know, I'm weird!) 

I used this little purse every day of my vacation! 

(on Granada)

(on the boat)

(in Puerto Rico)

Do you have a new, favorite item for spring?