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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

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? 




29 comments:

  1. That is so cute!! I didn't know you liked to sew. Love the fabric you chose, looks like Spring for sure!

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  2. Super cute! Feel free to make one for me if you like. :)

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  3. Love the fabric of that purse! TOO CUTE! I would LVe to have you share this at my link party going on!
    http://www.pincushioncreations.com/2012/04/homemade-by-you-7.html

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  4. You're so talented, Veronica :)

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  5. Hi, I'm Connie at http://hotflashncraftn.blogspot.com/, your new GF friend. I would love it if you would stop by and be my friend.
    I love this purse. I'm always looking out for great bag ideas. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. I'm terrible for buying fabric without a plan too! That fabric is gorgeous, what a pretty bag!

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  7. brave. no pattern, just scissors. good for you. with beautiful fabric, how can you go wrong... Your bag came out darling. So, I am inviting you /your creative ideas over to our party at http://www.finecraftguild.com/party/ Our readers would love to find this!

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  8. This is such a lovely purse; beautiful fabric and a great shape to your bag. Thanks for posting the tutorial.

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  9. That is so super cute! I love it!

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  10. Veronic, via HHP I come here and see the purse, very colorful spring purse. Goood shape and cheerful to carry it everywhere. I read your love story. So sweet. Your holiday looks great.
    Terrie from Hong Kong

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  11. What a cute little purse! I will have to try this, your tutorial is great! Thanks for sharing!

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  12. This is darling! Love the instructions-you speak my language! I think this is one sewing tutorial I'll actually be able to do- thanks so much!

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  13. Nothing weird about buying zips and fabric when you don't know how you'll use them. That's exactly what I do!!! The zip co-ordinates well. Love the fabric... perfect for Spring!!! Thanks for sharing this great tutorial...

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  14. This is so pretty, thank you for sharing.

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  15. Very cute purse! I really want and need to learn how to sew. I come by way of Sew Many Ways! Have a great week!

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  16. I love the fabric. Super cute!

    Visiting from Sew Many Ways Link up,
    Nikell

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  17. Oh, I love the purse! So cute!

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  18. I absolutely LOVE the fabric you chose. You did a great job! Thanks for sharing at oopsey daisy!

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  19. Cute fabric and fun pattern too! You did a great job! Thanks for sharing at Shine on Fridays. My favorite thing this Spring is yellow accessories.

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  20. You are so brave starting in without a pattern- much more talented than I am! And, like everyone else, I LOVE the pattern! Great job- I am so impressed! I would love it if you would stop by and link up to my debut Sweet Sharing Mondays (new linky, every Monday)! http://saynotsweetanne.com/2012/sweet-sharing-monday/

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  21. Gorgeous! I followed you from Homemade by You. Here is my offering this week: http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2012/04/keep-calm-and-craft-on.html

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  22. Found you at "Fine Craft Guild" and I'm going to tell on you. Since it was instructed to visit and comment about our visit @ Fine Craft, I want them to know how adventurous you were to make a purse without a pattern. Wow! Great job and the purse turned out beautiful. enJOYed you post.

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  23. That purse is so cute! Amazing. I WILL own a sewing machine one day!!
    Btw, I'm your coffee mug swap partner :)

    xo,
    jessie

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  24. Lol...I do the same thing; I fall in love with fabric then think, "now what can I do with this?!" Really cute purse; glad you got lots of use out of it so far too! Thanks for entering One Crafty Contest; good luck!

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  25. I love this fabric so much! It turned into a beautiful purse. xoxo

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  26. Wish I could do this! Sewing is so hard for me though! I am visiting from the One Artsy Mama Craft Contest and wanted to stop by and say hi! I am a new follower! Hope you will stop by http://garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/and do the same.

    Robin

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  27. Love this purse I am going to try this but not sure if I can do it .I love the fabric. Do you sell these

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  28. I like your purse and I like the fact that it has a zipper on top.

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