Purses: summer 09

Whenever I go shopping I am tempted by the endess assortment of purses. So many colors, designs, and sizes! Of course purchasing a new purse is rarely in the budget. What can a creative crafter do about that? Why, make your own purse of course! With some Fiskars tools and a sewing machine your custom creation can be ready soon. Four of the Fiskars designers have made purses to share with us today - and get the creative ideas flowing -  

Designer: Kelly Purkey
Looking for a fast and cheap way to create an expensive looking bag?  Start with a premade purse and add your own handmade touches.  I picked up this bag for $10 at Target.  It was a bit plain for my taste, but I knew I could add some fun style with a few scraps of fabric.

I started by trimming a 2 in. strip of fabric with Fiskars Pinking Shears.  Since the bottom of the bag curves slightly, I cut my strips of fabric in a curve.  I ran them through my sewing machine, bunching the material as it stitched to gather it together.  Starting at the bottom, I adhered the strips to the bag with fabric glue and added a couple hand stitches for security. 

For an added embellishment, I created a large rosette out of fabric also.  You can create this by using the Fiskars Rotary Trimmer to cut a 2 in. strip of fabric and fold it in half horizontally.  Iron and then gather together in a circle as you stitch to create the shape.  Secure it to the bag by hand stitching the button in the center.  In under an hour, you're able to turn a plain purse until a perfect one!

Designer: Kendra McCracken
When I go looking to buy a new purse, I always look at the features that will ensure longevity. I consider the quality of the materials, the construction, a style that is not overly trendy. But sometimes it's fun to carry a purse that snubs all the rules of practicality. For those times, a handmade purse can be as quirky and fun as you choose. It can also be inexpensive! This purse is adapted from one I found in the book Silk Unraveled by Lorna Moffat. Full instructions can be found in the book. And construction of this purse does not require a pattern.

Begin by cutting (2) 20" x 15" rectangles, one for the outside of the purse and one for the lining. I used an extra layer of an embroidered fine mesh material over the outside of the purse and following the same cutting instructions. Fold one rectangle in half and then half again to get a 10" x 7" rectangle. Measure in 1" from the side at the top of the purse and mark. Using a straight edge, connect this spot to the corner at the bottom of the bag and cut along this line. Unfold only the last fold made on the purse. Making sure these pieces are right-sides together, stitch down both sides, rounding the bottom corners. Then repeat these steps with the lining fabric. Insert the lining in the purse, fold the edge of both layers down 1/2" and stitch them together. Construct 2 handles from strips of fabric and randomly tie a few knots in them.  Stitch these to the sides of the purse.

Using the tulip on the Fiskars Flower Shape Template from the Ultra ShapeXpress Starter Set 2, trace just the rounded part of the opening onto fabric, planning for 6 petals per flower and cut them out with the No. 8 Razor Edge Scissors. Make a long running stitch along the bottom edge of each petal, connecting them at the corner. Once completed, pull the threads to gather the flowers.

Using 1" x 6" strips of cloth, stitch these into a tight spiral, folding and rolling the strip as you go,  in the center of each flower. Stitch the flowers to the purse as desired, making sure not to catch the lining.

Designer: Lisa Truesdell
I find myself hoarding bits and pieces of my favorite fabrics (and buying too many fat quarters), and my scrap bin is overflowing!  I’d love to use them in another project, but most patterns call for bigger pieces of fabric.  Here’s a way to modify an existing purse pattern to work with your bits and pieces.

First, gather your fabric and tools. I found 6 tone on tone patterns that coordinated well, and then pulled in a larger piece of unbleached cotton to line the bag and ground my busy patterns. I gathered my 18x24in cutting mat, 6.5x24.5in Easy to Read Ruler, 45mm Comfort Grip Rotary Trimmer, No 5 SoftGrip MicroTip Scissors and 12in1 Sewing MultiTool. You’ll need to find a pattern for a purse that you like – I traced a simple sling style purse that I already had, but there are a zillion cool free patterns out there, just do a quick web search and find one that you like.

For my pattern, I needed a square of fabric that was 13x13in. I cut strips from all of my fabrics that were 1.5x13in and 2.5x13in.  I then arranged them with the unbleached cotton strips on either side, 4 1.5in patterned strips, and 2 2.5in patterned strips. I stitched the strips together to create my 13in square.  I repeated this to create a second square, and then cut 2 13in squares from unbleached cotton fo rmy lining.

I used leftover strips to create a pocket for the inside of the purse, then sewed it to the middle of one of the 13in unbleached cotton squares.  Next, I cut a strip of fabric 22inx4in to make the strap. Fold it in half and stitch along the open side, then turn the strap right side out

I cut all four pieces according to my pattern, then pressed the top edges of all 4 pieces 1/4in to the inside.  I stacked them in this older : front piece (pattern side up), back piece (patterned side down), pocket piece (patterned side up), and lining piece (patterned side down).Pin your strap into the top corners. Stitch around the sides and bottom and then flip the purse right side out.

Once the purse is the right way, top stitch around the top edges to join the lining and the outside pieces. For a little added interest, I added three brown buttons near the top of the purse.  I love how this purse turned out, and will definitely be trying this trick to incorporate my fabric scraps into other patterns.

Designer: Susan Weinroth
One day while I was out shopping, I saw an adorable cat-shaped purse in a window that inspired me to re-create this “play” purse in the form of a kitty-cat for my niece.  Using Fiskars sewing tools, and a few papercrafting tools, it can be created in just an afternoon. 

Start by creating your kitty-cat “face”.  Use the Fiskars super-sized circle shape cutting templates to trace almost a complete circle onto light pink fabric – cut 2 layers out at the same time and stitch around the edge (right sides together), turning fabric at the part of the circle that is cut off/not complete.  Topstitch a ¼ inch inseam around edge, and then add face “features” – I used the XL Mint Condition squeeze punch as shape template for the eyes, and hand embroidered both the whiskers and mouth on.

Next create the body of the purse – I choose to create a simple pocket style purse – cut a long length of fabric, fold in half with right sides together, and machine stitch along edges with 1/8 inch inseam.  Next fold that in half again – so that rough end extends slightly past clean end - and crease with iron (rough end will be hidden when you stitch kitty cat face to it).  Machine stitch sides using a ¼ inch inseam, and flip so that stitched sides are hidden inside.  Iron down rough end “flap” that you created.

Measure and trim fabric 4 inch wide fabric to the length that you’d like the purse handle to be.  Fold in half lengthwise and iron to crease, then fold each half in half inwards and iron to crease (finished handle will be 1 inch wide). 

Topstitch along length of handle with 1/8 inch inseams.  Use diamond shape template to cut half diamonds (or triangles!) out for kitty-cat’s ears.  Stitch to back of cat face (I used canvas in between fabric layers to make ears stand up!).  Stitch handle ends behind that.  Then stitch kitty-cat face to rough end flap on pocket purse.  Kitty-cat purse is complete, and perfect for any little girl in your life to enjoy.

By fiskars design team