UR Priceless blog hop

Today is my day on the UR Priceless blog hop, hosted by the lovely Katherine.  We were to make a coin purse using a pattern provided by Madame Samm.  I was right up to the wire on this one.  The pattern pieces were cut out a long time ago, most of the sewing had been done, but I still had to attach the frame.  I managed it though and made not 5 purses, not 8, but 8 and a half.  Oh yes.

The first 5 are made with sew-on frames, as instructed as part of the hop rules.  I couldn't find a single 3" sew-in frame in Britain, not one.  I ended up getting mine from Hong Kong, a pack of 5 mixed coloured frames with ball clasps, and one silver one with heart clasps.

Do you remember this?  I showed you the sashiko a week or so ago. Well here it is all sewn up!  I sashiko'd in white perle cotton on green linen and used the same perle cotton to add the frame.

My stitching isn't perhaps the best, but it works.  The corners were a NIGHTMARE to get in place.  No amount of prodding and poking could get them to stay!

This one is lined with a white cotton fabric with flowers on it.  Taking pictures of the inside of the purses was incredibly difficult!

Number two came about when I decided to mix and match the pieces cut out for the beaded purse (we haven't got to that one yet!).  I used the two side panels and added the check to the front and back.  I thought it might be a good idea to add some buttons.  This one isn't actually as wonky as it looks, it's jus the way it was sitting.

Lined with purple cotton that looks a bit like satin in these photos.

Number three is a fussy cut version.  I wanted to use this Little Red Riding Hood linen I'd been hoarding for a long time.  The front and back feature Little Red...

And the side has her name. All topped off with a silver frame attached with the most frustrating red perle cotton known to man.  Most of my perles are a brand called Rubi, they were fine.  This one was an emergency purchase from Hobbycraft and is Anchor.  I hate that damn stuff.  It snapped about 4 times during the sewing of this frame so I had to keep starting again.

I used the Sugar and Spice red fabric that I won in a recent giveaway as a lining.

Number 4 is also fussy cut. I had this novelty FQ in my stash - I'm really not sure why I bought it.  Sewing themed - good.  Goats - ??

I fussy cut a different part for each motif.  The frame is stitched on with pink perle cotton to match part of the colour scheme of the fabric.

I love these tape measures!

I was quite lucky the motifs were the right size to fit my panels.

This is lined with a red polka dot found in my stash.

Number 5 is made with babushka printed linen and features the same hair-tearing-out Anchor perle cotton... I hate that stuff!  Originally I made this one as a single-fabric alternative.  The original purse by Madame Samm has different fabrics for the front/back and sides (as in my button one above).  Whilst thinking of variations, I decided to do one with the fabric the same all round - I actually ended up doing a lot of those!

I used the same Sugar and Spice print in this one.

This one's the half!  As you can see the pouch is sewn up - denim from my hubby's old jeans, a blue and cream linen for the side panels, some Kate Spain inside and featuring one of my felt flowers.  I just simply ran out of time sewing the frame on.  I'll show you in a later blog post when it's done.

Now we move on to the final 3.  These are made with glue in frames.  I bought these when I first joined the hop just in case I couldn't get hold of the sew in frames.  I know they're breaking the rules, but I'm sure Katherine won't mind me showing them.  I must apologise at this point for the photos.  The sew-in pictures were taken on Saturday morning, these were taken on Saturday about 3pm when we'd already lost the light!  Unfortunately, I knew it was the only chance I'd get for photos, so you'll have to put up with them! I'm updating the photos!

Remember the beading I showed you?  This is what I did with it.  I added little seed beads to this Michael Miller print.  The front and back are both beaded and I managed not to break any beads when sewing it up!

The sides are the check fabric as seen in the button purse above.  I didn't update this photos I forgot to take a replacement.

It's lined with a bright blue cotton.  I know it doesn't look bright blue, but believe me, it's just the photos.

Number 7 is appliquéd.  I used a purple spotty print for the front and back (yep, that's purple!) and appliquéd a cupcake to the front.  I wanted to machine appliqué it because I'm lazy, but I used that horrible Heat N Bond and didn't dare subject my needle to it.  I hand appliquéd instead and added some beads for sprinkles and a purple cherry.

The idea for the cupcake came from the side panel fabric.

This one is lined with a purple and white stripe.  I don't know who made this fabric, I've had the little bundle for a long time.  Just a note about gluing in the frames - it's a bloody nightmare!  Is it worse than sewing them in?  I'm not sure, I just know I got glue EVERYWHERE.

Now we're on to the disasters.  This ladies and gentlemen is number 8.  It looks like it needs a good press, doesn't it?  That's probably because this is the lining.  I glued the frame on back to front and had to turn it inside out!

THIS should have been the outside.  I'm not sure I like it like this. 

This baby would have been number 10 but I made a fundamental mistake.  I sewed the outer and the lining, then realised I'd forgotten the fusible fleece.  I added it to the sewn outer.  Not a good idea.  See those crease marks?  They're permanent.  I abandoned this one!

So, if I've whetted your appetite for purse sewing, the purse pattern available to buy here.

Now it's time to go and visit my fellow hoppers, there's a chance to win a prize with each comment you leave! Click the button at the top to see the prizes and the full line up.

Day 2 - Nov.6th

The Crafter's Apprentice (c'est moi!)Jane's Fabric and Quilts
Rosemary B
Why-Knot-Kwilt
Random Thoughts..do or "di"
Mary T.
Supermom No Cape
Lily Pad Quilting
.Quiltscapes.
Stitch, Stitch, Stitch
Rose Creations
The Treehouse
Gracie Oliver Arts
Quilting Prolifically
Stekje
Grammie Q's