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
