I needed a new purse. Through the summer, I’ve carried a tote type bag that was given out as a gift from work. Little pocket on the outside, little zip pocket on the inside. It had plenty of room and a great tiny strap with a ring on it that I snapped my key on. Totally lacking class, but hey, it worked, sort of, have I mentioned I love pockets? It was becoming frayed and my winter stand by was showing similar wear. But unwilling to invest in a new one, I spent slightly less on hardware and stabilizer (with the usual more-than-you-need-for-one-project, so I can make more than one!!) and I got started. If you know my history with sewing, you can laugh now.
I followed great directions. Along the way, I knew I messed up, in a couple of ways. I thought I could work around it a bit, but it became clear there was no way the lining piece was going to fit in and create a nice purse. It got set aside, added to the unfinished projects I have set aside before – the lovely top that needs sleeves and snaps added, but ended up not fitting, odd darning of things that ought to just be replaced, Christmas decor, and on and on. I know better than to hang onto projects that I don’t care about enough to prioritize and finish, but hey, knowing they are there and what I have invested in some of them, halts my interest in buying more.
Back to the purse issue… I spent a lot of time on that lining. (The outside too, but I’ll get to that another time.) I put an open pocket in the lining that fits my phone beautifully with a pen slot and a larger space for whatever. Plus, I added two short straps holding rings to clip my key on, and a change bag or wallet or whatever I want to clip in there. The fabric was out of the house stash, so the investment was mainly in time and I liked what I had done. So I set out to make a cover for the lining, from the stash, of course.
The outside is an old drop cloth that ended up in an old stash of mine. The outer pocket matches the lining, which was from the house stash. The lining had the sturdy stabilizer in it so I didn’t do anything extra to this part.The handles are the same cloth and feel very sturdy.
It took a bit of playing but with the lining piece as a pattern, it wasn’t difficult. There seems to be good days when a project just clicks and then there are the days that I have learned to go do something else. And of course, I always have something else on my list.
I ended up with something my daughter says looks “very professional”. Not sure about that, but I am content to carry this bag knowing it goes with about anything I wear, holds what I want and looks definitely better than the old orange and beige tote.
I am using a small change/card pouch on the second ring that keeps that stuff handy and safer, especially since the purse does not zip close and it is relatively shallow. I’ve learned from this one though, as I do from most of my projects. I want my next purse to be a bit deeper. I carry a bullet journal with me and it does have room for that but I’m wondering if I want to put a divider in the next bag to keep it in a place and other stuff away. There is just enough room for it to slide around and down so I’m moving it out of the way whenever I’m reaching for the kid wipes or other stuff. I wonder if I used some light interfacing it would have slid better – the stabilizer seems to have a tooth and the texture of the outer material sticks so it looks like a wrinkle in the picture. All in all, I am happy to be carrying it. And with jeans as the basis for my daily outfit, this works well.
Busy Cat Studio 