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Instructions
Answering your questions about the purse pattern-- I don't have a pattern, but I can tell you how to make it!
I began with a square of lime green polka-dot cotton as the foundation fabric. I added concentric rings of printed fabric on top to form a sunburst design. The concentric fabric rings were prepared with Wonder Under, then cut out.
HOW TO MAKE THE SUNBURST RINGS: I used a technique of folding the fabric squares prepared with Wonder Under. I folded the fabric twice into quarter sections, then with scissors cut out--much like we did when we were in grade school cutting out snowflake designs from construction paper.
I arranged the concentric fabric circles and heat set each one to the lime green polka dot foundation fabric to form the sunburst design. Then, I used free motion quilting to quilt the sunburst fabric to a layer of batting and backing fabric of a two-toned blue denim-look fabric.
I trimmed the quilted fabric to make a large rectangle about 16" tall by 14" wide and serged all four sides.
Next I cut two 6" strips of the two-toned blue denim-look fabric. I folded the 6" fabric strip length wise to form a 3" strip, pressed, and serged the raw edge.
I pinned the blue strips to the printed side of the sunburst rectable fabric forming the blue margins you see in the photograph. Be sure the serged edge of the blue strip is pinned to the serged edge of the sunburst fabric.
Then I stitched 1/4 inch to attach the blue strips to the sunburst fabric. At this point there are quite a few layers of fabric so I lengthed my machine stitch.
I turned the purse inside out. And sewed 1/2" side seams.
I turned the purse right side out to reveal the purse as you see it in the photograph. Note:the blue margins tend to form a thicker rounded edge to the finished purse.
Yes, I did some tapering on this purse during construction--you'll notice the opening of the purse at the top is narrower than the bottom. Ooops,my ruler slipped when I was trimming up the sunburst quilted fabric, so I didn't let that mistake ruin all my work. I tapered both sides equally.
I finished by serging around the perimeter of the opening of the bag--turned it under 1-1/2" and added fabric straps (handles) for carrying the bag.
I sold this purse recently, and have another sunburst cloth ready to work on in my studio today.
Next time I post another Mod Purse I'll include photographs of the construction steps.
Tips: Machine needles are so important when stitching through many layers of fabric. I use machine needles for sewing jean denim fabrics--ask your store clerk to point them out to you.
I've had success using micro-tech machine needles too, especially when sewing batik cottons. Those needles reduce snags and make prettier, uniform stitches.
I change machine needles OFTEN! Very very important to do that.
If your machine is refusing to stitch through many layers of fabric--STOP and change your machine needle. It makes the project so much easier.
Answering your questions about the purse pattern-- I don't have a pattern, but I can tell you how to make it!
I began with a square of lime green polka-dot cotton as the foundation fabric. I added concentric rings of printed fabric on top to form a sunburst design. The concentric fabric rings were prepared with Wonder Under, then cut out.
HOW TO MAKE THE SUNBURST RINGS: ...
Read full instructions »
Difficulty:
Category: Sewing
Type of item: Accessory
For: Women
Style: Funky,
Hipster,
Mod,
Casual,
Cute
Materials
Wide Variety of 16 x 16" Fabric Scraps
Wonder Under
What was your inspiration?
I was inspired by Carol Ann Waugh's Stitch and Slash class.
Carol, I am doing a twist on your class and used wonder under to bond layers of fabric shapes to a foundation fabric.
I figure if I hadn't taken Carol Ann Waugh's Stitch and Slash class I might have missed her whole point of "NO RULES" and "NO MISTAKES". I'm taking what I learned from Carol's class about manipulating layers of fabric to create my own fabric. This is so exciting--like steam blowing out of my ears. I can hardly wait for the next sewing project to begin.
Love ya, Carol. Your ideas of mixing a variety of brighter colors, prints, and shapes have led me back to the 60's. I turned on my old tunes and grooved to Led Zeplin while stitching up this eye-blinking purse. Oh my, where are my shades?
What are you most proud of?
At the beginning of the year I was into the color of turquiose, and last month it was variations on the color orange. And guess what? Now I'm not afraid to use turquoise and orange together in the same project. Awesome!
What advice would you give someone starting this project?
Play. Sew. Have Fun.
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