Fiber Fool

Follow the feats and foibles of a fiber fanatic.

FO Friday, the Sewing Edition!

Filed under: Finished Objects, Sewing — Kristi at 9:13 am on Friday, July 28, 2006

Fat Quarter Purse Mosaic

As is usual for me, I had ispiration for a handmade gift for SIL3’s birthday last Friday. Inspiration struck around 1pm or so I think and I had other things that needed wrapping up and then we ended up meeting for martini’s much sooner than I had expected so I wasn’t quite done (I was very, very close) when we left to meet her at Elliot’s so I told a white lie that I had forgotten her gift and didn’t remember until we were in the parking garage, LOL!

I was inspired by the Tiny Happy Shoulder Bag that Scout had made (Amanda made one recently too), but once again I needed to use stash, so I downsized it drastically and adjusted the shape a bit so that I could use coordinating fat quarters for the outer fabric. I think it turned out quite well. I’m actually proud of my sewing on this one, including the hand sewn finishing. This particular combination of fabrics produces a bit of a “Shabby Chic” feeling to me, which isn’t necessarily SIL3, but pink is very SIL3 and I think she’ll like it.

Since I was using fat quarters for the outer fabric I chose to iron on some interfacing (from the stash of course). It was a bit stiffer interfacing than I would recommend, but I do recommend using some if you aren’t using a heavier body fabric for the outside. It gives it some nice shape and body.

Since SIL3 hasn’t been over to pick up her gift yet I’ve started a little snap on cell phone case to match, though it has such a small circumference that it requires hand sewing so it isn’t done yet. Anyone have tips on hand sewing in a straight line around something round? My two ends of my sewing around the top didn’t meet so I’ve set it aside in frustration for the moment. Oh, and yes, I know you can remove part of the sewing machine, but this is a tiny circumference because she has a Razr so my machine just doesn’t get small enough for that.

I’m going to check with Tiny Happy to see if she minds my posting a PDF with directions for this (and the cell phone case) as long as I give her credit for the inspiration. So, hopefully next week sometime I’ll be able to post that here. Otherwise I’ll post a schematic and a link to her instructions on sewing it.

You’ll need two fat quarters for the outside and a full 1/4 yard of muslin or two more fat quarters for the lining to make both the purse and the cell phone case. Some medium weight interfacing (I recommend the iron on variety, but that may just be me), two buttons (~1.5 in and ~3/4″ for purse and cell phone case respectively) and a sew on snap (for cell phone case) as well.

We’ll have a guest at the house this weekend so I don’t know what, if anything will get accomplished, but I do have some things I would like to do this weekend… Have a great one everyone!

16 Comments »

Comment by Amanda

July 28, 2006 @ 9:45 am

I love it!!! You did such a fantastic job. I have a couple of fat quarters that I have been in love with for 4 years or more but haven’t known what to make with them because I wanted it to be just right. I think you’ve figured it out for me. Thank you.

Comment by terby

July 28, 2006 @ 11:22 am

Oh, I love that! But I have no fabric stash and no sewing machine, and a tight budget, so neither are in my future. Sewing clothing is just too much work, but the bags I keep seeing are making me really wish for a machine.

Comment by Chris

July 28, 2006 @ 12:08 pm

It turned out great!

Comment by Kara

July 28, 2006 @ 12:31 pm

too cute! love the pocket inside.

Comment by Melissa

July 28, 2006 @ 12:33 pm

Love it! The whole effect of the different prints is awesome!

Comment by Isela

July 28, 2006 @ 2:23 pm

I love it!

Comment by Anne

July 28, 2006 @ 6:19 pm

What a gorgeous bag! Makes me want to sew!

Comment by Scout

July 28, 2006 @ 9:44 pm

So CUTE!

I have a new bag I’m kind of trying to design….we’ll see what happens!

Comment by Kirsten

July 28, 2006 @ 11:10 pm

The bag is great Kristi!! I’m sure your SIL will love it!
BTW, you’re famous! I’ve just finished listening to Lime and Violet, (they are fabulous!) and they mention you quite a bit. They love your sock patterns. Yay you!

Comment by Elspeth

July 30, 2006 @ 12:16 pm

I love the bag! I was looking to make that bag too, and now I have to!

Pingback by Fiber Fool » I’ve Lost My Mojo…

August 24, 2006 @ 7:34 am

[…] I’m a big chicken! I lost all my sewing momentum when we lost lighting in the basement. Now that we have lighting again I’m a bit, fat, chicken! I think it is because so much time has past since my victory with SIL3’s purse… I’m still planning on put the pattern into a PDF. I’ve made a few of the schematics, but there are several more diagrams to make. But eventually I’ll have a pattern for that for you! […]

Comment by ~ danielle

December 14, 2006 @ 8:23 pm

hi there, I followed your link from the comments in tiny happy’s pattern post for this bag. I was wondering if you would share the dimensions you used for your bag - my sister is a teeny handbag kind of gal and I’d love to make her one for the holidays. Thanks! (ps. I tried to find your e-mail so I could e-mail you my question instead but couldn’t - sorry!)

Comment by Nikki

February 20, 2007 @ 8:05 pm

Hi there! I’m another link-follower hoping that you’d be willing to share the dimensions that you used for your bag. I absolutely love the one you made. :)

Comment by peitseoga

March 30, 2007 @ 3:46 pm

that’s a really nice bag, lovely colours, lovely finish!

Comment by Karen

July 14, 2007 @ 2:14 pm

How adorable!

Pingback by sighclub » that other red stuff

March 15, 2008 @ 9:27 pm

[…] p.s. it’s interesting to see what other people have done with this pattern (Each word opens to a different photo) Butterfly - Fox - Preggers - Patches - Polka-Dots - Dragonfly - Fat-Quarters - Fans - Ambitious - Grey - Black-White (Looove this one) - Pink […]

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Leave a comment

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>