With so many wonderful purse frames available today, you can use your favorite techniques to create beautiful one-of-a-kind purses by using a wide variety of fabric remnants. If you choose to create a quilted coin purse, you'll want to add a layer of thin batting.
Materials:
purse frame
pattern for purse (most frames come with patterns or you can create your own by tracing one of your favorite coin purses)
pattern paper
scraps of fabric
muslin
fabric lining
batting
fusible web
sewing and decorative threads (40 wt. rayon and metallic threads)
embroidery needle
darning/embroidery foot
straight pins
embroidery hoop
cording or chain
Steps:
Basic Purse
- Trace the purse pattern onto the pattern paper.
- Draw designs within the area of the pattern outline. Before completing the design pattern, place the purse frame in the approximate position of the finished purse to make sure you won't lose any important design elements when you fit all of the pieces of the purse together.
- Cut the muslin backing fabric in the shape of the purse outline, adding an inch all of the way around the design.
- Draw a pattern piece for the background of the body of the purse on the paper side of the fusible web, making it slightly larger than the actual background. Iron it onto the back of the fabric.
- Fuse the background fabric to the muslin backing following the manufacturers' instructions.
- Next, draw each part of your purse's design in reverse on the paper side of the fusible web.
- Apply the fusible web to the back of the fabric pieces that will create the design with an iron.
- Cut out each design's shape with sharp scissors, and iron each piece into position on the background fabric.
- Machine stitch around each shape using your favorite stitch in either the same color or contrasting color thread. If you prefer, you could hand stitch instead.
Embellishing - Drop or cover the feed dogs on your sewing machine, and insert the darning/embroidery foot and an embroidery needle.
- Thread machine with your choice of decorative threads.
- Though the fabric should be fairly stable at this point, you can use an embroidery hoop for extra security. Move it from area to area as you sew. Always start in the middle of the design, and work outward in a circular motion.
- You are now ready to "paint" with the threads. Practice on some scraps of the same thickness before working on your purse. Outline certain areas, then add colors and textures to create an embellished design.
- Add additional items like beads, ribbons or found objects to the purse by hand.
- Cut your designs to fit the original pattern, and construct as directed.
- Sew the purse to the frame using heavy thread. Stitch the purse twice to ensure durability.
- Attach cording or chain to create a handle, or attach a longer piece to create a necklace with a smaller purse.
Resources felt
National Nonwovens
Website:
www.nationalnonwovens.com
BagLady purse frames, accessories
BagLady Press Inc.
Evergreen, CO
Phone: 303-670-2177
Toll Free Phone: 888-222-4523
Email:
baglady@baglady.com
URL:
www.baglady.com
Guests Sheila Haynes Rauen
Multi-Media Artist
2037 Rivergate Dr.
Knoxville, TN 37920
E-mail:
SHRAUEN@aol.com
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