Friday, August 12, 2016

Summer Purse

I was sooooo proud when I finished this purse, and now I am soooooo sad that it didn't hold up.  I got it in my head to make a "perfect purse" for me.  I wanted it to be cross-body and pretty small, but big enough to hold all my necessities.  I wanted to to be colorful but to go with everything, of course.  I wanted professional-looking leather elements and metal hardware.  


I was able to achieve all of these goals, and I used this bag with delight for about a month... and then the problems with a bag made from cute quilting cotton became evident - it was getting dirty and it became so totally floppy as the interfacing got broken-in that I wasn't happy with the way it looked anymore.  I am really happy with how the leather bits turned out, though.  I love the contrasting colors.


I started out with a pattern from the book Zaka Style, but I significantly changed the proportions and pockets.


The only sewing challenges I had was getting that orange pocket to stay straight without being able to pin or even binder-clip it in place since it wasn't on the edge, and the long leather strip just above the orange pocket.  That strip was one of the last things I did, though, and I think I was just getting tired and losing my patience to go slowly.


I was so pleased with my little cell phone pocket on the back with the magnetic snap.


The straps even turned out pretty well.


I really enjoyed picking my fabrics, and not a lot was needed, so it wasn't very expensive to make.  I also had the scraps of leather on hand as well as most of the hardware.


See?  It perfectly held everything I like to lug around.  It is the floppiness that drove me nuts after a while, though.  More interfacing would definitely help, but the issue of it just getting dirty isn't so easy to solve.  Oh well.  I enjoyed it for a while, and then I went out and bought myself a nice little blue cross-body bag that I've been carrying since.  

6 comments:

  1. Is it wrong that I'm dying to see the blue purse you bought? I think the one you made is adorable but it seems like a lot of work just to have to break down so quickly. I haven't been able to make myself sew a purse yet.

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    1. Haha it's not wrong at all! I'll have to wear it in an outfit soon. This one was definitely too much work for the product. I have made other bags I am happier with, that have held up better, but they are either washable (all cotton) or just used occasionally.

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  2. It looks fabulous! So sad it didn't hold up :-(. I've only made floppy bags for the granddaughters and beach bags, all of which can be tossed in the washer with no problem. I bought a pattern for a concealed carry purse from Studio Kat Designs, but I haven't made it yet. I have quilting cotton for the purse, but with a vinyl bottom, so hopefully that will help it stay somewhat clean, because I won't be tossing it in the washer! :-)

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    1. It will also help that you're not wearing it every day, everywhere, dragging it through your life to dirty up. :-) I want to see it when it's done!!

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  3. The only bags that I have ever held up for me were made of upholstery fabric. If you get the urge again, use upholstery fabric. But it's very cute!

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  4. It is cute, and you've done a great job on that strap.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! It is wonderful to know someone is reading. :-)