How to Make Purses & Backpacks
This basic pattern is good for both a purse or a backpack. The difference will be the length and placement of the straps. You can make this small enough for a preschooler or large enough for an adult. By varying the fabric you can dress it up for evening or down for schoolbook toting. This project is definitely a femme with frou frou, but canvas works too.
Things You'll Need
- 12x36 inch polished cotton in floral fabric 3x18 inch floral fabric for purse strap 4x24 inch gusset--both floral and sateen 12x36 inch sateen liner 2-6x14 inch strip of sateen 3x14 inch quilt batting Sewing machine with button hole attachment Scissors Pin Thread Jeweled button--Big and Gaudy
Instructions
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1
Cut out the fabric and liner pieces. Sew the gusset piece 12 inches from the top around the side and bottom of the liner on one side, then seam the other side to form the bottom of the bag. Do the same with the outside floral.
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2
Place the liner and outer fabric right sides together and sew around the top edge flap, and across the gusset ides, leaving the front open so that the inside can be drawn out, turn with the liner on the inside and the edge hand stitched shut.
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3
The purse/bag is completed with a flap that comes down the front almost to the bottom. To make a closure, use the buttonhole attachment to sew a button hole the width of the button in the bottom center of the flap. Hand stitch the button in place.
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4
Stitch and turn the 3x18 inch purse strap piece of fabric. Turn the raw edges in and seam shut. Pin the ends of the purse strap 2 inches down the inside of the gusset and secure with a double line of stitches at the bottom and top of the purse strap. When not in use as a purse strap it will be tucked inside the bag.
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5
Fold the 6x14 inch sateen in half, right sides together. Pin the batting to the wrong side. Stitch down the side seam and turn, smoothing the batting evenly inside the fabric. Turn the raw edges inside and pin the bottom to the backside of the pack at the bottom side edge. Stitch in place. Pin the top to the top backside of the pack just before the top fold. Stitch in place and repeat for the other side. Your femme pack/purse is fashionably ready.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do this for a small child, go for super-hero fabric or princess material and make it smaller according to their size. Your teen will appreciate a canvas back pack in his school colors to hold his gym paraphernalia. You need to make yourself one out of gold leather.
