How to Make a Beaded Envelope Purse
The classic envelope-style clutch purse, embellished with beads and spangles, is a classic for evening or bridal wear. With a brighter fabric and more playful motifs in the beadwork, it can come out to play in the daytime. A random scattering of beads can also be knitted or crocheted right into the fabric. By any means, the envelope shape is simple enough to stand back and let your beadwork play the starring role.
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Things You'll Need
- 1/3 yard linen fabric
- Scissors
- Dressmaker chalk or marker
- Beading needle
- Pearl cotton or silk ribbon for embroidery in yellow and green
- 8 oz. medium glass seed beads in yellow or gold
- 4 oz. medium glass seed beads to match fabric color
- Threaded sewing machine
Instructions
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1
Cut two rectangles of fabric 18 inches long and 12 inches wide. Cut a triangle off of one end on a line that starts 10 inches from the corner along the 12-inch end and extends 4 inches up from the same corner along the long side.
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2
Fold one rectangle in thirds like a C, right side out, with the angled flap on top. Mark small X's randomly scattered on the space exposed where you cut off the triangle, staying at least an inch in from the edge. Mark a center point for a starburst on the flap.
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3
Stitch three yellow beads in a tight cluster on each of the scattered X's. Bring the needle up close to a cluster of yellow beads and thread on six of the other beads. Run the needle back close to where it came up, making a loop of the beads. Tack the loop to the surface between beads. Make 5 such loops around each cluster of yellow beads. Use green ribbon or cotton to stitch stems under your flowers, and add leaves or grass along the fold if you like.
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4
Stitch yellow beads, a few at a time, in lines extending out from the starburst center you marked on the flap, again staying at least an inch away from both the side and angle edges.
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5
Lay the second piece of fabric, which will be the lining, out over the piece you've beaded, matching edges and right sides together. Machine stitch, leaving a 1/2-inch seam allowance, around all sides but the straight 12-inch end. Trim seams and angle across corners. Turn the bag right side out. Turn in 1/2 inch along the open end and stitch a 3/8-inch in and again as close to the edge as possible.
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6
Fold the beaded rectangle panel insides-together as you did to mark it for beading. Check the fit with the embroidered flap before machine-stitching 1/4 inch in from each edge to form the envelope.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a dark velvet instead of linen and scatter clear crystals under a crescent moon for an evening bag, but softer fabrics may need interlining pressed to the wrong side of the lining to hold their shape, and the lining may need to be of a firmer fabric itself.
Thread larger beads on crochet cotton and pull them up randomly into the stitches for the flap and front panel as you knit or crochet the same basic rectangle shape. Line this bag with a firm fabric, or with two layers and an interlining, if your lining will show through the beaded knitting.
References
- Photo Credit bag image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
