Project by Aixe Djelal from Portland, Ore.When Aixe describes her handmade purses as "Grace Kelly meets the X Games," you get a glimpse of her own sparkling personality. In this project, Aixe mixes funky fabrics with functional finds to create an eye-catching nontraditional handbag.
Materials:
fabric *
scissors
pencil
design sketch
paper for template
needle
thread
straight pins
sewing weights (optional)
chalk pencil
iron
buckles/toggles from outdoor or Army/Navy store
* Choose contrasting fabrics for visual interest or matching fabrics for a more traditional look. If you are making a purse out of washable fabrics, make sure to wash and dry your fabrics prior to constructing the purse. Iron all fabrics that allow it. Do NOT iron fake fur, and pay attention to ironing instructions for other synthetic fibers.
Steps:
1. Determine purse dimensions and shapes, making sketches, and draw pattern pieces on paper (newspaper, butcher paper, or brown paper bags all work) (figure A). Cut out with scissors. Remember to leave a 1/2-inch seam allowance on all sides.
2. Decide how you are going to construct your purse (the order in which you sew the pieces together is very important). Lay your fabric out flat on a good cutting surface (large dining room tables and wood floors work well) with the right side of the fabric facing down. 3. Lay your paper pattern pieces on the fabric and attach them with straight pins or sewing weights so they don't slide around. Trace around the paper pattern pieces with a chalk pencil and carefully cut out your pieces (figure B).
Note: If your fabric has a pattern in it (especially stripes or plaids), make sure that your paper pattern pieces are aligned on the fabric very deliberately.
4. Iron each piece of fabric, except for fabrics that should not be ironed, like fake fur.
5. Pin the fabric pieces together (figure C), sew together and enjoy!
Website: www.yummypurse.com
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