Pretty Lady Purses

I tell you, this printing onto fabric is going to cost me a fortune in ink cartridges, but its such good fun! You can have whatever you like, although you're obviously limited to A4 size.

A4 size however is perfect for making a purse.

I spend a fair amount of time trawling eBay for purse frames and although you have to wait a couple of weeks for them to arrive from Hong Kong, the choice and price is really good. This was a 4 inch sew in frame and cost about £3 including postage. I've made purses similar to this before, but with a glue in frame, but I'm never 100% confident that the glue will hold and when you're selling something, you need to be sure.

I made the fabric by scattering a load of card toppers over the printer, (with a couple strategically placed) to get the design I wanted. Then iron some freezer paper onto the fabric, cut to size and print away. Give it a quick iron to set the picture.

I then ironed interfacing onto the back and cut it to shape. For this purse, I cut a square 21cm x 21cm, but in retrospect I could have done with making it a bit deeper so probably 21cm x 24cm will fair you a lot better!
You also want to cut a square of felt and a square of lining material all the same size.

So, take your main fabric, fold in half, right sides facing, and sew up the sides. then poke out the corners, flatten them down and draw a line across 3cm from the point to box out the base. Sew across this line and trim off the excess.

Turn the right way round.

Then, place the felt on top of the lining material and repeat the same process, but don't turn out as you then want to pop the outer part of the purse inside the lining. Match up the side seams and pin all the way around.
Sew around the top, leaving a reasonable gap for turning out.

Turn the right way round and press around the top with your open edges folded inwards. I then just top stitched around the entire top which closes the gap.
After that, all that's left to do is to sew it onto your frame. I say all. This is probably the trickiest bit and your fingers will feel it for the following day. You'll need a pretty hefty needle and some embroidery thread. on the first side, centre up the frame and sew in place. then tuck in the sides so they are on the inside of the frames downwards sides and sew the other side.

Sometimes I find that you have to twist the frame slightly to get it to snap tightly shut, but that's it. And if you've printed off your own fabric, then its a total one off too!

Peg Bag

Ok. Washing on, pot of coffee made. And the sun's out. Finally. I have got soaked so many times on the school run its just not funny any more. We live within a couple of minutes walk of the school so I steadfastly refuse to take the car, but honestly... the first few times I put it down to coincidence, but now I think something has a purpose.
And with the sun taking up residence, albeit probably briefly, here's my peg bag tutorial. Once upon a time I never used to associate sunshine and clothes drying possibilities; now one sniff of a sunny day and I'm stripping the beds!

I hadn't even thought about peg bags until I got asked for one at a craft fair last month. Then my mum got asked for one on a craft stall she was running. And I guess they're kind of useful. You need somewhere to keep your pegs after all! Plus they're very easy to make, which is always a good thing.

You will need:

Two rectangles of outer fabric about 33cm x 44cm. You want something pretty hard wearing as it'll be hanging on your washing line and if you're anything like me you won't remember to take it in and out on a daily basis!
One rectangle of calico the same size and one of a nice backing fabric.
A coat hanger.

Into one of the main fabric pieces and the calico, cut your hole- size and shape entirely up to you, I think mine was about 10cm x 20cm.

Place the front pieces right sides together, pin and sew around the hole. Then snip around the curve to make it lie flat when you turn it.

Turn the right way round and iron flat, then top stitch around the hole.

 At this point you can add any design you like. I went for a peg. (Imaginative) This also provided me with the chance to have a play with my embroidery foot which it great fun, if a little uncontrollably scary at times!

Next, turn in the top to make the hole for the coat hanger- both sides. Press and stitch.

Repeat with the back sections. Put them wrong sides facing together, turn in the top by the same amount as the front and sew together.
All that's left to do after that is to place the front and back right sides facing and sew around the edges, leaving the top open for your hanger. I did a straight stitch, then a zigzag to strengthen the seams. Turn the right way out and press, then insert your hanger. I had to trim mine slightly to fit. No problem.

So there you have it. One peg bag. Cue black clouds...