Thank you to everyone who voted for me in the
So You Think You're Crafty Auditions! I made it to 'the show'! Competition starts in January. I'm already gathering ideas and getting really excited about trying some new things. :)
I've already learned a lot just from the audition rounds; namely with my photographs. I thought my photos were fairly bright until I saw the other contestants photos. They were so bright and colorful and your eyes were really drawn to them. So, I will be working on having better photographs to go with my projects.
Today I'm sharing the tutorial for the nautical purse I made for auditions.
Awhile ago, I found a ton of amazing fabrics at an estate sale. I took home a trash bag full for only $5! In that stash was this piece of navy striped canvas fabric. I love stripes and I love the nautical trend that's happening right now! And this fabric instantly spoke nautical purse to me. The lady had already sewn it into a pillow case shape. I just had to trim off the top to make it the right size. Whoo hoo!
Also in the estate sale stash was a denim-like fabric that match the navy stripes perfectly. I used it to construct the interior, handles, and anchor applique. Can you tell from the pictures that the applique is the backside of the fabric? That was on purpose. I just liked the look of it better in reverse. I thought the right side of the fabric so close to the handles was just a little too much of the solid navy color. Using the back side of the fabric gives it just enough variety but still flows with the color scheme.
Supplies:
Solid Denim (Interior, straps, applique):
Straps: 4 2" x 42"
Interior: 1 10.75" x 15" on fold
Applique: 7" x 8"
Striped Fabric (Exterior, zipper pouch)
Exterior: 2 10.75" x 15"
Pouch: 10.5" x 6.75"
Interfacing: 2 10.75" x 15" (I used a lightweight fusible interfacing because my fabric was already fairly thick. If you are using a thinner fabric, you will probably want a heavier interfacing.)
7" Zipper
Magnetic closure
Heat n Bond
Instructions:
Start by sewing your straps. Place two of the strap pieces right sides together together. Sew down the long sides leaving the short sides open. Inverse. A safety pin will really help pull the fabric through. Press and top stitch along the long sides.
If you are using fusible interfacing. Apply that to the wrong side of your exterior fabric according to package directions.
Place straps on your exterior fabric and pin in place.
Turn your exterior fabric pieces (with straps pinned in place) right sides together. Line everything up so your stripes match on the sides and the straps line up on the bottom. You may have to readjust the straps at the bottom.
Sew down the sides and bottom creating your bag.
Pinch the bottom corners so that you seam allowances match up and sew across making a gusset. This will allow your bag to have a square bottom and stand up. Cut off the excess.
Lay your exterior pieces to the side. It's time to work on the interior now.
First we need to put the zipper in the pocket piece. Lay your zipper down and trace where you want the zipper to be. I used one of those air erase pens where the ink disappears after awhile. You couldn't really see the ink in the photos because it was so light, so I drew it out in photobucket.
The green rectangle is the shape of the zipper with zipper tape; the whole thing. The yellow reversed arrow is where you will need to cut to make a hole for the zipper. I used an X-acto knife.
Once you have the reversed arrow cut, place your zipper. Fold the flaps made from cutting the reverse arrow under and pin to the zipper tape. Sew around securing your zipper.
Next, fold or press the raw edges of your pocket under and pin to the right side of your interior fabric. Sew around. Now you have a zipper pocket for the interior of your purse.
Fold your interior fabric right sides together and sew up the sides.
Gusset the corners the same way you did the exterior piece.
Put in your magnetic closures on the interior fabric. I forgot this step until the very end and had to take out stitches, so I didn't end up taking pictures of this step, but the package gives very good directions.
Put the interior piece inside the exterior. Fold raw edges in and pin around. Top stitch all the way around.
At this point, the purse was made, but something was just missing. It was too plain and boring. That's when I added the applique, which I also forgot to take pictures of so I'll just try to explain.
I printed and cut out a picture of the anchor from my computer and used that as a template to cut my fabric and Heat & Bond. I applied fray check to the fabric. Then I followed the package directions to iron on the applique.
Ok, so this tutorial was kind-a rough. Hopefully, you can work through my incomplete photo taking. If not, please feel free to email me with any questions. Thanks all!
