Toddler Purse Tutorial

 Hi there!  I am so excited to be apart of the Strawberry Biscuit Blog Hop!  I had so much fun creating with this playful fabric!  I am such a fan of Elea's work, she never disappoints! This collection has such a lovely appeal and is a delight to work with!

 For my project, I decided to make a fun purse for my little girl!  She is the ultimate "girly" girl and loves bags! She's a girl after my own heart! ;)

Skirt made with this cheater print! 

I decided on a simple tote style bag with cute ric-rac trim!  I added some fun little stuffed strawberries for some extra cuteness.   I love making tote style bags.  They sew up quickly, and there are no pattern pieces to trace and cut out.  So that makes this bag come together even more quickly! 

Let's get started! 

Supplies:

1/4 yard of pink exterior fabric

1/4 yard of blue accent fabric

3/8 yard of lining fabric

scrap batting

1 yard of mini ric rac

Cutting:

2 - 7" x 10" of exterior fabric (pink main)

2 - 3" x 10" of accent strip (blue)

2 - 9.5" x 10" pieces of batting

2 - 9.5" x 10" lining fabric (cheater print)

2 - 5" x 10" strips for handles (blue)

Step 1: Take your accent strip and your main exterior fabric and sew an accent strip to the top of the main exterior fabric.  Do this to both sets. 

Step 2: Place your exterior pieces on batting:

Step 3: Sew your ric rac into place and trim off excess batting:

Step 4: Place exterior pieces right sides together and sew around the left, right and bottom edges using a 3/8" seam allowance:

Step 5: Creating the Gussets (making the boxed corners)

With your bag exterior wrong sides out, open up your bottom corner.  Match the side seams with the bottom seam of your bag, so that you form a triangle.  Press it flat and pin into place. 

Step 6: With a ruler and marking pen - mark 1.5" from either side:

Step 7: Sew on that line and go over a few times - especially where you have the center seam.  This will just give it a little more reinforcement.

Step 8: Cut excess fabric off 1/4" from seam line:

Step 9: Do the same to the other side - so you now have both of your corners boxed:

Step 10: Now grab your lining pieces (you can choose to use some lightweight interfacing and stabilize these pieces if you would like.  Since I used batting for the exterior, I didn't feel like it was necessary in this case.

Step 11: Place right sides together and sew along the left, right and bottom edges using a 3/8" seam allowance.  Be sure to leave about a 3" opening along the bottom  - this will be the place where we will turn our bag right side out. 

Step 12: Take your handle pieces, press them in half.  Open, then press the left and right sides into the middle line, so you have no raw edges showing.  Sew along the long sides - staying very close to the edge:

Step 13: Take your handle and measure 2" from the side seams of your bag exterior.  Pin them into place:

Step 14:  Sew them on - using a scant 1/4" seam.  Do this to both sides of your bag.

Step 15: Place the exterior (right sides out) of your bag INSIDE the lining of your bag (the lining is wrong sides out). Tuck your handles in-between the two layers.

Line up the seams on either side and pin all the way around the opening of the bag.  Then sew all the way around the top of your bag using a 5/8" seam. 

Step 16: Now you will use the opening you left on your lining and turn the bag right side out.  Next you will sew the opening of your lining shut.  You can hand sew it shut, or just quickly sew it with your sewing machine. 

Step 17: Tuck your lining into the exterior of your bag and give it a good press.  Then do a top stitch along the top of the bag.  I made some cute stuffed strawberries from this lovely tutorial, and just attached them to the bag!

Yahoo! You're done! Now it's time to celebrate! :) I know little Avie is!! She is so excited to play with her new purse and put all kinds of special treasures in there!!

Next up on the Strawberry Biscuit Blog hop is Sarah of Pretty Fabrics and Trims and Megan of Quilt Story!  Hop over tomorrow to see what they made!

Talk to you soon,