TUTORIAL: Frame Purse

Are you bored of making the same old totes?  Are you looking to make something a bit more stylish?

 Maybe something you can use for a night out on the town?  Why not try out making one of these adorable little frame purses?

You won't believe how easy they are to whip up.  The most complicated part is drafting up a pattern, but no worries...I made one for you that you can just download and print.  Awesome, right?

No more excuses...ready to get started?

What You Need:

> 1 Fat Quarter for exterior

> 1 Fat Quarter for interior

> Fusible Interfacing

> Fusible Fleece (you can use cotton or polyester batting also)

> 1 6" x 3" Purse Frame  

> Gutermann Creativ Glue

> PDF Pattern

If you are looking for someplace to purchase frames/glue, I picked mine up HERE.

STEP 1

• Download the PDF Pattern 
  (If you wish to make a different size purse, you will need to draft your own pattern.  You can find directions on how to do this by doing a web search.)  

STEP 2:  Cut & Prepare the Fabric

• Cut 2 pieces of exterior fabric using the pattern
• Cut 2 pieces of lining fabric using the pattern
• Cut 2 pieces of interfacing using the pattern
• Cut 2 pieces of fusible fleece (or batting) using the pattern

• Fuse the fusible fleece to the wrong side of the exterior pieces
• Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the lining pieces

• If you're feeling creative and ambitious, you can quilt the exterior pieces - I made some freehand quilt lines for this particular purse.

STEP 3:  Construct The Purse

• Place the exterior pieces right sides together and sew down the sides and across the bottom as shown below.

 

• Repeat for the lining.
• Box out the corners by placing your hand inside the opening and flattening out the corner into a triangle.  (Your side seam will line up with your bottom seam.) 
• Mark a line across the triangle about 1" in from the center tip.  Sew (backtacking at start and end).     

• Clip the excess fabric off the corner.  

• Repeat for the other corner and the lining corners.  

STEP 4:  Combine The Pieces

• Place the exterior (right side facing out) INSIDE the lining (right side facing in).

• Line up the seams and pin in place.

• Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew around the top, leaving a 2-3" opening at the top to turn.

• Turn right side out and top stitch closing up the hole.

• Yeah!  You have this!  Now we just have to get this into our frame!

STEP 5:  Glue Purse to Frame

• You are in the home stretch here...but this is NOT the time to rush.  Let me repeat that....  DO NOT RUSH this step.  
• Grab your purse frame and your glue.

• Open up the frame and practice putting one side of the purse in it (without the glue).  Trust me, you will thank me for having you do this!  Figure out what works best for you.  I personally find it easiest to work with the exterior of the frame facing me, and starting from the left corner to the right - but you may be different.

• Once you feel comfortable, open your glue and place it around the inside of ONE SIDE of the frame.  Start about 1/2" from one hinge and work your way around to 1/2" from the opposite hinge, making sure that you have an even stream of glue along the channel.

• Let this sit for a minute so it settles, then go ahead and work the fabric into the channel...CAREFULLY!  Try to get as little glue on the outside of the frame as possible.  Don't worry if you do get a little though - a little nail polish remover will get rid of that later.
  
• You can use a pointy object (scissors, chopstick, etc) to make sure all the fabric is tucked nice and tight into the frame channel...just be sure not to cut the fabric!

• Let this sit for about 10 minutes and set before doing the other side.  

• Once you get the other side secured, you need to let this sit for about 24 hours to dry.  I know...you are going to be so tempted to show it off immediately, but resist the temptation...I promise it will be ready to use tomorrow night!

So, while you're waiting, why not go ahead and make another!  I know you want to!