Loop Handle Purse Frame Tutorial - Pleated Pouch of Apples

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I've finished the purse that I was working on this week.  I have used Baby Cord Apples Fabric, and a Loop Handle Purse Frame.  The purse is not hard to make, why not give it a go?

Front view

Inside view

Here's How I Put It Together

You will need:

• 1/2 yard of heavy weight sew-in
• 1/2 yard of Baby Cord Apples fabric and matching thread
• 1/2 yard lining fabric and matching thread
• 1x Loop Handle Purse Frame

1.  Cut your fabric pieces.  I drew a free hand pattern on a piece of paper folded in half (so the pattern would be symmetrical).  The measurements of the pattern (opened out) are: 24cm across the top, 28 cm along the bottom, and 20cm from top to bottom.  Draw a free hand  curve for the rounded corners of the bag.  Cut: 2 pattern pieces for the bag exterior, 2 pieces for the heavy sew-in interlining, and 2 pieces for the bag lining.  Cut  2 rectangles measuring 24cm x 8cm of apple fabric, and 2 same sized rectangles of heavy sew-in for the purse rod casing.

Cut 2 pieces each of all of these shapes

 

2. Make casings for the purse frame rods.  Place one of the apple fabric rectangles wrong side up on the table and then lay one of the sew-in rectangles on top.  Fold-in both of the short edges of the rectangle so that the resulting  rectangle is 14cm long.   Repeat steps with the other rectangle of apple fabric and sew-in interlining.  Top stitch the short edges of rectangle.  Fold-in 1cm both of the long edges of the rectangle and top stitch. Repeat step with the other rectangle.

Fold in the short edges

Finished purse rod casing (front & back view)

3.  Sew exterior bag.  Create a sandwich with the apple pieces (right sides touching each other) in the middle and the sew-in interlining on the outside.  Pin everything together.  Measure 7cm down from both top edge corners and mark.  Starting from one of the markings sew around the sides and bottom of the exterior and stop at the other marking.  Turn right side out.


You can just see the 7cm pencil markings in the photo


4.  Sew lining.  With right sides together pin the lining pieces together.  Mark 7cm down from top edges as in step 3.   Starting from one of the markings sew around the sides and bottom of lining as in step 3 EXCEPT YOU HAVE TO LEAVE A 15CM OPENING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LINING.

5.  Bring exterior and lining together.   With right side out slip the exterior bag into lining bag.  The right sides of the lining and the exterior bag should now be touching each other.

Slip the exterior bag into the lining bag

 

6.  Sew the two flaps of the purse. On one of the flaps pin the exterior to the lining.  Start sewing at the stitching on the lining bag, sew all around the top flap of the purse, stop where the stitching ends on the lining (see arrows in picture).  Repeat for the other purse flap.

Blue arrows show where you start and end stitching for the flaps

 

7.  Pull the exterior bag through the hole in the lining.  I always love this bit - it makes think of baby bags being born!  Pop the lining into the exterior bag and smooth everything out.

This should be be the result - smooth it all out.

8.  Pleat the purse flaps.  Mark the centre top edge of the flap with a pin.  Pleat the flap as shown in the picture.  Hold the pleats in place with pins.  Important; ensure that after pleating the flap is the same length as the rectangular casing (14cm long).  Hand sew a few stitches to keep the pleats in place.  Repeat with the other purse flap.

Pleat evenly, secure with pins, and sew a few hand stitches to secure

9.  Attach the casing to the purse flap. Take one of the casing rectangles and fold it in half over the pleated purse flap.  This is a little fiddly because you can't pin the casing onto the flap as it is all too bulky for pins.  Hold the casing over the flap with a steady and firm hand, and (slowly) sew the casing onto the flap close to the edge of the casing making sure that you are catching all of the layers as you sew.  Repeat with the other casing rectangle and flap.

10.  Almost finished! Sew the opening on the lining closed by pushing the raw edges into the hole with your finger and top stitching.  Thread the purse rods though the casing on and the frame and eh voila!

Next time I'll mostly be making a purse using a traditional purse frame...