This is just a bit of leftover fabric from my kitchen towel project. I always put on an extra yard of warp for sampling, and since I did did very little sampling for the kitchen towels, I thought I would have enough warp left to do a runner. I made the towels longer than I initially planned so there was only a small bit of warp left when I finished. I thought I would just put this last bit of woven fabric in my sample notebook, but a friend recommended making it into a little handbag. I'm so happy with that idea! I've ordered leather handles from Homestead Heirloom Leather which should arrive early next week!
This was a quick, fun project for leftover fabric!
Construction details: This bag was made from my uncut piece of handwoven cloth which was 17 1/2" wide by 19" long (after machine washing and drying). I folded the cloth in half and sewed 1/2" side seams, leaving the selvedges as the top of the bag. This turned the Monk's Belt sideways.
To create the bag's depth I made what I call a "paper bag" seam at the bottom of each side seam, as shown in one of the photos. It measured 3" from end to end.
Lining: Cut a piece of lining fabric the same size as the handwoven fabric. Cut a pocket of whatever size you want from the lining fabric; hem all four sides; attach to center of lining fabric on one side and sew around three sides, leaving top open. Make the bag lining just as you made the bag above (side seams first, then 'paper bag' seam).
Turn bag right side out, but leave lining wrong side out and put the lining bag inside the handwoven fabric bag. Make adjustments to the triangles of the paper bag seam so both lining and handwoven triangle seam allowances are on the bottom of the bag. At this point put magnetic closures into the lining fabric. Then fold a small hem in the lining fabric to match the selvedge edge of the handwoven fabric along the top of the bag. I sewed the lining to the selvedge by hand. I then added the leather loops and the handle which came from Homestead Heirloom (use the link above).
How did you make the purse. Could you please go into more detail? Did you just sew the sides up? What did you use for a closing? What size is it? Thanks, Sally
Sally, Good point! I should include more details, so I will edit the description to include that. Meanwhile, I can tell you that the finished bag is 8" tall, 8" wide, and 3" deep. I have a magnetic closure inside. I'll post info about the construction and the lining. Thanks for looking!
I was sick during the first half of Feb, and *completely* missed this project post at the time it was posted! I love that you included photo detail of the construction. Fantastic! Thanks, Brenda!
