Thursday, April 8, 2010

Act 2: Dragonfly Purse

 

 

 

 


If you looked closely at the lining photos in my last post...

...you will have noticed that half of the lining is 'upside down'.

This is one of those things which happens to me a lot while I'm sewing...

...see why I'm primarily a felter, now? Grin.

When my bag was finished and dry...

...I sliced across the top with my rotary cutter, making a straight edge.

Next, I traced the bag outline on paper for a lining pattern...

...adding a 1/4th inch seam allowance all around (1/2 inch for the top edge).

After cutting, I added a pocket to each side of the lining...

...and sewed the lining front and back together...

...leaving the top open, but folding the edge over twice for a neat seam.

After looking at my re-purposed belt pieces again recently...

...I realized that 'thinnner is better' (at least for straps!).

So...I cut the wider strap into two 1/2-inch-wide lengths...

...and sewed them to the lining (wrong side) with a leather sewing machine needle.

I stuffed the lining into the bag, placing the top edge even with the bag edge...

...and making sure it fit well down into the bag recess, then sewed it all around.

A magnetic purse closure was hand-sewn into the bag for security...

...and one of my cloth labels.

I like these straps so much better than the single one on my flower bag...

...that I'm going to remove, cut-up and re-attach the strap on that purse, too!





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15 comments:

FeltersJourney said...

Lovely bag! Ive had some `fun` with bag linings too. This lining is done beautifully, good idea to use the belt for the straps too.

Anonymous said...

I'm rather glad you enjoy making purses, because you MAKE THEM SO WELL!!! I love it!! I'm sure you may have guessed I would. Adorable!! Love the colors, love the dragonflies, love the shape, love the lining. What more is there to say. It's perfect!

I also thought your pillow, and "egg" table topper pretty darn cute and totally unique. I am enjoying your growth and development in your chosen art form. Congratulations! You are doing so well. :)

Kelly said...

Love this! I am off for a week and you have me wanting to try working with prefelts and now lining a bag! Thanks for giving me the inspiration to try new things!

Kim van Waardenburg said...

wouw suepr Heather~!! I am no good in sewing so I never tried making a lining:( You are getting an expert in this!!

Jackie said...

What a cute bag. Such lovely colours.

Heather Woollove said...

Thanks for your sweet comments...what fun it is to have blogger friends like you!

Gifelt said...

Grazie della visita che ricambio volentieri. belle le tue borse!
Ciao
Giulia

CLAUDIA said...

Hello Heather, i like your bags!!! I think your wrote a comment on my blog sime time ago, and I did something wrong so i cancelled it: I am sorry about this and I must apologise to you! I was just a mistake by me.

I hopo you will visit my blog again...

Ciao
Claudia

Kathleen said...

Love the dragonfly purse!! And your detailed description of how you created the lining and stitched it in is very helpful to the rest of us.

Bravo!!

Kathy

filz-t-raum.ch said...

hello heather,
very, good feltwork!!! your dragonfly purse is beautiful....
bye,
filz-t-raum.ch

Karen said...

great bag....and you definitely qualify as a felter!

Lydia Karlheim said...

i remember the fabric that you lined the purse with!

Sjell Dohmen said...

Hello Heather,
Thanks for visiting my blog.
I love your butterfly bag really it's a wonderfull bag.
What is the size of the bag?

go on!!!!!!

Sjell
fttp://feltingisart.blogspot.com

Sjell Dohmen said...

Hai heather,
You butterfly bag is beautiful.
Great work.
Go on.

Thanks for visiting my blog!!!!

Sjell Dohmen
http://feltingisart.blogspot.com

Heather Woollove said...

Lydia-I know! That lining fabric is nearly as old as you are!

Angele-The dimensions of the bag are approximately 7-inches wide at
the top, 12-inches wide at the bottom, and 13-inches tall (the body of the bag...not including the straps)