Strawberry Purse

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• 1/2yard Cotton Strawberry Fabric
• 1yard Cotton Green Leaf Fabric
• Thread: Red, Green
• Pins
• Scissors
• Safety Pin
• Rotary Cutter
• Cutting Mat and Ruler
• Iron and Ironing Board

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut out (2) 15"x 15" squares in the strawberry fabric.
2. Using a ruler, cut both squares across the diagonal to create 4 total triangular pieces.
3. Face the right sides together of each set of triangles and sew along the shorter edges.
4. Flip one set of triangles to have the right sides out and iron seams flat.
5. Iron the seam of the second set of triangles but leave the right sides in - this will be the lining of the purse.
6. Dip the lining into the purse form and pin along the open edges to keep the layers lined up. Set aside.
7. Print out the attached pattern PDF and assemble, then cut out.
8. Layer 4 layers of the green leaf fabric and trace your pattern. Cut out.
9. Now you will attach the leaf pieces to form 2 long sections. With the right sides together sew 2 leaf pieces together along the short side edge. Use a 1/2" seam allowance. Repeat with the other 2 leaf pieces.
10. Line up the 2 long leaf sections with the right sides together and pin.
11. Stitch along the zig zags of the leaf. Leave the bottom open.
12. Open up the short edges and stitch them together to form a loop of leaves.
13. Before turning make sure to use scissors to clip small darts in the seam allowance for the curve of the leaf base.
14. Turn right side out and press leaves flat.
15. Line up the unfinished edges of the leaves outside of the purse/lining and re-pin them all together.
16. Stitch all 4 layers together as you sew around the loop.
17. Cut a 42"x 2" strip of green fabric to create the tubing for cinching the purse.
18. Fold in the long edges of the strips so they meet at the center. Press. This will be the strip that will hold your strings.
19. Fold over and press one of your short edges so that the unfinished edges aren't exposed. Line this folded edge at either of the side seams of the leaves.
20. Next, line up the long edge of your folded strip with the base seam of the leaves. Pin in place.
21. Stitch along the bottom and top of the folded strip to form a tube. Leave the short edges open so that the string can eventually be pulled through. You will need to fold the opposite short edge when you get to the end, just like you did at the beginning of the tube.
22. Next create the cinch string for the purse, by cutting out a 43"x 2" strip of the leaf green fabric.
23. Fold in the short edges of the strips approx. 1/2" and press.
24. Fold in the long edges of the strips so they meet at the center. Press.
25. Fold the strips lengthwise again so that all raw edges are hidden. Press.
26. Stitch down the open edge to close and create your string. It will be approx. 1/2" wide.
27. Use a safety pin to thread the string through the loop in the purse you created earlier.
28. To create the purse handle, cut out a 48"x 4" strip (you may need to stitch together two separate strips to make it long enough).
29. Follow the same steps you used to create the cinch string except the folds will be 1" wide.
30. Use a needle and thread to hand sew the handles to the inner side seam where the leaves come together with the purse body.

JOANN HACKS:

• To get the leaves sharp and crisp, snip off excess seam allowance at the tips. Also, you can use a thin dowel rod, dull pencil, knitting needle, etc. to help push them out.