Monday, September 26, 2011

Making Windows for my Purse (Tutorial)



The other day I was sewing while watching Numbers Season 1 and had to stop the show to remember how to make a window. I thought I'd show you how to make one.
Pick a decorative print and the lining. I'm using white for my lining and scrap uniform pants for the outside.
The lining is easier to handle if it's a bit big.


This is a double window with heavy vinyl sandwiched between.
This is my original learning sample and I couldn't stand to throw it away so I made a purse for it. :)


 I lay out the material right sides together. Then draw the shape I want. I used disappearing ink on this one.




Sew around the window, try to make your corners sharp.


Cut out the shape, if it's curved do it slowly and with a bit more care, the more cuts on the curve the nicer it will lay.


Poke the lining through to the back.


Keep working it out.


Pull as you iron flattening the lining.


Press the front making sure the lining shows how ever much you want. You can have a thicker lining show just by pressing it that way. You can also pull the lining back so you barely see it. It the lining matches the decorative fabric you barely see the lining.


Here's the purse. I made the shapes first then laid them out on the inside of the purse. Then I made slightly bigger windows and sandwiched vinyl between the two. I used a new blue jean needle. I also slapped a piece of tissue paper on the back so the vinyl wouldn't stick. I used on sheet of Vinyl so I didn't have to juggle the little pieces.


You can see the vinyl on the back here. I used clear packing tape folded over to a 3 thickness and made backings so the pictures would slide in and stay positioned. Then I sewed it again.


I slid in pictures so you could see. I'll be placing my grandson's pictures in these spots, or maybe Johnny Depp, David Bowie or maybe even Crispin Glover. :)



Closeup of the triangle




I needed to clean up the inside and used up the end of my brown duct tape roll.

Picked a very pretty purple lining.

Inside view before I sewed it.
I used the button extender pins that you see on TV for the purse. I found them going for .50 cents a box at an office supply store and grabbed them up.  They are like big post earrings.
I sewed Velcro on the insides of the side with the pictures. and just folded over and attached lining to the purse after putting in the handle. So I can open the purse and change the pictures.
I know it has a long handle, I made this purse for me.





Very happy with my new purse.
Tip Junkie handmade projects

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Facebook does it again :(

Woke up this morning and was going to quickly check my FaceBook before I started a busy day and Whap, Bang, Kaplow!
It's new again.
I accidently pressed a blue triangle taking my favorite site out of my flow? I think? Can't figure out really what I did.
The recent is way down when that's all I want. I don't want the Headlines they pick for me.
I'm so disapointed I wish they would have just left it alone. Now I have to go Google how to fix a blue triangle thingy cause their help is so lacking.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Finished 2 purses

Finished my flamingo


Mom came in saw the purse and snatched it up.

Finished Teddy Bear purse

Added a closure.

No pockets.
I'm very happy with how these two purses turned out.

I added a zippered attatched coin purse because of the lack of pockets. :)

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

A Wedding, A Flamingo and a Teddy Bear

Hopefully I’m back. It’s been a strange month or two. My DD got married; outside in the middle of Fort Worth TX on one of those over 100 days we had in August. I’ve been recovering from this very sudden Elopement (with people following).

I’ve been fighting some stress related stuff in my head and stopped creating for a bit. Then…I started editing my work again and found my muse. I’m not writing new stuff yet but I’ve started to sew again.

I purchased a clutch pattern a few months ago and pulled it out. This is no clutch it’s a full blown purse, because of the size I modified it a bit to have straps. Only a linebacker could hold this thing in a hand.

I riffled through my embroidery (in the machine) patterns and found a cute flamingo and popped that baby right on the front of the purse. Then I added some hand sewing ( I know shock!!!) silk ribbon embroidery and some seed beads to pop it up a bit.


While I was searching for a silk ribbon needle I found a cute little teddy bear I'd done a long time ago. The moment I saw it I knew I had to make a purse for it. I had to make my husband pause Numbers so I could figure out how to do the window in the side of the purse. I found a teddy bear material for a lining. I forgot to put in pockets so I think I might make a change purse to match. 

The strap is denim and says Teddy Bear along the length. I'll be setting the strap in the purse tomorrow.

I also found a pile of Silk Ribbon Embroidery I made. I'm going to make purses for these too.