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Another Elegant Bow Purse

Another Elegant Bow Purse

In the spring on 2012, I made our middle daughter a new purse as a thank you for allowing us to stay with her before Dave’s spring contract started.   She has used the purse every day since and it was definitely showing it’s age.

Middle daughter's purse made in 2012

We’ve been talking about making her a new one for a few months now.  I had picked up suitable drapery weight fabric on sale for the outside and she found a great price on half a meter of silver dupioni silk for the bow.   But that’s as far as we’d gotten in the planning of it.

She is now in the process of pursuing a career change and needed that new purse so as to give the best possible impression when going to in-person interviews… meaning that the talking about making a new one had to change to actually doing it.

Saturday night, I cut out and then fused interfacing to the outside and the bow sections.  Sunday morning was spent making the bow and sewing the outside of the purse together.

There was nothing in my fabric dresser that caught her eye for the lining so we made a quick trip to Len’s Mill in the afternoon.  We, of course, checked the discount section first and luckily found something she really liked.

Jacobean Arbor inspired by Partrica Campbell for Timeless Treasures Patt# PCAM-C3778

Jacobean Arbor inspired by Partrica Campbell for Timeless Treasures Patt# PCAM-C3778  is from an older line and was on sale for 50% off the already reduced price of $7.69/meter.

After washing, drying and pressing… the lining was ready to cut Monday morning.

But first I had to make and attach the strap.

Single strap for Elegant Bow Purse

On the original purse, I’d made two straps but for this new one, she wanted a single strap.  This strap is 5 inches wide where it attaches to the sides of the purse, so I pleated it in the middle to make a narrower section for over the shoulder.  I actually like this version better.

She also asked that I not add the large zippered pocket to the lining as she rarely used it.  She did however want to keep the pockets on either side of the lining with three sections in each.

Elegant Bow Purse Lining

It took a bit to figure out how to get the print on the pockets to line up with the print on the main lining pieces, but I think I came as close to perfect as was possible.

I’m so pleased with how the finished purse turned out.

Elegant Bow Purse finished

A side view:

Side view Elegant Bow Purse

Oh… I forgot to mention… she also wanted to keep the smaller zippered pocket in one side of the lining.

Zippered pocket in lining of Elegant Bow Purse

I finished with about a half hour to spare before I had to drive her to the bus station for her trip back to Toronto on Tuesday.  She even agreed to model it just before we left…

Middle daughter modeling her new purse

 

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15 Comments

  • Lindi
    October 4, 2015 11:08 am

    I love bows! Will have to give this a try! L

  • Mary Anne
    September 6, 2015 10:27 pm

    Looks like a perfect bag. I love dupioni silk and hoard every bit I get hold of, saving it for only the most special projects. Len’s Mill – aah – one of the bestest places!!!

  • Lara B.
    September 5, 2015 9:11 pm

    The perfect purse Susan! Classy on the outside and fun on the inside!

  • Susan
    September 5, 2015 12:49 pm

    Lovely, and such a useful size! I’m amazed at how well you matched the pockets to the lining – I couldn’t tell, without your arrows, which was which.

  • Celtic Thistle Stitches
    September 5, 2015 11:49 am

    Looks great Sue, will definitely give your daughter that professional edge in her interviews 🙂

  • Sherri
    September 4, 2015 9:41 pm

    Looks awesome! Good luck to her on the job search!

  • Mary
    September 4, 2015 8:04 pm

    That really does look pretty-both inside and outside. Good luck with the new job.

  • Rachel
    September 4, 2015 3:55 pm

    A great success – well done!

  • Debbie
    September 4, 2015 2:47 pm

    Love the purse! the fabrics are beautiful and _ your right, I like the single shoulder strap! great job!!

  • Leslie
    September 4, 2015 1:49 pm

    That is a beautiful bag. The lining fabric is perfect.

  • Lesley Walker
    September 4, 2015 12:45 pm

    What a lovely bag. Very sophisticated, but sweet at the same time. Your daughter is a lucky girl. Blessings

  • Carie
    September 4, 2015 10:19 am

    Oh what a lovely gift to give, I hope it brings your daughter luck in her job interviews ?

  • Vickie-HorseMark Cards
    September 4, 2015 9:50 am

    I love the colorful fabric you used for the inside of this pretty purse. The size is just right too! I’m sure your daughter will get a lot of use from this stylish purse. Good luck with her interviews!

  • Malinda Dagenhart
    September 4, 2015 9:35 am

    Love this bag. It’s a good size and the fabrics are beautiful!

  • Pauline
    September 4, 2015 8:47 am

    Love the purse…your fabric choices are perfect!! Have a great weekend, happy stitching!!

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