Sling Purse

My friend JI gave me a purse some years ago, brown faux suede with embroidered flowers. It was one of my favorite purses ever and I’ve been meaning to try creating a pattern from it for a simple lined cotton version.

I had to carefully think through the order of sewing the seams – it’s necessary to leave the seam at the top of the handle for last, because joining the lining along both long curved edges of the strap would leave no way to turn the project inside out if the straps were already joined. Luckily this occurred to me before I actually tried it, and after confirming the topological nuances with my husband, I successfully joined the purse to the lining, turning it through an opening in the bottom of the lining.

I also added a pocket to the inside, and a magnetic snap.

Pretty good for a couple of evenings’ work! I love sewing, I really do – but knitting is so much easier to just pick up and work on. I need to keep in mind that sewing projects go faster. I have a nice little sewing corner now that our spare bedroom is cleared out, so I’m going to try to do more sewing this summer.