The Day Trip Purse Tutorial

Here is the tutorial for The Day Trip Purse that I posted on Ruffles and Stuff during the Celebrating Mom event.

I will show you how to make this simple purse in 10 steps.

I look at this purse and think spring and summer outings like picnics under large shaded trees, walks in the park, picking wildflowers, or driving through a street lined with blossoming trees. You could certainly bring it on a romantic date or a girls night out :).This bag takes about 45 minutes to make. By my 4th one, I had it down to 30 minutes, so it’s quick. I’m not the fastest sewer, either, so it could probably be done even faster.

This tutorial is showing how Purse A was made. The four styles are labeled for your reference, since I will include any changes you need to make for the different looks. Don’t let that intimidate you though—it is only a couple places where things differ at all.

You’ll need:

*Lace strips, however many you’d like to fit on your purse. Cut two of each kind you are wanting, each 15” long.

*Two 12.5” pieces of lace for the top of the purse by the handles.

*Two 6” bamboo round handles, found at most craft stores
*If you want magnetic snaps or a pocket, those are just extra steps that are easy to implement while making your purse. You’ll want to insert these steps before Step 6.

*Purse B, cut two 13” x 15” pieces of lace with a finished edge

*Purse C or D, grab some doily’s, flowers, ribbon, or whatever else you’d like to add to your purse.

Step 1: Start by cutting all your pieces, and ironing on your interfacing to your lining fabric (if it’s fusible; if not, just sew the interfacing onto your lining with a basting stitch).

Step 2: Taking one of the 15” edges, cut out a 3” x 3” square in the top two corners.

Step 3: Line up your lace how you want it on your purse and mark a line with something non-permanent (I used quilter’s chalk). Sew on the lace, using the lines you marked as a guide.

Purse B: place your lace on top of the outer fabric and sew it on top , wrong side of the lace to the right side of the fabric, using a basting stitch.

Purse C: Sew on your doily’s however you’d like to:).

You’ll now have two pieces that look like this:

Step 4: Place the right sides of outer fabric together, pin, and sew just along the 3 sides (shown below with the dotted line) with a 1/4” seam. If you sewed your lace close to the bottom, just pin it up so that it doesn’t get caught on that bottom seam.

You will have definitely have to do this on Purse B. (See second picture below)

Repeat with other side. Your outer pieces will now look like this:

Step 6: Take your lining pieces, pin, and sew together along the dotted lines (shown in picture) with a 1/4” seam. Make sure you leave about a 5” gap for turning the purse.

Step 7: Keep the lining turned the wrong way, and keep the outer fabric turned out the right way. Place the outer fabric inside the lining, right sides together. Starting with the seams on either side, line up the top edges of the inner and outer fabric. Pin.

Step 8: Sew around the entire top of the purse with a 1/4” seam. Clip corners as shown below.

Step 9: Pull the purse through the hole in the lining, and stitch the lining closed.

Step 10: See the flap looking things at this point?

Mark a line 3” down on the inner fabric. Place your bamboo handle in the middle, and pull the fabric down
to that line. Using your zipper foot, sew the handle in. Repeat with other handle.

Purse D: Once the handles are done, figure out where you want the flower and either hand-stitch on or glue on.

My Little Miss B is pretty obsessed with all things girly, already.