Quilted Frolic Purse

For months I've been telling myself that it is time for a new purse. My cinch sack that I've been using for almost two years was looking very tired. It had served me very well and I loved using it, but it was time to do the honorable thing and let it go. Remember the one I am talking about? THIS one that I made for when my daughter and I went to New York City back in May of 2010. It was so perfect for a trip like that and for all the many months between then and now.

I thought about designing one for myself. I've designed many bags and purses for other people, but I just wasn't getting inspired. Until last week when I took a trip to my favorite quilt shop, Cobblestone Quilts in Townsend, MA, and flipped through the latest issue of Quilts and More magazine. I was going to buy it anyway because I fell in love with Kate Spain's quilt that was on the cover, but as I was flipping through it, I found a pattern for what would become my new purse.

Wanna see it?


So springy, don't you think? I made it using leftover yardage from THIS baby quilt and some leftover scraps from one of the aprons I just showed the other day HERE. All the fabric is from the same line, Frolic by Sandy Gervais and I just love the colors.



I follow Kate Spain's blog, The Drawing Board, and she talked about this magazine and her quilt on the cover of it a few weeks ago. I had been on the hunt for the magazine ever since! Little did I know that I would find the perfect pattern for my new purse in there too!


I also love to use up scraps of fabric to make something useful, so this Scrap Lab feature in the magazine was perfect for me.


I hardly ever follow a pattern exactly, even my own patterns! This one was no different. I added pockets on the inside and a strap with swivel hook for my keys, both very important features for keeping all my stuff organized.



And I added an adjustable handle so that I could use it short and just sling it over my arm or shoulder, or I could use it long and put it over my head and have it cross over to the opposite side.



I even added little gathered cuffs that slide over the handles to hide where the adjustable straps come together.

The only other change I made to the pattern was to make it a bit shorter from top to bottom than what was called for. I am quite short myself and I didn't really want my purse to be quite as tall, so I trimmed down the top of the bag, the flap and the lining by about 2 inches before putting them together and finishing the purse.

Now I'm ready for spring!

Happy Stitching!

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