After receiving a mystery box with some fun projects, I decided I didn’t want to do the one for the lemon print fabric on the left and the zipper with the lemon slice pull. I found another lemon print at my local quilt shop, and bought a half yard to make a purse. The lemon slice print is about 1/3 of a yard. The zipper is 16 inches long.

If you’d like to make a purse with this pattern, here’s the supply list –
1/2 yard print for outside of bag
1/2-yard of lining fabric (coordinating solid or tone on tone)
1/2 yard batting
1/3 yard print for pockets inside (could be the same print)
3 yards webbing for handles
1 16-inch zipper for closure
1 7-inch zipper for inside pocket (if desired)

From the lemon orchard fabric, I cut two pieces 16-1/2-inches wide x 14-1/2-inches high. The size was limited by the length of the zipper for width, and a nice proportion for height. I put them on the longarm to quilt with a white backing which will become the lining of the purse.

I quilted the pieces with white Glide in the top. I forgot to look at the bobbin, and the previous project had green in it to coordinate with the backside of the project. With white already loaded in the top, I just didn’t even think about it. So it has light green Bottom Line in the bobbin. I used a pantograph of leaves.

I trimmed the outer pieces and picked up the lemon slice print to make pockets for the inside. First, I cut a piece 12 x 16, folded it right sides together longways and sewed the raw edge seam. Turning it right side out, I placed it on the lining side of one quilted base two inches up from the bottom. This gives me space to box the corner later. The pocket was stitched to the base along the bottom edge. In hindsight, I should have put the seam at the bottom, but I wasn’t paying attention to that. Too late now!

The edges are stitched to the base to hold them in place for the assembly. The pockets will be formed later. Note that I did not finish the end edges. Those will be covered later, and this decreases the bulk.

I set that unit aside, and went to work on the other side. I created a small pocket with the remaining fabric, about 5 x 6 inches. I placed it on the base lining side, and put the intended straps down just to check that the pocket would lay between the straps.

I wanted this one to have a closure, and found a short white zipper for the top edge.

I topstitched the pocket to one side of the zipper, tacking both ends, and then cut it to size with a bit to turn under for finishing.

The zipper and pocket were placed 3 inches down from the top, and centered. The pocket is top stitched into place. The straight line stitching will be mostly hidden on the outside by the outside pocket details.

Next, I began work on the outside front of the bag. I wanted to add some embroidery just for fun. I found a couple of lemon motifs and stitched both of them close together to make an accent panel. I used four shades of yellow rayon thread. This became the top of the outside pocket.

Measuring the space between the intended placement of the straps, I trimmed the embroidered piece to 7-1/2-inches wide. It was sewn to a scrap of lemon print of the same width to make a top to bottom length of 8-1/2 inches. This will be a good size to carry my cell phone.

A piece of lining fabric in the same white tone on tone as the embroidery was sewn to the top edge right sides together. A bit of batting was placed between the layers but not quilted. It will be held in place by the handle seams Note that the edges are not finished. The raw edges will go under the straps on the sides, and into the seam at the bottom. I trimmed out 1/4-inch of batting at the bottom to reduce bulk in that seam.

The handle webbing is cut to 1-1/2-yards. The ends are placed 4-inches in from the outer edge, covering the raw edges of the pocket. Make sure the handle isn’t twisted. Stitch up one edge to about one inch from the top edge of the base, then across the webbing and back down the other edge. Repeat for the other side of this handle. Then place another handle on the other base at the same measurements and stitch.

This will create the pockets on the inside. The stitching on the handle leaves just enough space to tuck a pen so it doesn’t fall to the bottom.

So, now we have all the pockets and straps done in the flat. Next time, we’ll finish the assembly of the purse with the zipper and finishing. Have fun sewing this week!