Gemstone Purse

I made this little gemstone-shaped purse for those rare occasions when I don a dress and am therefore without pockets. The purse is eight inches at the widest part, so it is just the right size to carry a wallet, some lip balm, a handkerchief, and a phone.

To make this, you will need
the pattern that I have uploaded here
fabric for the shell, lining, and strap
zipper
thread
needle
stiff fusible interfacing
sewing pins
a small bit of tape

If you buy your fabric by the yard, half a yard is more than enough for the entire purse. I, however, had some remnants sitting around, and ended up using two 26 by 16 inch chunks.

For the interfacing, you will need a bit less that half of what you need in the way of fabric. I bought a yard, and only ended up using about a third of that.

gemstone.pdf480 KB

Step 1:

Print and cut out the pattern pieces. You can print one of each and just reuse the same piece, or you can print multiple copies. Whichever you choose, remember to keep the scaling equal among them.

For the shell and the lining of the purse, the pieces have little tabs. The tabs are for 5/8 inch seam allowance. Cut the tabs off for the interfacing.

The strap piece (4) does not need any seam allowance.

Cut out the pieces so that the fabric grain goes in the same direction for each piece.

Cut right along the edge of the pattern pieces.

Step 2:

Fold the strap piece in half lengthwise with the wrong sides together. Press with an iron to get a crease.

Unfold the piece and fold the edges in to meet in the center. Press again.

Refold the center fold so that the raw edges are inside. Press one last time.

Sew the strap the entire length along both edges.

Step 3:

Following the manufacturer's instructions, fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of each of the outer pieces.

Allow this to cool and then gently tug at the edges to make sure that the interfacing is secure. Because of the structure of this bag, the interfacing will not be stitched in place.

Step 4:

Line up the shortest tab on outer piece 2 with one of the tabs on outer piece 1 with the right sides of the fabric together.

Stitch along the length of the tabs on the edge of the interfacing.

Repeat this with every remaining outer piece 2.

Step 5:

Stitch the tabs on the sides of every outer piece 2, but leave one set of tabs unstitched.

Step 6:

Create a teardrop loop with the strap and place it between the right sides of the two unstitched outer 2 pieces.

Stitch the pieces together like you did with the previous ones.

Step 7:

Attach the narrow tabs on 3 to the widest tabs on 2 with the right sides of the fabric together.

Stitch these as you did when you stitched 1 and 2 together.

Step 8:

Sew the long tabs of 3 together, leaving the set that lines up with the strap open.

Step 9:

Turn the construct around so that the right side of the fabric is on the outside.

Press all of the seams to define the facets.

press the tabs that you did not sew to the inside.

Step 10:

Create the lining in the same way that you did the outer part, but do not turn it around or press the seams.

Press the tabs at the opening of the lining to the outside.

Stuff the lining into the outer shell, and orient it to the shell.

Step 11:

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Line up the openings of the shell and lining.

Place the zipper edges in the opening so that they are sandwiched between the shell and lining. The zipper should be oriented so the closing it will bring the zipper pull toward the purse strap.

If your zipper is too long, run a series of stitches around the point where you want it to stop with some heavy thread.

Trim the zipper to the right length, and point the end so that it will fit snugly into the tip of the gem.

Sew the zipper in place, stitching through the lining, zipper, and shell.