My grandmother says that cross stitch used to be one of the popular needlecrafts in her times and she's quite a cross-stitch expert! But I haven't seen much cross-stitch craftworks these days. I love doing cross stitch as it is one of my first craft works and of course my grandmother was and still is my mentor. I've been looking for antique, vintage cross stitch patterns for a long time and finally collected a number of patterns.

Anyways, I wanted to get started with a simple design so I decided to make a cross stitch purse. It didn't take much time to create the cross stitch pattern template and make the purse. The vintage look on the purse is really cute!

Check out this ible to find out how I made this purse :)

Step 1: Materials Needed

To make this cross-stitch purse you'll need:

Aida fabric,
Lining fabric,
Tapestry needle,
Embroidery thread (shaded),
Big wooden button,
Scissor.

Step 2: Cross-stitch Pattern Template

I tried to create a simple cross stitch rose pattern. I've also added some leaves and small flowers.

You can find more cross stitch patterns for rose online or come up with your own pattern.

Step 3: Getting Started

Select a starting point for your cross stitch, it's better to start from the middle of a design when you're doing cross stitch. If you don't know much about cross stitch you can take help from the 3rd step of this ible.

I started from the center of the rose, used black embroidery thread.

Then I used shaded embroidery thread to cross stitch the rose.

Use the dark part of the shaded embroidery thread to cross stitch around the black center.

After doing the first round of cross stitch around the center use the lighter part of the thread to do the second round of cross stitch.

You'll have to adjust the shade with the pattern.

Step 4: 3rd and 4th Round

The shades will make the rose look nicer.

If you use the dark shade for one round then you'll have to use the lighter shade for the next round.

I did 4 rounds to complete the center of the rose.

Step 5: Completing the Rose

When you're done cross stitching the center use the dark part of the thread to cross stitch the petals around the border of the rose. Count the number of cross stitches on the pattern and carefully cross stitch the petals.

After cross stitching the border of the rose use the lighter shades of the embroidery thread to fill the rose with cross stitch.

Step 6: Adding Leaves

I used shaded green embroidery thread for cross stitching the leaves.

Start cross stitching each leaf from the side adjacent to the rose and cross stitch towards the other side.

I cross stitched 3 leaves around the rose, you can add more if you want to.

Step 7: Purple Flowers

After completing the rose and the leaves I used shaded purple embroidery thread to cross stitch small flowers beside the rose.

Start cross stitching the flower from the center.

Use green thread to cross stitch the small leaf beside the small purple flower.

Step 8: Making the Purse

Now you'll have to cut the cross stitched aida fabric for the purse.

Keep 1.5 inches of fabric on both sides, 2.5 inches above and 7 inches below the cross stitch design.

Fold and stitch both sides of the aida fabric.

Place the aida fabric on a flat surface with the right side facing up,

Fold the fabric into half and stitch both sides to form the purse,

Hold any one corner of the wrong side as shown in the 4th picture of this step and stitch a straight line. Do the same for the other corner.

Now turn the right side of the purse out.

Step 9: Preparing the Lining Fabric

Cut the lining fabric according to the main fabric for the purse.

Take the lining fabric, fold and stitch 2 sides of it as shown in the picture,

Place the fabric on a flat surface and fold it into half by keeping the wrong side out,

Now stitch both sides and corners.

Step 10: Stitching the Interior and Exterior Pieces

In this step we'll stitch the interior and exterior pieces together.

Keep the interior pieces' wrong side out and insert it into the main purse (cross-stitched),

I used shaded pink thread and tapestry needle to stitch the front side of the purse. I did flat blanket stitch to join the front sides of the interior and exterior pieces.

keep the back side of the purse un-stitched for now.

Step 11: The Flap

Cut 2 pieces of fabric (one from aida and the other from lining fabric) for the flap.

The length and width of these pieces should match with the main purse but make sure to keep extra 0.5 inches for stitching.

Place one piece over the other one and sew 3 sides as shown in the 1st picture of this step. You can stitch the sides straight or give them round corners like I did. After stitching the sides turn the right side out.

Insert the flap between the lining and aida fabric on the back side of the purse. Use needle and thread to stitch the flap with the purse. Stitch over and under as shown in the last picture of this step.