I made this handbag for my dear friend Krista's birthday. I like how the cutouts of the flowers turned out, with the decorative stitching around the edges of the flowers. But next time I think I'll make the decorative stitches a little smaller. There's a layer of interfacing between the outer layer and lining, so it's pretty stiff. I made a sweet little tag inside that reads 'To Krista. From Laura.'
What do y'all think?
**TUTORIAL**
1. Cut out one bag shape with your outside fabric and one with your lining fabric making sure to add seam allowances(follow the shape shown).
2. Fold the outside fabric in half, right sides together.
3. Sew the three edges as shown, with the bottom edge curved, and leaving the top edge open.
4. Fold and sew the corners as shown in the wonderful Jordy tutorial.
5. Flip right side out.
6. Measure your bottom in order to determine the size of the strip of contrasting fabric for the bottom of your bag (like in the photo shown).
7. Cut out two rectangles based on your measurements.
8. Put the two rectangles of contrasting fabric right sides together, and sew on three sides.
9. Flip the two rectangles right side out and finish the fourth edge.
10. Pin strip of contrasting fabric to the bottom of your bag and sew in place (do this neatly because it will be visible).
11. Cut out your desired shapes (mine were flowers) from one side of your outside fabric. Once you've cut the shapes, you will probably want to squirt some FrayBlock on them, or a similar product to stop from too much fraying because the cutouts will have raw edges. Or you could not put FrayBlock and have a decorative fray- it's your choice.
12. Cut out a shape to go behind your cutouts in a contrasting fabric (does not have to be neat because it will be covered by lining later on).
13. Pin your contrasting fabric to the inside of your bag behind the cutouts.
14. Using a needle and thread (I used a big honkin' needle and some thick thread so the stitching around the cutouts would be visible and decorative) to hand stitch around your cutouts and to secure your bloby type shape of contrasting fabric.
15. Remove the pins.
16. Now back to your cutout lining shape from Step 1. Sew it right sides together and fold corners as in Steps 2-4. Do not flip right side out.
17. Put lining inside bag.
18. Fold your raw edges from your lining and your outside fabric together at the top and pin.
19. Sew along top edge, securing the lining to the outside.
20. Attach handles (I used handles from another bag I had).
21. Done!!!!
