Fun with Vinyl

[mo11ydo11]

I saw a purse not too long ago on Ebay that I absolutely loved.  Unfortunately, I was outbid on several occasions.  This worked out for the best, though, as it motivated me to make one similar, but more to my liking (and at the low price of 4 dollars - 1/2 of which was for the zipper)!  

My scooter purse:
http://pages.slu.edu/student/corcoran/scootbag1.jpg
Hopefully that link worked out.  But yes - vinyl is cheap and surprisingly fun to work with for purses.  

The only trouble I came across was the metal foot(?) of my sewing maching kept sticking to the white vinyl. Also, white vinyl doesn't necessarilly look so hot with holes and thread.  Black, however, looks good, and so, all the external stitching is done with it.  

Anyhow - fun, cheap, project that a lot of people will appreciate (perhaps as a cute christmas gift for a friend?)  


If anyone has any great ideas on other uses for vinyl (save reupholstering vintage chairs), I'd love to hear them!

[iamtheEggman]

WOW! What a super cutie purse!! I love it! I've always thought vinyl was a way cool material to make purses and handbags from but I'm scared to try sewing it with the sewing machine (with my luck, the machine would probably break). But your purse has inspired me to give it a go!  

I found this really cool shower curtain made of a clear shiny vinyl with small hologram "retro" squares all over it. I bought it for $15 at Target (a little steep for a shower curtain, but I couldn't resist). I can't wait to make some ultra neato purses from it! Thanks for the inspiration!  

[plainmabel]

Very cool!  

To keep the presser foot from sticking to the vinyl (this is also handy when sewing with oilcloth), put a layer of tissue paper over it when you stitch.  Better yet, pick up a roller foot for your machine -- it's like a usual foot but has a little plastic roller that won't stick.

[firehead4]

I LOVE how you displayed your project!  It looks like it's in a magazine! great picture and adorable purse  

[yardenxanthe]

Yay, love the purse!

[tattooedgirl]

wow i love that purse, very inspiring!!!!

[Debzy]

that is too cute, good job!

vinyl can be a real pain but if you've got the right tools it makes life easier... for example, you can use a teflon foot which stops sticking, or a walking foot - my favourite! they're a bit steep but worth every penny... great for any awkward fabrics; velvets, vinyls, pvc...

plus te tissue paper one always works too

did you use a leather needle in your machine or just a normal needle?

[mo11ydo11]

thanks for all the compliments on the purse!  Also - the suggestions. I'm definitely going to use tissue paper or some such on my next vinyl project.  Also, I'm looking into foots.. I have a few different foots, but never actually figured them out (as I sorta inherited most of my sewing junk).  Great suggestions, though!  Also - did not use a leather needle - the vinyl was surprisingly soft and easy to use with my regular needle.

[artzyfartzy]

oh lala! that purse is super cute ! and i agree the way u pictured it rawks!

[mo11ydo11]

Mmm.. I just can't get enough of this vinyl stuff..It's probably because it's really cheap at Hancock right now, and is a great faux leather solution for purses and such.  I say vinyl, but it's not the ultra-glossy stuff I usually associate with the term.  This is my latest, a "pouch" in appreciation of the Descendents (a personal fave)..




Thank you guys soo much for the advice (it helps as I progress into the sewing world)...