As published
in Embroidery Journal, Holiday 2003 Issue
www.embroideryjournal.com
A 'Step By Step' guide
Project:
Quick and easy potholder purse
Created by Gay Gerlack
Too
Hot to Handle
This
project was developed as a "first sewing" experience for
"Brownie" aged girls. The girls can weave their own strap
for the bag with a Sewabration Weaving Card, sew the button and
strap in place on the potholder , press the top down and they are
finished! With the basic purse as a foundation, many embellishments
can be added. However, don't think this project is just for kids.
It's a great technique to learn to make lots of quick, easy and
fun gifts.
Basic
Purse:
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| 1.
Start with a potholder that has a pocket on the front. the pocket
will form the "purse". |
2.
Fold the top of the potholder down over the pocket and press. |
3.
Line up the button with the loop on top and sew in place on
the potholder. |
4.
Sew a strap to each side of the potholder. |
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to top)
Samples:

| Basic
potholder purse version with the strap and button sewn
on. |
|

| Bead
trim was added to the bottom of this purse |
|

| This
purse has an embroidered top, an earring with the post
replaced with a shank and a key chain hanging from the
potholder loop. |
|

| This
sample has an embroidered top, a hand woven strap to color
coordinate, top painting and button embellishments. |
|

| To
embroider the top, fold it over, hoop the stabilizer and
then "baste" the potholder to the stabilizer. |
|

| The
decorative cord is sewn to the front of the purse as a
strap variation. |
|
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to top)
Bonus
Variation:
By sewing
two matching potholders back to back you can create a purse
with two "flap" pockets and an open center pocket.
Try to use "thinner" pot holders as this sample
had to be sewn by hand as it was too thick to go through the
sewing machine.
How do
you embroider on an existing pocket? Easy, embroider on felt,
ultra suede, fleece, or any product that will not ravel and
design your own appliqué, then glue on with a permanent,
washable adhesive.
Bernina
Card 111, design 19 was used for the embroidery on the black
purse shown to the right. Click
here to see a larger view of this purse. |
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