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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:

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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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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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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