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3 Pocket Purse
by Sherry Titzer - http://www.atimetostitch.com
Purse size - 10” H x 12 ½” W (3 1/2” wide flat bottom) See text file for supply list & cutting instructions
Both Front curved side pockets – designs combined in 1 hooping for 6x10 or larger hoops. (design size: 5.3” x 9.4”)
(Front curved side pockets for smaller hoops - 1 hooping per pocket)
Back pocket – 1 hooping for 5x7 or larger hoops. Top flap - 1 hooping for 5x7 or larger hoops)
A - PURSE FLAP:


1. On wrong side of print fabric, add thin fusible fleece
centered and even with bottom so there is ½” of fabrtic at
the top with no fleece (to reduce bulk).
2. On right side, rub glue stick along middle of top edge and
center the solid fabric even with the top. Iron to set the glue.
Mark center at the top and bottom.


3. Flap lining – Center fusible interfacing on wrong side
even with bottom. Add 2
nd
piece of smaller interfacing
centered and even with bottom as well. Make cross mark
1 ½” up from bottom centered. Also mark center at
bottom. Center magnetic snap washer over cross mark.
Trace & cut slits open. DO NOT install snap yet.
4. Hoop stabilizer and stitch the placement lines directly on
the stabilizer. Extend line at bottom ~1” by marking on
stablizer. Spray area with temporary adhesive spray.


5. Center front fabric in hoop even with top placment line
keeping center marks even. Continue stitching design.
6. When instructed, center lining over fabric in hoop keeping
tops & center marks even. Last step stitches flap outline.
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7. Remove from hoop, flip over. Use rotary cutter/ruler to trim stabilizer even with placement line at top.
8. Trim edges with pinking shears (¼” seam allowance). Install THINNER side of magnetic snap through top opening.
9. Turn right side out & press to set edges. Top stitch sides and bottom with ¼” seam.
B – CURVED SIDE POCKETS:


10. Rub glue stick along 1 end of both pieces of print
fabric & center the solid fabric on top even with the edge.
Iron to set glue.
11. Flip pieces over. Add thin fusible fleece centered & even
with top edge of fabric (same edge as solid fabric)


12. Hoop stabilzier. Stitch placemet lines directly on the
stabilizer. Spray area with temporary adhesive spray.
13. Place edge of first pocket fabric inside placement line
even with center line. Add second pocket on other side.
Tape to secure where fabrics meet and on the edges.


14. Continue stitching pockets using instructions in text
file. (Smaller hoops – pockets made in 2 hoopings)
15. When instructed, flip fabric ends up and over fabric in
hoop keeping ends even in the middle. Tape to secure.
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16. Last step stitches curved edge of pockets. Remove from hoop and cut pockets apart at center placement line.
17. Trim stabilizer even with fabric at sides & close to design bottom. Trim curved edge with pinking shears (1/4” seam)
18. Turn right side out and press. Top stitch curved edge with ¼” seam.

19. BACK POCKET - use same “general” instructions as
the front pockets. The only difference - when turning
back pocket right side out, fold the fabric around the flat
seam at the top to create edge that looks bound.

Note: Instructions to make a PLAIN back pocket
(with no design) also provided. (see text file)
C. CENTER FRONT POCKET (no design):

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20. Add fusible fleece centered & even with 1 end of fabric (wrong side). Mark a cross 2 1/8” down from top centered.
21. Install FATTER side of magnetic snap centered over cross mark. Stitch fabric ends together with 3/8” seam.
22. Turn pocket right side out folding fabric around flat seam at top to create bound edge. (pocket sideways in picture)
D. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:


23. Purse front - Mark vertical & horizontal lines on the
Soft & Stable “backing” as instructed.
24. Add pocket to center front fabric as instructed. Center
inside vertical lines on backing with pocket top at top marks.
Flip fabric up and rub glue stick inside lines. Smooth fabric
down again and iron to set glue.
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25. On front “side” fabric pieces, mark a line across the
fabric 4” up from the bottom.
26. Add side pockets to “side” fabrics as instructed keeping
bottom of pockets even with marked lines.


27. Place “sides” wrong side up at edges of center fabric
and stitch with 3/8” seam. Flip and press. Flip to wrong
side again & rub glue stick along fabric edge. Flip again
and iron to set glue.
28. Place “ends” fabric wrong side up at edge of “sides” and
stitch with 3/8” seam. Flip & press. Flip over again and rub
glue stick on edge of “backing”. Flip again, press to set glue.
Flip ensemble over & trim fabric even with edge of soft &
stable backing if needed.

29. PURSE BACK – use same “general” instructions as
the Purse Front. Of course, the fabric pieces for the back
are different sizes so follow the fabric cutting instructions
for the PURSE BACK (see text file).

NOTE:
Measure the top width of purse front (while still flat).
Enter measurement in Lining section of instructions
in text file. Lining must be same width as purse to fit
properly. Mine was ¼” narrower after adding the
fabric pieces to the soft & stable.
CORNER CUT-OUT PATTERN: On 4X6 index card, mark a line 2” in from one side and 2” up from the bottom to form
small square in corner. Cut away corner. Use pattern to mark and trim bottom of purse & lining for flat bottom.


30. Use corner cut-out pattern to mark & trim bottom
corners on the purse front and back (& lining).
31. On purse BACK, center the purse flap wrong side up even
with top and stitch with ¼” seam.
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32. Mark lines 1” in from strap ends. Pin straps to top of
front & back (see text file for measurement) keeping
marks on strap even with bag top. Secure with ¼” seam.
33. Pin front & back together at bottom, stitch with ½” seam.
Press seam open. Pin both sides together and stitch with ½”
seams. Press side seams open as well.


34. Flip corner cut-outs to form a straight line until the
bottom & side seams are even. Stitch with 3/8” seam.
35. Turn the bag right side out. Keep straps pinned to make it
easier to place the bag down inside the lining later.
E. LINING:


36. Stitch print and solid lining pieces together with 3/8”
seams. (you will make 2 for the lining front & back) Press
seams toward printed fabric.
37. On right side of both pieces, mark a line 4” up from the
bottom across the fabric. Use corner cut-out pattern to mark
and trim away the bottom corners on both pieces.


38. LINING POCKETS – add fusible fleece to wrong side
of both pieces even with one long edge and centered
between the sides.
39. Fold pocket fabric in half lengthwise. Stitch edges together
with 3/8” seam. Turn right side out folding fabric around the
flat seam at the top to create a bound edge.
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40. Mark lines down pockets to create smaller pockets
(see text file for dimensions). Pin bottom of pocket at 4”
marks on lining. Secure pocket at sides & bottom with ¼”
seams. Stitch down marked lines to create dividers.
41. Place lining pieces right sides together. Mark short lines
2” in from ends at bottom. Using ½” seam, stitch with normal
stitch to 1
st
mark, switch to long basting stitch to 2
nd
mark, then
switch back to normal stitch to finish seam. Press seam open.
42. Finish Lining - Stitch sides with ½” seam & press seams open. Stitch corner cut outs with 3/8” seam.
Remove basting stitches at bottom seam of lining to create opening for turning bag right side out later.


43. Place purse (right side out) inside the lining (wrong
side out). Pin tops together keeping side seams even.
Stitch pieces together with ½”seam.
44. Turn right side out through opening. Pin seam evenly
around at top edge & top-stitch with 3/8” seam. Top-stitch
again ~ ½” down from 1
st
seam to secure purse straps twice.
45. BOTTOM SUPPORT: Cut 2 pieces of plastic canvas to size (see text file) & tape edges together.
Place canvas in bottom of purse and sew opening in lining closed.
ADD BUTTON SNAPS TO SIDES (optional) – Add 3/8” (size 20) button snaps 1” to either side of the side seam centered
over the bottom row of top stitching. Just pinch the side seams together and snap to make the purse opening smaller.
Then just unsnap when you need a larger opening!
I used black plastic Kam Snaps (Size 20 – normal prong length) www.kamsnaps.com



Front
Back
Sides