Things You'll Need
Instructions
Cut the double-sided fabric into one 20-by-14-inch strip, two 3-by-45-inch strips and one 5-by-6-inch rectangle. There will be extra fabric left over that you can set aside for another project.
Cut two 3 1/2-by-14-inch strips and one 2-by-6-inch strips out of the coordinating fabric. Dispose of any leftovers or save them for very small projects.
Fold under 1/2 inch on each of the long sides of each of the 14-inch strips of coordinating fabric. Iron in place so that they do not come unfolded.
Fold each of the strips in half and iron again to hold that fold in place.
Place one coordinating fabric strip that you ironed over the raw edge of the 14-inch side of the 20-inch long double-sided fabric.
Sew through all the layers of fabric inside of the 1/2 inch that you pressed under. Complete both sides separately and trim the excess threads. This is the main purse piece.
Fold under 1/2 inch along each long side of the 2-by-6-inch strip of coordinating fabric and iron the crease. Then fold the strip in half and iron to hold that crease.
Place the strip along the top of the 5-by-6-inch rectangle of double-sided fabric and sew in place just as you did in Step 6 with the larger pieces. The top and bottom sides of the rectangle are the 6-inch sides. This piece will make the pocket on the outside of the purse.
Fold the purse piece of double-sided fabric in half and measure to mark the center of the fold. Fold the pocket in half.
Line up the center of the pocket with the center of the purse and pin in place. Place several pins to hold the pocket in place.
Fold under 1/2 inch along the bottom of the purse and sew it to the purse piece. The purse piece should not be folded when you begin sewing.
Use a satin stitch, or a very short and tight zigzag stitch, to sew around all four edges of the 3 1/2-by-45-inch strips of double sided fabric. Sew as close to the edges as possible to resemble a serger seam. These strips will be used as the purse straps.
Sew the purse straps together, overlapping the ends by 1/2 inch. Sew both ends so that you will be left with a circle.
Lay the purse piece flat on your work surface and then lay the purse straps on top of it. Line up the edges of the purse strap so that it covers the raw edges of the pocket you placed earlier, making sure the straps stay centered on the fabric. There will be approximately 3 1/2 inches of the strap hanging free on each side of the purse piece. Pin in place.
Sew across the purse handle, along both the inside and outside edges, to attach them to the entire length of the purse. When you sew, they will also hold down the edges of the pocket. Sew as close to the edge of the handles as possible and not through the satin stitched seam created earlier.
Fold the purse piece in half with the straps still on the outside. Sew along the outer edges to close the seams of the purse with a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam for durability.
Turn the purse wrong-side out and again sew along the seams, encasing the seam you made in the last step inside of the second seam. To do this, this seam should be 1/2 inch wide. This will complete a French seam.