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How to Sew a Purse Insert

If you like to switch purses to match your outfits but dislike the hassle of transferring items from one bag to another, a purse insert is the answer. This pocketed insert is designed as one long strip, so it can be loosely rolled or folded in halves or thirds to fit inside many different-sized purses. You also can customize your pockets to fit your style of cell phone and your personal items.

Things You'll Need

Sturdy fabric such as denim or canvas duck
Lightweight cotton fabric
Tape measure
Scissors
Straight pins
Thread
Sewing machine
Point turner
Iron
Hand sewing needle

Instructions

- 1
  Cut an 8- by 18-inch rectangle of each type of fabric. Pin together the fabric rectangles with right sides together.
- 2
  Sew rectangles together using 1/2-inch seams. Leave a 3-inch opening on one side. Trim the seams close to the stitching at the corners.
- 3
  Press the seams flat.
- 4
  Turn the fabric right side out, pulling it through the opening. Use a point turner to gently push out the corners, creating neat points. Hand sew the opening closed. You now have a double-sided, 7- by 17-inch rectangle.
- 5
  Topstitch along the two 17-inch edges, 1/2 inch from edges.
- 6
  Fold up the bottom edge of the rectangle 3 inches. Topstitch down each short side to hold the fold in place.
- 7
  Sew vertical, topstitched lines every few inches through the folded fabric to create pockets.

Sewing