Marcus Fabrics - Make it with Marcus, Embroidered Wool Purse by Janet Carija Brandt

Embroidered Wool Purse
by Janet Carija Brandt

In this fourth and final installment of Janet Brandt's creative accessories series, rich Marcus Fabrics wool becomes the backdrop for a variety of beautiful specialty threads, ribbons and more. The luxury continues with the addition of Marcus Fabrics velvet in coordinating tones of brown. This elegant looking handbag is surprisingly easy to sew, making it a great project to experiment with those fancy, but often ignored machine stitches and other creative techniques.

You’ll Need:

½ yard wool
1 fat quarter velvet
6" diameter purse handles
Assorted silk and organdy ribbons
Variegated rayon machine embroidery thread

Download purse side pattern PDF

Instructions:

Cut one piece of brown wool, 12½" x 21½"
Cut two of the purse sides from the brown wool (pattern piece)

Embellish the brown wool pieces with stripes of decorative stitches and stripes of ribbons. Random and wavy lines are best.

Fold over the top straight edge of the sides 1". Press. Fold 1½" at each short end of the brown rectangle. On wrong side of wool, draw a chalk line where the hem meets the back.

Slip one handle under the fold. Pin in place, matching the edge of the fabric to the drawn line. Place the pins parallel to the seam line. Stitch ¼" from edge. Repeat on other side.

Find and mark the middle of each long edge of the brown rectangle. Match marks to the notches of side pieces, then attach sides to the body of the purse.

Lining
Cut 12½" x 18½" piece of velvet.
Cut 2 purse sides from velvet (pattern piece)

Assemble in the same manner as the purse. Slip lining inside purse, wrong sides together. Fold under raw edges of the lining and slipstitch to the inside of the purse.