Sew Powerful Purses # 138-140 for 2026

3 purses to donate to Sew Powerful Purse Project. One is a large print for the flap and the other 2 are scrappy pieced with add heart appliqués.

I had a fat quarter of this print with the large white & red flowers and I cut 2 pieces to make 2 flaps. This is the one I finished. I had the black print already cut out for the body of the purse and this flap print went well with it so I could finish this purse. I haven't cut out a purse body yet to go with the second flap yet. The second flap shows the flowers of the print differently.

I wanted to use up some appliqué shapes that I had cut out already, so I used these hearts. Some were cut from felted wool sweaters or other felt and the 2 largest hearts are cotton fabric.

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Sew Powerful Purses # 133-137 for 2026

5 purses to donate to Sew Powerful Purse Project.

I used a 1-inch printed grid to sew the patchwork, which ended up 3/8" square using a full 1/4" seam allowance. Had I used a scant seam allowance these squares would have been 1/2" square. Since I used it as a heart appliqué, the square size didn't matter, but good to keep in mind if I had wanted it a certain size as part of a patchwork block.

Pieced flap with added appliqué flower.

Another pieced flap with added appliqué flower.

Pieced flap with added appliqué flower and a butterfly button.

Pieced flap with added fussy cut flower that I appliquéd.

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Sew Powerful Purses #124-132 for 2026

Nine more purses to donate to Sew Powerful Purse Project. More African women prints and upcycled denim jean scrappy purses.

I made 3 more of these. I had shared a few of these this month and had these 3 to also finish.

I am trying to use up my scraps of denim leftovers from making purses from denim jeans. The entire purse was made with the denim scraps: the flap, front, back and gusset too. I added rickrack, couched yarn and buttons on the flaps only.

3 more scrappy denim purses. I still have more scraps denim to make several more purses.

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Pieced Batik Quilt with Orange Border

Years and years ago I made these batik quilt blocks. I remember batik fabrics were stacked up and then I cut then with the rotary cutter into several angles. A stack and slice technique. Then I took a piece of fabric from each stack and arranged the block and sewed the blocks together, so all the blocks had one of each fabric in the block, but each was a different shape. The blocks were set next to each other, turning the blocks in different directions. The result was nice like a crazy quilt without the embroidery stitches. But the piece was rather small, so I put it away for many years, not sure what I would do with it. I took it out recently and thought I should finish this, so I cut a border to make the quilt wider and longer and then quilted it with a serpentine stitch. The border really made this quilt look great and it is large enough for a child to cuddle under. I will donate this quilt to Wrap the World with Quilts.

Quilt measures 34.5 " x 44.5".

Closeup of quilt.

Closeup of border and serpentine quilting.

Label on back.

Flannel llama print for the backing. Flannel is soft and warm for a child to cuddle under.

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Sew Powerful Purses #119-123 for 2026

I upcycled denim jean scraps to make these purses. I covered the denim scraps with tulle and quilted each piece to hold it all together. On the flaps I added yarn couching, rickrack, buttons and some French knots on the rickrack. The front, back, pocket and gusset pieces were just scrappy denim covered in tulle and quilted. I made quite a few purses using just denim scraps. The purses are quite sturdy. Donating to Sew Powerful Purse Project.

Good way to use scraps of denim, and yarn scraps too!

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Sew Powerful Purses #113-118 for 2026

6 more purses finished to donate to Sew Powerful Purse Project. One purse flap is made with a variety of ribbons, including some Renaissance Ribbon. The other 5 purses was from a print of African women.

The flap here is only ribbons, except for the square of cotton fabric in the center that I set on point and the wool heart appliqué I stitched to the cotton fabric. 3 were Renaissance Ribbons and 2 ribbons were from fabric/craft stores.

The African women all came from one fabric that also had borders in prints like the dresses or head wraps they are wearing. I had to cut the height of the woman shorter to fit properly on the flaps.

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Swiftly Tote a ChrisW Design Pattern in 3 Sizes: Small-Large-Mini

I tested the Swiftly Tote, a pdf pattern by Chris W Designs that comes in 3 sizes. I tested the small size, which I would say is more of a medium size than a small size. It is smaller than the large size though. The small makes a perfect handbag/crossbody bag too. I added the removeable adjustable crossbody strap so it could be worn as a crossbody bag, which is so handy. It has handles too and I made mine short as a grab handle because I wouldn't carry this on one shoulder, but if you make one, you can make your handles the longer size as in the pattern for wearing on one shoulder. 

Christine's signature phone pocket is a wonderful hidden pocket and you can choose to add one on the front and one on the back for 2 hidden pockets, or just add one where you want it. I added one on each side as I love the convivence of these pockets. I use them for keys.

Inside is a zipper pocket with an overlay. I used vinyl for the overlay, but you can use cork or any non fraying material you want to use.

The pattern calls for using vinyl, cork and waterproof canvas for the lining so that this bag is a quicker sew, since you wouldn't need any interfacing. I chose to use vinyl only as an accent for the base of the bag and the overlay zipper pocket inside the bag. I used quilting cottons and added interfacing and fleece stabilizer. You can make this bag any way you prefer and my preference is quilting cottons as they colors are so pretty and I have quilting cotton and I prefer to use vinyl or cork as accents rather than as a whole bag. That is what is great about making a bag is you can custom make it with whatever materials you want and add or subtract pockets or other extras.

The bag closes with a top zipper closure, my favorite zipper closure!!! I don't like recessed zippers as it is harder to access and see inside the bag, but this top zipper opens wide as you can see in the interior photos below. Why fight trying to find things in a bag? Now you don't have to. I added an additional divided slip pocket inside too. I wanted a simple slip pocket with a pen division in the center. You could use Christine's Pocket Supplement A pattern to add extra pockets to your bag too, especially if you make the larger version of the Swiftly Tote.

This bag is quick to make and you can cut most of the pieces out with a rotary cutter or there are SVG files included too for those who have cutting machines that make it easier to cut out your pieces. The pdf also comes with templates for all the pieces too, if you prefer cutting that way. Something for everyone. And there is video instructions as well as the pdf, so you can follow along  and sew with Christine. Rated for a Confidant Beginner Sewer/Sewist.

Here is my Swiftly Tote in size Small. The small measures 14 1/4" wide x 9 1/2" high x 3 1/2" deep.

(The large, which I didn't make, measures 17" wide x 11 1/2" high x 4 1/2" deep).

I used cotton webbing for the grab handles and made my adjustable strap that is removeable from the main fabric. The turquoise fabric is a hand dyed fabric that I dyed years ago and was the perfect color accent and even matches the vinyl I used for the base and overlay.

Isn't she pretty? I used a turquoise zipper closure.

Vinyl base to tote.

Added divided pocket with pen pocket in center.

Vinyl zipper overlay pocket.

See how wide the bag opens up to see inside. Zipper overlay pocket and I added a divided slip pocket too with a pen in the center.

Hidden phone pocket on the front side.

2nd hidden phone pocket on the back side of the Swiftly Tote.

But wait there's more! After I tested the small, Christine asked if anyone wanted to test a Mini version and I gladly accepted. The Swiftly Mini is the perfect size for a crossbody bag. I made mine without the grab handles and just made a crossbody version with an adjustable strap. I added one strap tab with a hardware ring to the front and one to the back and added the strap after the bag was complete. I only added one hidden pocket on the back side (it's too small for a phone like in the small & large versions, but great for keys or a shopping list), an inside zipper pocket with a vinyl overlay, and a simple slip pocket with pen division inside too. 

The Swiftly Mini measures 11" wide x 8" high x 3" deep.

One strap tab on the front with ring hardware & one on the back to create a crossbody version.

Back side with the hidden pocket.

Bag opens so size and wide. Slip pocket with a pen pocket division.

Zipper pocket with a vinyl overlay. This vinyl is cool and looks like tan denim jeans.

Side view.

I used fabric that matched the crossbody strap I made for the base here.

Crossbody over an outdoor chair. Wish I had a way of photographing on me or someone else, but alas I don't. I took this one out to buy groceries on Monday and I love the size! It's perfect size for me. I love the top zipper closure so I can easily zip and unzip and see what's inside. 

Want to make one or all 3 sizes of the Swiftly Tote? Be sure to grab your pattern now while the pattern is on sale as a new release. Go here to purchase the pdf and to see all the testers versions and sizes, go here for the photos and the video introduction too. This bag looks so different in different colors and materials used. Christine even put the Pocket Supplement A on sale too, which can be used in the small and large Swiftly versions as well as other bag patterns that are about the same size too. The Intro pricing is for a short time only, so grab your pattern soon. Video Intro here, with tester photos too.

Happy bag sewing!

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