Sew Powerful Purses #203-221 (last purses made for 2023)

Happy New Year 2024 everyone!!! 

These are the very last purses completed for 2023 that I will donate to Sew Powerful. I completed a total of 220 purses for the year in 2023. I had cut out over 300 purse kits to sew, mostly for the Sew-a-thon (SAT) last year in September, but completed 116 (I think) for the SAT. I wanted to see how many purses I could complete by the end of 2023, which turned out to be 220 total purses. Since I still have lots of kits cut out and in different stages of completion, I will be working on those kits this year to get them finished before cutting out any more kits (fewer kits I think). The idea of having kits made to sew whenever I wanted to was great in one way. Just sew. But then I want to start other purses with new ideas I have, so perhaps it would be best to cut just a few kits at a time and sew them, before cutting more. I will try fewer kits and see if that works better for me. Time will tell.

The center hexagons I cut from a scrap that was given to me. I sewed strips around the hexagon crazy-pieced style.

Closeup of decorative stitches I sewed on one of the straps from above purses.

The purse on the left was a scrap donation that was already quilted to cotton batting, so I cut it into the purse pieces and made this colorful striped purse. I added a double stacked button for fun. The purse on the right was the last piece I had of this print of African women. I got a partial 1/2 yard at a de-stash sale over a year ago. I added strips on the side of the fabric to create a flap wide enough to use. Then I sewed some rainbow ribbon over the seams and added a few flower shaped buttons.

Free form pieced scrappy flap here, with added dancing heart buttons. They look like they are dancing, since I placed each one differently.

2 purse with pieced batik fabric flaps. The left one I decided to pieced some small triangles I had already cut out that I never used for anything before. I added batik strips and a row of sewn pieces of uneven square shapes. The one on the right was a free Friendship Star quilt block that was donated. I made one purse flap using the other star block already. As I was going to make this flap, I realized (oops!) that I had accidently cut it too small in width! It was cut 1/2" too short, so I just added the extra width needed on the right side of the flap, so it would be wide enough. I think that was a good save for this flap. Note to self: Pay attention when cutting!

These are the backs of the 2 batik flap from above. Front jean pockets on the backs. Since these pockets fit on the back, I like to use them as a pocket that actually works. The patch pockets on the jeans I deconstructed are just too tall and cannot be sewn anywhere on these purses. I use smaller patch pockets from smaller women size jeans when I have them.

Decorative stitches on the webbing strap from the purse above.

These 2 denim purses have pockets with flaps and a button closure to the flap. They were from a lightweight denim shirt. The rest of the purse is upcycled denim from men's jeans. For the flaps, I added additional scraps of denim to make the flap the correct size needed. I also added some ribbon and buttons for a bit of bling.

This is the back of the purse on the right from above. A patch denim pocket with added heart appliqué. Just the bottom tip of the pocket had to get sewn into the seam. As you can see this pocket just barely fit on the back.

Two more upcycled denim purses with added ribbons, heart shaped and flower shaped buttons.

The backs of the two purses from above also have the front pockets on the back of these purses.

This cute dog print from Benartex Fabrics is called, Dog On It Let's Face It.

 It was a panel of different dog heads on black background. (The rest of the dog purses are below). The dogs are cute, colorful and there is some gold metallic in the print too. I scored a piece of this at a quilter garage sale over a year and a half ago. They made an all over dogs print too.

On the above purse, I added ribbon and yarn couched yarn on the front pocket. The pieced scrappy heart is my notecard front that I added a hanging ribbon to.

The back of the notecard, I stamped quotes all over it in different colored ink. Also, this is the back of the purse with the full flap (upside down).

Closeup of the decorative stitched webbing strap. This design is needle and thread.

Two more dog flaps with upcycled denim bodies and decorative stitched webbing straps.

This webbing is stitched with a ocean wave looking design.

This is a decorative stitch that looks like a row of chained together asterisks.

3 more cute puppy flaps!

Decorative stitching on webbing.

Decorative stitched webbing. I like this design. Like asterisks joined with diamonds.

This webbing was stitched with a line of scissors that appear to be cutting.

2 of the back sides of the dog purses with the front pockets as the back of the purses.

How many purses will I make this year in 2024? Who knows? But every single purse I do make will change a girl's life for the better.

Have the BEST NEW YEAR ever!!! Cheers!

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Sew Powerful Purse #3 for 2023

Third Purse completed for the Sew Powerful Purse Project.

Another Happy Scrappy Purse flap.

I tried something new for sewing on the buttons: I sewed them on making a little flower with stem and leaves. It turned out cute and is a happy little surprise embellishment. 

I had enough of the lining flap to use on 2 purses (same with the main lining fabric). I use all kinds of fabric in these purses. I think it is fun to peek into the purse or pocket and find another fabric there. 

The linings were donated to me fabrics.

I added a slip pocket to the back. The exterior was also a donated fabric that is a twill, rather than a denim.

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Sew Powerful Purse #2 for 2023

Purse #2 completed for the Sew Powerful Purse Project. 

This purse was made all from donated fabric, with the exception of a couple of small scraps on the flap that I had purchased.

Happy Scrappy pieced flap with added ribbon and button embellishments.

Side view showing gusset and rivet.

I sewed this button on making a little flower. Such a fun new to me way of sewing buttons. I will try a few more flower styles on other buttons I sew. I also added a bit of ribbon scrap I had (on the left with the white and red flowers). I have so much ribbon I have had for years, but never knew quite what to do with it. So I hope to add more ribbon bits to the purses I make. I just need to remember to add it at the right time when sewing so the raw edges on the sides can be sewn into the seam.

I used the flap lining in another purse too as I only had enough for 2 purses. So I had just enough of this lining fabric to use in one purse. These were donated fabrics and smaller pieces, so I have to use them where I can on a purse. So fun to see several fabrics in one purse.

I had enough exterior fabric to add a back slip pocket. Sometimes I don't have enough of the exterior fabric to add a back pocket, so I don't add a pocket here, but I love it when I can add a pocket.

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Sew Powerful Purse #1 for 2023

Hello Lovelies. The past 2 months I have been cutting out kits for making the Sew Powerful Purses. I wanted to have them ready to sew when the mood strikes. I cut out 213 kits since November 2022. In the process of cutting out (mostly donated) fabric, I used up quite a bit of fabric and of course ended up with bags of scraps too! I make the flaps scrappy, so the scraps get used there and I try to make a matching postcard for each purse as well, which uses up more scraps of fabric too. But I still have loads of scraps leftover and those will be sewn into string quilts to be donated to Project Linus. It is so satisfying to use up fabric scraps!!!

This is the first purse I made this year and it is made using denim jeans. For the flap I sewed a variety of blue denim colors to make it more interesting that just using one blue shade. I sewed it QAYG (quilt as you go), with the quilting showing on top. The stitching on top not only adds interest, looks good, but it also helps to really flatten those thick denim seams, making it easier to sew the flap lining on later. 

I love to embellish the flaps with buttons, appliqué, touches of ribbon or crystals, usually. For this flap I added appliqué flowers, a couple of buttons and I also added a belt loop with added rivets to this flap as well. I had been wanting to use the belt loops in a creative way and wasn't sure quite how. So I started off slowly and just added one belt loop.

I love how this purse came out! There is even a surprise on the back side as you will see on the last photo.

Added belt loop for fun and riveted the 2 sides.

I like to add a Handmade button or a ribbon that says handmade, which you will see on the next purses I share with you.

The front pocket and inside flap side.

Peeking inside the purse is a beautiful fabric that was donated to me. I had just enough of this fabric to cut linings for 2 purses. 

The side view. I like to add a rivet to secure the straps at the upper side gusset.

This was a fun addition to add! The pocket came from my daughter's jeans (the main body was from hubby's jeans). Hubby's jeans are larger and therefore hard to find a place to use them on these purses as they are too tall. But daughter's jean pocket was the right side to sew to the back for a fun added pocket. I dressed up the pocket first by adding the appliqué hearts. 

This is the intermediate purse with the beginner flap. I love the beginner flap as it is like a blank canvas that I can get creative with. I also love a purse/bag with a gusset, rather than boxed corners. I used gray thread throughout and I love how the topstitching shows the thread. I may just use a neutral gray thread for making these purses from now on, as long as it looks good. It sure makes it easier & faster not to have to change thread colors to topstitch all the different pieces.

I will be sharing more purses with you as I complete them. Oh and this purse (plus 14 more that I make) will be heading to the Atlanta Quilt Show in March. I was asked by one of the volunteers of that show if I would send her some purses to display for the show. Of course I said yes! Now I just need to make them and mail them off as soon as they are done, along with the added card for each purse too.

Happy Scrappy Sewing!

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Sew Powerful Purses #95-99 for 2022

Hello my lovelies. I finished making these 5 purses earlier this month before I got Covid, so I had zero energy to even post them until now. My energy is slowly returning I am happy to report. 

I was on a roll getting quite a few purses made and I sure hope I get all that energy back so I can sew a lot more.

3 in browns.

Colorful butterflies. I crazy pieced the flap using that colorful butterflies fabric in the flap and used the butterflies fabric for the body pieces too.

This is the back of the purse where I added a back pocket.

Crazy pieced flap in blues and red.

Getting rid of lots of scraps with each purse I make, but then adding back more new scraps after cutting fabrics too, so I feel like I will never use up all the scraps! I better start making more doll quilts or baby quilts so I can use up more scraps!

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