Sew Powerful Purses #278-281 for 2026

4 more purses completed to donate to Sew Powerful Purse Project.

I made this heart block for a quilt round robin, but it didn't really fit, so I thought it would be great for a flap with some extra fabric added around it.

Here are more flaps I made with decorative machine stitches like I shared recently. I really love doing these.

Part of a Seminole pieced section that I made decades ago. I cut up the long section to make many purse flaps. I thought it looked like a steep road and added the bicycle button going uphill. 🤣

Use this QR code to donate to the Fundraiser during the month of September or the link below. Thanks so much! 🤗

Please donate in my honor for the Sew-a-thon. Click here and then choose the amount to donate. $10 fills one purse to keep one girl in school. Thank you so much for your support!🤗

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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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Sew Powerful Purses #39-43 (for 2026)

Happy Valentine's Day! While I am working on more heart flaps for the Sew Powerful purses, I don't have them finished yet, just the one I shared a couple days ago. However, I did finish these 5 purses that I will donate to Sew Powerful Purse Project soon.

Painted background, appliqué flower, and pieced webbing strap using up scraps of webbing.

Decorative stitches on the curved scrappy section and a fabric strap using up some partial straps that I joined together.

Scrappy pieced flap with appliqué flower from that rainbow tank top that I have cut up into a lot of flowers. I made the fabric strap out of the same purse body fabric.

Painted background, appliqué rainbow flower from the tank top and a shiny textured vinyl for the center of the flower.

I made this flower years ago. It is fused with fabric on both sides and I riveted it to the flap. It is 3-D, as nothing is sewn on the flower. 2 flower layers and the circle center with the rivet in the center. I decided to rivet the flower on the scrappy blue purse flap.

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Sew Powerful Purse #35 (for 2026)

Love is in the Air is the monthly challenge over at the Sew Powerful Facebook group. I have been working on several hearts and this one I finished yesterday. I painted the textured background with metallic gold Shiva Paintstik (oil based paint that cleans with water), then appliquéd the batik fabric pieced heart, added rainbow rickrack & French knots all around. I even made the strap using 2 fabrics. I love how this one turned out.

Flap lining is a patchwork look with hearts too.

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Sew Powerful Purses #24-29 for 2026

6 more purses to donate to Sew Powerful Purse Project. More scrappy pieced purse flaps with added flower appliqué. Plus one painted purse flap background and a painted flap lining with added Zentangle on another purse!

The flower appliqué on four of the purse flaps are from that rainbow tank top that I upcycled into various flower appliqués. 2 purses have batik fabric flower appliqué.

I love how the orange part of the tank top flower here really pops on the green scrappy flap.

The background is painted texture. Batik flower here.

I made the strap on this purse using 2 fabrics. The flower is pretty with the blue, green and yellow colors from the rainbow tank top.

I like using extra large buttons as flower centers, and it's even more fun to stack a smaller button on top and stitch a little flower in the center.

I had to share this flap lining. I had experimented with painted texture on fabric years ago and adding some Zentangle on top. I LOVE Echinacea cone flowers and I did this one in Zentangle. It was large and took up the whole flap. I chose to use it as a lining so when it is opened the flap can be fully seen like this. If I have used it for the exterior of the flap, the top of the flower would have folded to the back side of the purse and the entire cone part would have been cut off from view. So it made a better lining and a fun surprise for the girl who receives this purse.

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Sew Powerful Purses #22-23 for 2026

2 scrappy flaps with purple denim purse bodies for Sew Powerful Purse Project donation.

The center purple part of the flap was a square I had pieced a very long, time ago. I made it thinking I would make a nametag pin or just a pin to wear on a coat, but I didn't wear it after all, so I ripped the backing fabric off and pressed it and as you can see I set it on point and sewed more scraps around it to create the purse flap. I am amazed at all the little things I have started over the years that work so well for the purse flaps. The fabrics are batiks, my favorite kind of fabric to use.

Batik fabric scraps purse flap.

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Sew Powerful Purses #17-21 for 2026

5 patchwork purse flaps with purple denim purse bodies to donate to Sew Powerful Purse Project. The purse flaps were all made with 2-inch squares fused to a gridded interfacing and then sewn to make perfect patchwork flaps. These were fun to make. A great scrap buster too.

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Sew Powerful Purses #1-10 for 2026

My first 10 completed Sew Powerful Purses for 2026! I had most of the sewing done on these last year, but needed to rest and heal after popping something on my ribcage. I slowly started sewing again a bit here and there and was able to complete these ten purses. 

I painted textures or stencils on the first 5 flaps and added appliqué and the next 5 were scrappy pieced flaps. 

This little print from the 2004 Sisters, Oregon Outdoor Quilt Show, was a tiny tote bag that I cut the print off the front of the little tote to use on this purse flap with added fabric that I pieced to the print to make it large enough for a purse flap. I wish they would sell just small prints like this at their annual quilt show instead of tiny tote bags that aren't very useful as they don't hold much. I bet quilters would buy these prints and save them to make larger quilts or other items, like this purse flap 😉. I should mention this to them, right? I made a purse last year with a different print from one of the Sisters quilt shows too.

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