Sew Powerful Purses #272-288 (for 2025)

I think these 17 purses might be the last of the selvage flaps for the purses I made, but don't hold me to it 😂. I was determined to sew up all the selvage flap purses to get them finished. Some have Kokopelli fabric in the centers and the rest have the prints I had been using before.

I was experimenting by making a smaller patchwork pocket for the front on the purse on the right. I holds the little notecard I placed inside of it, but I think I will stick with the larger slip pocket on the front, like the purse on the left.

I enrolled in the Sew Powerful Sew-A-Thon to raise funds so schoolgirls in Zambia Africa can have the feminine hygiene supplies they need to attend school all month. I make purses to hold the supplies as a special gift for a girl living in poverty. Together we can help keep girls in school! There is still time to donate through September 30, 2025. It takes $10 to fill each purse with the monthly hygiene supplies the girls need to stay in school all year long. So if you haven't donated yet, please consider at least a $10 donation to fill one purse. Click here to donate or use the QR code below. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

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Sew Powerful Purses #258-271 (for 2025)

I wanted to sew up a lot of purses using the selvage flaps I had made months ago. If we create scrappy flaps, embroidery, etc. we were allowed to do this before the Sew-a-thon, so that people using just plain fabric wouldn't be at an advantage over those of us who put more time into making flaps. So I really got to sewing these in batches, assembly line style to get these 14 purses finished. Glad these are done now.

I like this print. It reminds me of prints from India. These aren't my colors though, but I love the print and with Autumn on the way it is the perfect colors for Autumn.

I enrolled in the Sew Powerful Sew-A-Thon to raise funds so schoolgirls in Zambia Africa can have the feminine hygiene supplies they need to attend school all month. I make purses to hold the supplies as a special gift for a girl living in poverty. Together we can help keep girls in school! There is still time to donate through September 30, 2025. It takes $10 to fill each purse with the monthly hygiene supplies the girls need to stay in school all year long. So if you haven't donated yet, please consider at least a $10 donation to fill one purse. Click here to donate or use the QR code below. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

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Sew Powerful Purse #257 (for 2025)

I made this flap with a donated fabric from Tea Cup Quilt Shop, which went out of business a few years ago. I upcycled a red Starbucks apron for the purse body, donated to me by my sweet daughter.

The front pocket was the pocket that was on the Starbucks apron. 

Hello sweet people, I enrolled in the Sew Powerful Sew-A-Thon to raise funds so schoolgirls in Zambia Africa can have the feminine hygiene supplies they need to attend school all month. I make purses to hold the supplies as a special gift for a girl living in poverty. Together we can help keep girls in school! There is still time to donate through September 30, 2025. It takes $10 to fill each purse with the monthly hygiene supplies the girls need to stay in school all year long. So if you haven't donated yet, please consider at least a $10 donation to fill one purse. Click here to donate or use the QR code below. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

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Sew Powerful Purses #251-256 (for 2025)

More upcycled denim purses. Scrappy denim flaps covered in sparkly tulle, quilted, then added couched yarn, one with rickrack, and buttons added too.

Jean pockets and one added appliqué.

Jean pockets, one with added appliqué.

Hello sweet people, I enrolled in the Sew Powerful Sew-A-Thon to raise funds so schoolgirls in Zambia Africa can have the feminine hygiene supplies they need to attend school all month. I make purses to hold the supplies as a special gift for a girl living in poverty. Together we can help keep girls in school! There is still time to donate through September 30, 2025. It takes $10 to fill each purse with the monthly hygiene supplies the girls need to stay in school all year long. So if you haven't donated yet, please consider at least a $10 donation to fill one purse. Click here to donate or use the QR code below. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

Since the sewing part has started for the Sew-a-thon, I have completed 31 purses so far. My goal is 80 purses for the month of September. I just sent in a completed box of 120 purses as well!!! Yay!!!

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Sew Powerful Purses #247-250 (for 2025)

I made these purses before the Sew Powerful Sew-a-thon began (made in August). I sewed denim scraps first and then added couched yarn in various ways. Some added buttons last. It was fun to use up yarn scraps and try different couching designs. I used all kinds of yarn in varying thicknesses. Eyelash yarn, fuzzy yarn, smooth yarn, ladder yarn, chenille yarn and more.

I need to take photos of the purses that I have completed so far during the Sew-a-thon (which started on the 1st for the sewing purses part). My sewing progress so far is this: Day 1~ I spent sewing the main lining fabrics together and any pocket linings for a sack full of purse kits. Day 2 I completed 8 purses. Day 3 I completed 11 purses, for a total of 19 purses so far. My sewing goal for this month is 80 purses.

Upcycled denim jeans were used for the purse bodies as well.

Please help to fill the purses with the hygiene items that they need by making a donation. Every dollar counts and adds up. I enrolled in the Sew Powerful Sew-A-Thon (sewing part is September 2025) to raise funds so schoolgirls in Zambia Africa can have the feminine hygiene supplies they need to attend school all month. I make purses to hold the supplies as a special gift for a girl living in poverty. Together we can help keep girls in school! You can donate on my behalf here. Thank you so very much! Or use the QR Code below. Thank you so much for your help and generosity!

Back to sewing purses for the sweet girls in Zambia.

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The Daily Drift Cross Body Bag~ pdf & Video by ChrisW Designs

I had fun testing The Daily Drift bag by ChrisW Designs. I upcycled about one leg from hubby's denim jeans to make this bag. Before I did any sewing, I used my machine decorative stitches to have the fun part of decorating the denim. 

I was eager to get going on making this test bag and that is when I discovered a few issues with the pattern and why my exterior pockets are on the opposite side of the bag than the other tester's bags 😬 (don't worry as all is good now though and that is why Christine has many bag testers) 😉I didn't want to have to start over after I had already decorated my pieces so nicely, so I just went ahead and did my pockets on the opposite side. I have been using my bag since I finished it and I really LOVE it! It is a nice size too. Finishes at 11" wide x 7" high x 4" deep.

The front features a zipper pocket, great for keys or your phone, shopping list, etc. The back has a slip pocket is you prefer your phone to be accessed from the back side of the bag. The main bag closes with a zipper and double zipper pulls. There is NO binding inside the bag because of Christine's unique way of sewing the lining, which is no hard if you just take your time. I love the double sided strap too! I used the accent fabric on the strap that is also my lining fabric. You can add the optional bag feet, but I don't usually add bag feet to cross body bags, however I did quilt the bottom of the bag with a decorative stitch. Inside the bag is a zipper pocket. 

The pattern is on SALE now and no coupon needed. Scroll to the end to find the link.

Isn't my Daily Drift pretty? I think so.

I added this stitching to the bottom to not only make her look pretty, but I wanted to really secure the stabilizer at the same time. This wasn't part of the pattern, but you can do this if you want on your own like I did.

I added 2 bag charms to each zipper pull. As you can see the top zipper gusset I also stitched decoratively (and the side gusset too).

This is the back side of the bag. One large appliqué peace sign too.

She holds all my stuff. Large wallet, coin purse, reading glasses in case and a few things in the zipper pocket.

Empty view.

Side view of gusset and stitching.

Here are all the links, so grab your pattern while it is on SALE! Be sure and check out the other tester bags as they all look different in their fabrics.

The Daily Drift:

International Website: https://www.chriswdesigns.com/product/the-daily-drift-crossbody-pdf-bag-pattern

Aussie Website: https://chriswdesigns.com.au/product/the-daily-drift-crossbody-pdf-bag-pattern/

Introductory Video with tester Photos: https://youtu.be/Blu3QAJagyU

Video Tutorial: https://youtu.be/oooVvu9iBX0

Blog Post: https://www.chriswdesigns.com/2025/09/the-daily-drift-crossbody-bag-new-pattern.html

Happy Sewing!!!

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Sew Powerful Purses #244-246 (for 2025)

More upcycled denim with appliqué added. Donating these to Sew Powerful Purse Project.

Scrappy denim flaps with appliqué, added crystals and buttons.

Front pockets are jean front or back pockets.

 I enrolled in the Sew Powerful Sew-A-Thon (September 2025) to raise funds so schoolgirls in Zambia Africa can have the feminine hygiene supplies they need to attend school all month. I make purses to hold the supplies as a special gift for a girl living in poverty. Together we can help keep girls in school! You can donate on my behalf here. Thank you so very much! Or use the QR Code:

Learn more at Sewathon.org

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