Little Frame Purse Tutorial

Sewing Tools You Need

Sewing machine
1/4 inch foot
Fabric and Other Supplies
I used Sweet Things from Lakehouse Dry Goods (Oct 2013)

Small piece of feature fabric

Small piece of contrast fabric
Larger piece of lining fabric
Fusable interfacing enough for outer and lining
You could use just fusable wadding on the outer no interfacing. You dont want it too
thick.

 8cm curved purse frame. You measure straight across between the hinges. The height of
the curve on mine is 4cm. See how to fit your pattern to your frame on the Pattern PDF.
All purpose thread to match the fabric
No. 5 Pearl thread to match lining
Fabric scissors
Pointed straight scissors
Straight pins
Short thick needle. The thickness needs to match the no. 5 thread so it makes a big
enough hole to drag the thread through easily. Sorry I cant tell you a size. This picture
shows my needle next to a tapestry needle.

Fabric marker
Small ruler
Iron and ironing board
Getting Started

1. Download the Pattern PDF and print it out. Check your frame will fit the pattern. There
is now way to put a too big frame on a too small purse.
2. Use the pattern pieces to cut out
2 main pieces in feature fabric and 1 side piece in contrast fabric
2 main pieces and a side piece in lining fabric.
4 main pieces and 2 side pieces in iron on interfacing.

3. Iron the interfacing on each piece.

4. Mark the centre of each feature fabric main piece with a pin. Mark the centre of each
side of the contrast fabric side piece.

5. Pin one main piece to one side of the side piece. Right sides together. On each side of
the pin on the side piece only make 5 snips 1/2 inch apart. It is easier to snip the other
side of the side now ready for the second main piece. Match them up with the ones you
have already done.

6. Curve the side around and pin at the top so the side just pokes past the main piece.
They should cross at the 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Pin two pins at right angles at the corner easing open the snips to fit.

7. Pin the other side of this main piece.

8. Double stitch to start. Sew with a 1/4 inch seam using your 1/4 inch foot to the first
corner pin. Needle down. Remove the pin and lift the foot to shift any pleat formed
underneath to the back. Sew to the second pin. Needle down. Remove the pin. Fold
any pleat formed underneath to the back. Continue round the curve to the other corner
and work round the corner in the same way as the first corner. Continue up the second
side. Double stitch to finish.

9. Pin the second main piece to the side right sides together and sew the same as the
first main piece.

.
10. Repeat steps 4 to 9 with the lining pieces.
At this point I will mention that when trying new designs there will always be some
collateral damage. This little owl purse was just a bit too small for my frame. He sits
where I can see him until I learn my lesson. Yeah right! He will probably have a few
friends before I finish trying all the different frame purse patterns.

11. Turn the lining outside out and place it inside the outer so you have right sides
together. Line up the seams and put in a few pins around the top on the inside.

12. Using your small ruler along the raw edge place a mark with your marking pen 1.5 cm
or 5/8 inches on each side of the V.

Place a dot at the 1/4 inch seam line under the point of the V then draw the 1/4 inch
seam line out to the two marks. Trace a vertical line down from each mark to meet the
seam line. This is the section you will sew.

13. At your sewing machine place the needle down at the point where the vertical lines
crosses the seam line. Double stitch to start. Turn at the point of the V and sew to the
other place where the lines cross. Double stitch to end. Do this on each side of the
purse.
14. Once sewn you need to snip at right angles to the seam line to the end of the stitching.
Try to ignore my marker lines. I drew them on the wrong side to start with.

Also snip straight down to the V point.

15. Pull the lining out.

16. Using all your thumbs turn the lining and the outer, right sides out through an open
section. Then tuck the lining inside the outer.

17. Press as best you can along all the seam lines keeping all your thumbs out of the way.

18. Stitch the raw edges together on each side of the purse just a fraction less than a 1/4
inch seam. Double stitch at each end. Trim the threads close to the fabric.

19. Preparing to Sew on the Frame

With your purse frame count the holes up from each side until you find the centre hole
or the next to centre hole if there is an even number.
Mark the centre of each side of the purse with a little dot.
The next bit is a bit fiddly. You have to open the purse frame and use all your fingers to
hold one side of your purse into place. Make sure you line up the centres. You will have
to ease it in a bit - sort of gather it up a bit - so it fits. You need to do this so you can
decide which hole you are going to line up with the side seams. In my case it was the
5th hole from the hinge. The hinge should just sit in the centre of the V at each side.

You ease the top so you dont get any big gathers as you sew the frame on.
20. Sewing on the Frame
Using number 5 pearl thread that matches your lining cut a length about 18 inches. Tie
a not 3 inches from the end. Starting at the centre hole bring the thread from the inside
out and angle up through the hole. Pull to the knot firmly but not so hard the knot pulls
through. I work to the left first. Put your needle down through the next whole on the left
of centre through the fabric and out through the lining. Do a running stitch along the
frame making sure you ease the top edge of the fabric so that the seam is always lined
up with the right hole up from the hinge. Mine was the 5th hole.

I hope Stumpy doesnt make it too hard to see.

I go down into the 5th hole from the hinge right on the seam.
21. When you get to the last hole just work your way back in running stitch filling the gaps.
Go all the way to the centre and keep going to the other end. Make sure you ease the
fabric and keep the other side seam even with the hole 5th from the hinge. Work your
way back to the centre and finish with the thread on the lining side next to the
beginning 3 inches you left dangling. Tie a tight granny knot and one more half knot for
good measure. Trim the ends to about 3mm or 1/4 inch.

Here are my ends ready to knot.

22. Sew the other side of the frame on. Using small pliers squeeze the frame channels
together fairly tightly at the hinges and best you can along the channel. The purse sits

better if you do this.