Sassy Coin Purse with Tape Measure Snap! Free bag Sewing Tutorial.
My sister is in love with zebra print, when I saw these prints had the fabric store, I knew I had to make her something fun! I also have been wanting to do a tape measure project for quite a while so here we go!
This is a great project to use up your scraps, here is what you need:
Bag
(2) 5″ x 4.5″ square of fabric for main fabric
(2) 5″ x 4.5″ square of fabric for lining fabric
(2) 5″ x 4.5″ square of fusible fleece
Metal Tape Measure (One you don’t care about too deeply)
Tin Snips, to cut Tape Measure
Embellishment (Borders and Ruffly)
(1) 5″ x 3.5″ piece of fabric for border
(1) 3″ x 15″ piece of fabric for ruffly
Strap
(1) 14″ x 1.5″ piece of fabric for strap
Note: I used 1/4″ seam allowances on this project
Step 1: Make strap (Pic is taken from a different tutorial)
a) Press (Iron) the 14″ by 1.5″ piece of fabric in half lengthwise, to make a seam.
b) Open up fabric, and fold one edge of the fabric into the seam you created in the first step and press.
c) Fold the other edge of the fabric into the seam, and press.
d) Fold the fabric down the seam you made in the first step with folded edges together.
e) Sew down the sides of the straps about 1/8″ in, I used my stitch in the ditch edge foot on my sewing machine because I am lucky enough to have one!
f) This is what your finished strap should look like, set aside.
Step 2: Making Bag Panels
1. Iron fusible fleece to the main outside fabric.
2. With right sides together, sew one of the 5″ sides of the main fabric and the lining. This will be the top of your bag.
3. Press Down.
4. Top stitch the top layers of the bag, and from there make casing for the tape measure snap. My tape measure is 1″ wide, so I made my casing just bigger, by making another strait seam about 1 1/4″ from the top stitching.
You should have two panels that look like this after completing step 2!
Step 3: Embellishment
This is how I chose to embellish my Bag, but be as creative as you would like.
1. Make border, by folding your 5″x 3.5″ fabric, right sides together, and sew a seam along non-folded edge.
2. Turn right side out, and press, so the seem is in the middle.
3. Top stitch the border to the front of your bag.
4. Now make the ruffle. Fold long sides of your 3″ x 15″ piece of fabric, right side together, and sew a strait seam on the non folded side, to make a tube.
5. Turn tube right-side out. I cheat a little and sew one of the sides closed to make it easier to turn with a dowel. When I am finished I simply cut the short sewn side, so I still have a tube.
6. Press tube, with seam in the middle.
7. Sew a gathering stitch along each side of the tube.
8. Gently pull strings to make a ruffle on each side.
9. Top stitch the ruffle on the border. I intentionally made the ruffle a little long, so you can just trim off the excess ruffle. Take out gathering seams.
Step 4: Putting it together
1. Using your tin snips, cut two 4″ pieces of tape measure. Round the corners, so they don’t poke through your bag and cut you. Make sure to have some duct tape or something to put over the tape measure, to stop it from sliding all the way into the hole. (Don’t ask me how I know of this!)
2. Slide tape measure pieces in casing. Make sure the numbers are facing the outside of the bag, so it will snap. In the front and the back!
3. Tack your strap to the top of bag.
3. Put right side of bag panels together, and make a 1/4″ seam around the edges.
4. Zig-zag around the edges to prevent excess fraying.
5. Turn right-side out! You are done!
I think it turned out so cute, I know my sister will love it… if I don’t keep it for myself!
I also made one to match a purse I made a while back!
