Friday, February 1, 2008

Pleated Picnic Purses Please

I've tried to put myself on a fabric buying hold lately, since we have had so many expenses lately. I'm taking a class at night and we are going on vacation soon so a little less paisleys and florals and a little more money in our piggybank. I've really had to try and find ways to use what I have and keep the projects smaller.

I've had this vintage faded red checked tablecloth sitting around begging to be reborn into something other than a boring tablecloth. So I made a little pleated purse from it.


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I am now on a pleating spree let me tell you. It is so easy and fun to do that every fabric I pull out I find myself saying, "hmmm I wonder what it would look like pleated."


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Also, pleated purses are much better than pleated pants. You should give it a try. I think I will post a mini tutorial on how to make this same purse. The idea grew from the pleated purse featured in Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing book. So you can check out that book for tips on how to pleat. How funky is that cool button? When I was working in retail a few years back at a very old family store the owner kindly gave me all her mother's button. I have scads of them now.

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I call the ants scrappy since they aren't perfect and weren't meant to be.

I've got a very busy weekend planned. Sewing, studying (I'm taking Anatomy and Physiology, boring), hiking, cleaning, squeezing my dog. Sadly, I still have not received my gauze so I can make that soft fluffy gauze quilt.

On a random note, I have become addicted to the ask a ninja website. I love the slogan "You got questions, ninja has answers."

15 comments:

The Stitching Surgeon said...

You are so creative. Oh my gosh...i LOVE this!!! I have yet to see such a CUTE purse! Please, please post a tutorial...I have to have one...the ants...I can't tell you just how much I love this! Love your cabinet sewing machine! I have one I inheritied from my grandmother like that and I will never part with it (though I do very little of my sewing on it now).

bettyninja said...

Thanks so much Stitching Surgeon! I will work on a tutorial this weekend! I've only had old machines. I think I may start to collect really neat looking vintage ones this summer as I yard sale.

Anonymous said...

LOVE the purse. It's adorable. Great way to repurpose the tablecloth. I tried my hand at a pleated purse and failed miserably, so I look forward to the tutorial.

The Stitching Surgeon said...

Yeah!!! I can't wait...I'm already trying to decide which vintage tablecloth I have is going to be used for this bag. And don't you just love yard sales???

Megan Rose said...

That purse is fab! Yes please, a tutorial would be great.

I'm so very jealous of you being given a treasure chest of buttons. I have such a thing for buttons. And I love the one you've chosen for the purse!

gina said...

adorable purse - I wish I could sew with the confidence you have!

Melissa Goodsell said...

What a gorgeous bag, love the fabric.
Melx

Kathi D said...

I LOVE IT! It really is the perfect purse for a picnic, isn't it???

Kathi D said...

I have a tin of my grandma's buttons, and I try not to open it very often, because when I do, it still smells like grandma's house inside.

Jodi Renshaw said...

The pleats are so great. In all my years of sewing & crafting, I have yet to make a "pleat". Now, I will search for a reason to do so - thanks to your inspiration :)

Love,
Jodi

Kyoko said...

Wooo, what a cute design! The fabric is matched with the design very much as well! I am looking forward to seeing your tutorial....!!

bettyninja said...

ahhh you guys thanks for all the nice thoughts and encouragement. I'm still working on the tutorial part (jeez, it is harder than I thought), but all this nice feedback really is encouraging.

Bec said...

OK, so I'm the only person who's going to start a comment to this post by saying "that ninja website is UNREAL"!!!!! I have just been cracking up for the last 15 minutes...,.thank-you for sharing it!

And great bag too! Hope the tutorial is going well.

And lastly, very VERY jealous of your buttons!!! :P

bettyninja said...

I love ask a ninja! I am so glad you checked it out. It makes me laugh every time

Alison said...

This purse is so feminine and cute, I LOVE it!!! I want to make one soon. I'll post a picture when I do. I have some cute fabric laying around and a sewing machine that needs to be used. :)