Free Skirt Purse Pattern w/ Tutorial

While on the 400 Mile Yard sale, I came across a lady selling her scrap fabrics.  BIG pieces of scraps for 50¢ a grocery bag full. 

I sorted the pieces and came up with this stack of almost fat quarters.

They had been cut by a pattern the lady had made as skirts for a 31 skirt purse.  She had been making them and selling and decided to quit. 

 Problem - I couldn't figure out how this pattern came to fit my skirt purse.

So I made my own pattern.

Here is my first prototype.  Made it from a fabric that I wouldn't use unless I gave it to a fire lady.

*****************************************************************8

 My tutorial for creating this purse skirt.

 Be sure to read on to see the money saving trick I learned from the Yard Sale Lady 

for attaching the skirt to the purse.

Here is my skirt purse pattern link I made.   

I hope the link works.  Google has deleted some of my docs.  Sometimes works, sometimes not.

Note the measurements to make sure it printed correctly.

Interface the strips with  interfacing (I use iron on) or self fabric that is cut 1/4" less wide than the strips.  Turn over one long edge on each strip and stitch.

This is a straight cut strip, not cut on the bias, so it won't stretch.  It manages the slight curve OK.

For this purse I did add my name.

I know the pros will choke when they find out I used a simple all purpose thread instead of expensive embroidery thread.  For this simple style, I ran the stitch twice and it worked fine.  Be brave and try something different.  Besides, it wasn't like I was messing of a $5.00/yd fabric.

To stabilized the top and to make a crisper turn, I like to do an understitch.  Turn the seam allowance upward and stitch top to catch the seam allowance.

After turning, top stitch 1/4" from the seam edge.  The top row you see is the understitch just done.

My pieces already came with the corner cut out about 1 1/2" deep, but note on the pattern I don't cut out the corner.  After stitching sides and bottoms, just pull the corner apart like you see in the second picture above, measure down about 1 1/2" from corner (or check your original skirt), and proceed to stitch across, then cut off excess corner leaving a 1/4" seam.  Personally, I don't cut it off, because I think it leaves a stronger support for the corners.

Now the money saving trick I learned from the Yard Sale Lady.

For the metal hooks used to connect the skirt to the purse she used:

Yep!  Safety pins.  A safety pin about 1 inch long works just as good as the metal hooks and much faster to attach.  No hand sewing!

Now go make a bunch of skirts for your 31 Gift Purse.  If you're like me, you won't be able to stop!

Beginning to wonder if I can add skirts to my other purses?

As a former school teacher, this had to be one of the first I made from my 400 Mile Yard Sale Stash.

************************************************
I've had a few email inquires asking if I have a pattern for the newest skirt purse.  
Sorry, at this time I do not.
You can now find a pattern for the larger, newer purse 
@
this post.click here

************************************************

If you have any questions, please leave a comment and check back with the comments here for your answer.  

Thank-you, JOY

You'll find this post at several Linky Parties. Please check them out for some great ideas.
************************************************
Directions revised August 1, 2017 HERE.

 
************************************************
Thanks to 

GIMP for cropping & other digital effects

PicMonkey creating collages used on this page

 Photoscape for downsizing & watermarking photo