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Sunday, July 15, 2012

Change Purse


This stunning clutch was the inspiration for my "change purse"


After bag and clutch making, it only seemed natural to try out a change purse, no? Especially after the "success" I had sewing my wedding flip-flop holder. Anyway, Pinterest always seems to make it look easy. So easy, in fact, that I convince myself that I can create these masterpieces while my children have their afternoon nap (one hour - maybe two if I'm lucky)...So not only am I making these things with a severe sewing handicap, but I'm also trying to beat the clock. Phew. No pressure, right?


Well, I had some great fabric that I picked up at Walmart (what? no Fabricland? They're gonna pull the plug on my sponsorship...shhhhh!) and set forth making my tiny change purse. I loved the zippered pocket and credit card slots so much from my clutch tutorial, that I thought I'd include them in this project as well. Of course, before I finished this work of art, I'd decided that one of my good friends was going to be the recipient, as this kinda present was right up her alley (when it was done properly, of course!) and her birthday was just around the corner. Plus, I was going to be seeing her at my "girls' night"....so it seemed that all the pieces were falling into place.  UNFORTUNATELY, I had no idea whether or not I was actually going to be able to make this stinkin' thing, and if I was actually able to put it together, was it going to look good? Your guess was as good as mine!


So, I followed this pin, to teach me how to create a clutch. Now, of course, you know my success with clutches...I didn't need another as I'd already created a wonderfully wonky one. My intention this time was to modify the tutorial to suit my needs. I ordered some purse frames from Hong Kong (as directed in the tutorial), but of course, I ordered ones that weren't too big, so that they would suit the change purse sized bag that I was creating. Using the frame's measurement, I created the bag fabric and lining measurements to follow suit. What I didn't realize, however, was that the frame mechanism that I bought was a little different than the ones that are used in the tutorial. Of course, I only noticed that when it was time to attach the already cut/sewn purse and lining to the mechanism...and at that point it was too late to change what I'd done...so I had to improvise a little (This is where the trouble really started...LOL!)


While I was following this clutch tutorial, I was going back and forth to my trusty soy clutch tutorial, so that I could create my zippered pocket and credit card slots. I was hoping this change purse was going to be used on a night out when you only wanted to bring a couple of things with you (driver's license, credit card, debit card, some cash and a cellphone), so I made sure that this change purse would accommodate all of the above. In all honesty, after I had finished sewing it together, it looked pretty darn good (maybe I was getting the hang of this sewing thing after all?????)


Now comes the disastrous part...the purse frame. I had change purse material in one hand and clutch mechanism in the other, and was watching the video tutorial over and over again, trying to understand why her frame seemed to fit nicely and mine wasn't making any sense. Then I noticed that the material for her clutch only needed to be inserted onto one part of the frame on each side of the bag...mine, on the other hand, had to be fit all the way around the frame. So, what does this mean for the hero of our story? Mostly that I had to jam that stinkin' fabric into the allotted area, even though it was cut to fit into the "proper" tutorial frame. What a disaster!!! I used my Gem-Tac (fabric glue) like it was the only thing between me and death. Glue was oozing out of every opening in that stinkin' change purse and when I eventually had one side of the material into the frame just right...the other side would inevitably pop out. So, out came the Gem-Tac again (I may have possibly used an entire bottle of the stuff, when I really should've used a couple of lines!!!) QUELLE DESASTRE!! It was a gong-show! Of course, I tried my best to clean up all the excess glue that was oozing out, but 1)I'm not meticulous 2)I'm lazy and 3) I kept adding glue every two seconds in hopes that the thing would stick together. My saving grace would be trying to get the glue off post dry (could I do it? Only time would tell)


So, I let the glue dry overnight, as directed in the tutorial and in the morning I checked out my creation. It was a disgrace. I could barely open the change purse, as the glue inevitably caked the clasps together. After a little effort, I eventually got it apart. I checked out the Gem-Tac website to see if they had any brilliant ideas on how to get the stuff off, and of course, if one was on top of things, the glue could be removed with soap and water...but I was NOT on top of things, let me tell you. I tried soap and water over and over again, and one layer would disappear, only to reveal another thirty underneath. At this rate, I was going to have to give this gift to my friend next year for her birthday. There must be another way, I thought...so I skimmed google and came across a suggestion to use nail polish remover. I wasn't sure if it was going to tarnish the clasp's metal, but at this rate I surely wasn't going to do much more damage than I'd already done.






This is my ugly gluey mess post soap and water
So I scrubbed and scrubbed, and it seemed to be coming off (I wouldn't say easily, but it was definitely much more easy than just the regular soap and water route!). Then, of course, once the glue was gone on the purse frame I now had to deal with the extra glue (and now nail polish remover paper fluff) that remained on the material itself. Of course, the lining material was black, so it showed everything. I scrubbed with soap and water and a toothbrush over and over again...but it never really came clean (and I was at my wit's end at this point), so I gave up. I let the bag dry, wrapped it in tissue paper and shoved it in a gift bag. I also made sure that when it came time for my friend to open up her present that the lights were as dim as possible (LOL!) Anyway, again, no one laughed at me (although she may be laughing now - and hiding the purse in the back of her closet), so maybe it wasn't as bad as I thought...?


 I've learned a couple of things this time. Watch the tutorial and understand it completely BEFORE you start the project. Cut the material according to the purse frame's measurements (with "seam allowance" of course!) and use the glue SPARINGLY, cleaning up the mess along the way. I will definitely attempt to make this again, only to see if I can make one properly, and if it turns out, I'll gift my friend an early Christmas present (although she may be crossing her fingers that I never make her anything again!)


Take a look at the end result:


Looks pretty good from far away (LOL!)

Shout outs:

Wonderful clutch tutorial from: Cleverly Inspired. She's got all sorts of wonderful posts on food/decorating and sewing, so check her out.
My tried and true soy clutch tutorial from: All Wrapped Up

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