Pinch Purse Tutorial

Here is my Pinch Purse tutorial.
It's completely and simply made by hand,
no machine stitching required.

Thank you to all the ladies that asked for it, especially Ronnie.  

I was so frustrated with the machine stitched version I made earlier from the 

Time Life book that I thought I'd never make another one. 

Well, today with some research, I turned up some different techniques.  

This is my favourite version.

  This little one took no time at all to whip up.

 I've  also learned these are known as

 a clam shell, a pipkin, a thimble holder, or a victorian sewing box.

  Someone called it a brazil nut, others call it a beechnut, and others make them for Christmas ornaments.

 Nice to tuck a tiny gift inside and hang on the tree.

You can tell how anxious I was to whip this up,
 I didn't stop to iron the fabric.

My electricity was out. Excuse my crumples.

 I prepared six petal shapes from plastic.
Use anything you have, 

plastic milk jug, 

yogurt tub lids, or cereal box cardboard. 

The larger petal should be cut about 1/2" larger than the small ones.  

The large petal will be the template for the fabric. Fabric allowance of 1/2" is ideal.

Trim 3 of the smaller petals down by scant 1/8 inch all around.

You'll see why as you move along further.

 I used a lightweight wool with interfacing attached. 

 It would be easier to work without the interfacing on this small version.

 I drew and cut lining pieces, also using the large template, from printed cotton.
Note: allow about 1/2" of fabric all around.

 Here I've  drawn the smaller shape so you can see to make a running stitch all around, 

skip over the corners.

 Layer the batting between your petal and your outer fabric .
Note: batting only necessary if you want a puffy soft outer side.

Pull up the stitches and secure. Make 3 with batting for outer pieces and 3 with no batting for inner pieces.
Note: not shown here, secure with some large zig zag lacing stitches across the back, from one side to the other.

In this photo above I've pulled up a running thread and I've gathered
the lining fabric around a trimmed smaller petal.
Remember, you've trimmed 3 of your petals by a scant 1/8 inch to use for inside of the purse (liners).

 I am securing one of the corners.  

Fold and flatten the corners and tack both in place.
I ran more stitches from one corner to get to the other corner,
this also helps tighten the fit.

 Here is the reason the lining petal should be smaller than the outer pieces.
It helps with assembly to have the liner edges away from the edges of the outer petal.

 Make a ladder stitch all around the petal to join a liner to an outer petal.

 Notice how the lining of the center petal is centered.  

The other two, left and right, are slightly off center.  This will help in assembly.  

Stitch the wider displaced edge toward the base (center) petal, 

one to each side of the base, or center petal.

 It took  a while before I realized I was using a darning needle!
(The power was out, I couldn't see well.) 

Darning needle NOT recommended,
 I switched later to one of my chenille needles

Here I am making a simple whip stitch to join the first side.

Now the second side

more of the second side

 On the third side or the opening, stitch up from each point just a bit.

Make a strong overcast tack stitch.

You're done. Squeeze both ends to open.

My thimble purse!

You can dress yours up with fancy stitches or embellishments.