USMC Purse Done

The purse is done, but I think it's really my final, "wearable" muslin. There were some issues with my pattern that I didn't catch in muslins 1-3. Nothing serious, but it means I have to fix the pattern and trace it again.

I also had a "construction issue" at the end. This is why you shouldn't sew when you're tired.

The zipper should not caught in the seam past the top corner. I knew this, but it just wasn't computing when I was pinning things together with the bag turned inside out. I think I ripped out this end three times. It didn't help that I bought the wrong kind of zipper. I saw the right color, the slightly bigger teeth, and the label for "purse." I didn't pay attention that it was closed on both ends, with two pulls in the middle. Oops, but that's what happens when you have a teenaged son glaring at you as you try to rush through Joann's. ;-) I ended up pulling off the stop at one end and sliding off one pull.

Here's the way it should, and does, look.

Here's the inside. It's OK and will be useable as-is, but the side pockets would be better if I had attached them higher up. I also screwed up with the lining pattern and the bottom is about an inch bigger than the purse. I just sewed a tuck across the width of the lining on each side of the center pocket to take out the excess. Not the most elegant fix, but it's never going to show, especially with my stuff inside the purse. You can't even see the tuck in this pic of the empty inside.

I added purse feet, which are entirely useless. LOL! They don't support diddly-squat. But they look good, right? ;-)

Here's the other side. I added a pocket and a custom "name" tape.

On the pocket is the tab from the sleeve cuff, with the button as it was.

I like that the straps use various pieces of the original cammie blouse so there are things like seams and buttonholes included. This was not really my plan to start with but I had no choice when cutting the straps so I went with it. My Viking 6010 sewed over all that bulk like a champ.

I ended up making a key ring from the Semper Fi embroidery in my last post.

Nothing left over but some button plackets, a collar, and some felled seams I cut off. I'll save the buttons and send them to my son, who called earlier in the week asking how to sew on a button. I referred him to YouTube. lol

I'm not sure if I want to jump back into the same pattern, with corrections, to sew up a purse for my mom or if I want to use a different (commerical) pattern. On the one hand, it can be frustrating to have to work out every little construction detail on a new pattern on your own by winging it the first time. On the other hand, I think I've now conquered most of the bugs and #2 should go much smoother. Right? Still, it's a tedious purse and maybe not the best pattern for this thick fabric and I'm thinking I should try something different to compare. Mom will be happy with whatever I decide.