I’m going against my own rules and blogging on a Sunday night.  Louis is watching a movie on his iPad and eating popcorn and Bennett is occupied doing Bennett things…so here I am.  On the computer.  So not something I normally do on weekends.  I try and reserve this for family time and craft room work.

But.  I am SO STINKING EXCITED that I couldn’t help but share.  I made my very first purse.  From scratch.  And it’s not horrible.  This is a moment to celebrate!!

I had this out of control urge to make my own purse.  I think it’s because I have this super cute Vera Bradley purse from my step-mom (last?) Christmas that I love…but I wanted something a little roomier for my every day purse.  The one I have is great for a small carry-along but I have way too much with me at once…you know how it goes.  I wanted to see if I could do it on my own.

I looked and looked and looked on the internet.  All over Etsy.  On blog reviews of patterns.  Designer sites.  THE WHOLE INTERNET, I swear.  I finally found what I was looking for.  Roomy, cute, simple(ish), an instant download and wonderful directions.  Score.

Chris W Designs is getting me as a repeat customer.  The directions were awesome.  She has an amazing photo step-by-step but also the option to print just the text directions, in order to save paper.  That way, I could always go back and check the photos on my .pdf if I needed a little help.  To be honest, I never had to go back.  She is amazingly thorough with everything.  It was a piece of cake.  I read through everything before I even bought my fabric (which is really what you should do so  you don’t run into something weird and hate yourself half-way through a sewing project) so I had an idea of what I needed to do with the photos before I made a single slice into my fabric.

This is the Sugar & Spice pattern.  I did a couple of things differently than the pattern called for but that’s okay.  That’s why you make your own purses, amiright? 🙂  I was chicken and didn’t use piping.  I might next time.  I also only put pockets on one side of the inside lining.  I have pouches that I keep things divided with in my purse and really only wanted enough room to slide a pen, my phone and some lip balm.  Besides, there are four pockets on the exterior of the bag and that’s more than enough for me!

I just love the zipper details.  I am no longer afraid of zippers!  I overcame that fear this weekend, that’s for sure.  Aren’t the zipper pulls a darling touch?  And I was lucky to find a zipper in the length and (almost) color that matched my main purse fabric. 

Things I would have done differently: NOT chosen corduroy as my main fabric.  Because this was my first purse and my sewing machine was kind of pissed at me by the end of it all.  There are points where you have to fold (like for the straps) a million times to get it sturdy and corduroy is THICK.  So it was rough to stitch through.  I also was sloppy with attaching straps to the d-rings (which I strayed from the pattern a bit because I couldn’t find what I wanted but couldn’t wait to sew this sweet lady).

But guess what?  I am IN LOVE with this bag and will probably make it again.  Because I can!