Another Towne Purse

Very pretty, Alice. They are contagious you know. When my middle DD saw mine she asked for one for her birthday. Since that event doesn't come around until the fall I have lots of time to decide on the fabric I want to use. Juno

Very nice!

-Irene

I love it! I bought a similar pattern and have been dying to make some. Now that I think about it DMIL has a birthday soon. Is the fabric already quilted or did you quilt it? Cute fabrics.

Kirsten

My DIL hinted strongly that she'd like one too!

I quilted it....that process took almost as long as putting the purse together! I did cross-hatches on the main purse body, stippled the pocket and striped the pocket flap!

Kirsten, You can use prequilted fabric if you want. It would save time. The fun of quilting is that you do it how ever you want. When I did mine, I did lines that curved slightly back and forth. Kind of wandered a little down each line. It suited the fabric well because that was all swirls.You can also do some free motion. Just let it go where ever. It took me about an hour to quilt. I can't say how long the entire project took because I broke it down in little pieces and worked on it over several days. I also found it easier to put iron on facing on the front pocket. It gave a little more stability there. Juno

My Designer SE has all sorts of cool quilting stitches so I would like to try that (when I finish with all the birthday parties in May). I assume you quilt the fabric and then cut out due to shrinkage issues.

Kirsten

Actually I pre-washed my fabric and cut to size. Then quilted. I believe that the directions just say to cut and quilt. As with most purse it's unlike your going to be throwing it in the wash frequently, if that's your concern. If it's that the quilting itself will cause shrinkage then quilt first then cut. Since Doreen has done more of these than anyone ,I suggest you check with her. HTH Juno

Another beautiful purse! Okay, you all have talked me into doing some, so I guess it's about time to order the pattern and start now for Christmas gifts. There will have to 7, if I do one for everyone. Of course, that includes, the 8YO DGD, who will surely want one her Mom's, DDIL. Emily

I prewashed my fabric...I always do that before I add it to my stash. I just did what the directions said.....quilted a piece larger than what was needed, and then cut out the front and back panels to the correct measurements. It's a good way to use up "stash" and small pieces of batting that are too good to throw out! I also used fusable interfacing for a little more stability. I could not find the Bag-E-Bottoms that were called for to stiffen the bottom, so I covered a double layer of plastic canvas with the fabric that matched the inside of the bag. I'll have to check out some of the other styles available.

They really turn out nice...not nearly as costly as the Vera Bradley's.

Alice,

That's so neat...happy fabric! It's such a versatile pattern...I think a hundred of us could make a Towne Purse and they would all be unique.

Doreen in Alabama

I think Kirsten's shrinkage question probably was related to how much the quilting would take up. The instructions do say to quilt first and then cut, although my experience has been that the quilting, either straight line or meandering, doesn't shrink the pieces much.

To tell you how I know this is to *sigh* reveal my O/C streak. Because it worries me that some of the stitches could eventually work out after cutting across the quilting lines, I use my Chacoliner to mark off 11" x

15" on the right side of the fabric and only quilt within those lines, then tie off the threads on the batting side. Actually this probably is completely unnecessary as far as the stitching coming undone, since with Lazy Girl's construction method the cut edges are sewn across twice; however, doing this also lets me trim away the batting right next to the seams, cutting down on bulk...anyway, after doing the quilting my pieces have still measured almost exactly 11" x 15" within the chalked lines.

Doreen in Alabama

I think the pattern is second to chocolate. I was thinking of doing the one for my DD in a micro suede with a minimum of quilting. Your correct, Doreen, when you say we could do a hundred of them and every one would be different. That what makes it so great. I have had several people tell me I should make them and sell them. I don't want to sell anything, I just like making them. They're fun to do and come out so well. Why take the fun out of them. Emily, they will make great Christmas gifts. You can really let your imagination take wings making Towne purses. Juno

Newsgroups: alt.sew> I thought this pattern was so cute so picked it up at the Lancaster Quilt

Newsgroups: alt.sew> I thought this pattern was so cute so picked it up at the Lancaster Quilt

Newsgroups: alt.sew> I thought this pattern was so cute so picked it up at the Lancaster Quilt

Newsgroups: alt.sew> I thought this pattern was so cute so picked it up at the Lancaster Quilt

O/C??? Sounds perfectly rational to me. ;-)

Beverly

So both you are I are either perfectly rational...or [at least a little] O/C. :)

Either way, puts me in good company!

Doreen in Alabama

Me, too! ;-)

Beverly