Pencil case, makeup bag, catch all for the bottom of your purse, zippered purses come in all kinds of sizes and have an infinite number of uses.
It turns out that the Extra Large Panel from the Happy Popups Collection is an ideal size to make a zippered purse. When Heather wanted to make something to put a Christmas gift in, she went digging in my closet and discovered an extra Extra Large Panel that had been made but didn’t find it’s way into a Popup basket. This is how we transformed it into the perfect gift bag!
To Make a Happy Zippered Purse
You will need:
1 Extra Large Happy Panel from the Happy Popups Collection, trimmed with 1/4″ seam allowance all around the quilted background
2 pieces of fabric for the lining – the same width as the trimmed Happy Panel and half the length of the Happy Panel
1 zipper
All seam allowances are 1/4″ unless otherwise specified.
Click on any image to see a larger version of the image.
Step 1
Place the trimmed panel right side up.
Place the zipper right side down, with the top edge of the zipper aligned with the top edge of the panel and the zipper centered on the panel.
Step 2
Place one lining piece right side down on top of the zipper and panel, top edges aligned and the lining centered on the panel. Pin in place.
Step 3
Stitch along the top edge through all layers.
Step 4
Fold the lining up along the stitching line and press.
Step 5
Now fold the panel away from the zipper – the panel and the lining should now be wrong sides together, with the zipper sticking out the top.
Step 6
Top stitch along the edge of the panel.
I like to use my BERNINA #34 clear foot for topstitching. I place the red/center line on the foot on the edge of the fabric – in this case on the fold of the panel – and move the needle 2 positions to the left.
Increase your stitch length to 3mm for topstitching.
Step 7
With the panel right side up on the table, bring the bottom edge of the panel up to meet the top edge of the zipper. Pin in place.
Step 8
Flip everything over.
Place the second lining piece on top of the zipper and panel, right side down,top edges aligned and the lining centered on the panel. Pin in place.
Step 9
Stitch along the top edge through all layers.
Step 10
Fold the lining up along the stitching line and press.
Open up the panel which is now made into a tube and finger press the panel away from the zipper.
Step 11
Open the zipper.
Top stitch along the edge of the panel.
Step 12
Close the zipper to about half way. The important thing is that the zipper tab needs to be inside the purse – not anywhere on the excess zipper tape hanging off either side of the purse!
Fold the panel right sides together and the lining right sides together.
At the zipper, place the lining right sides together and match the folds as shown in the photo. The zipper teeth will be pointing towards the quilted panel.
Step 13
Stitch down both sides of the purse, starting at the bottom edge of the lining, stitching over the zipper (very carefully!) and down the sides of the quilted panel.
Step 14
Cut away the excess zipper tape.
Step 15
Turn everything right side out as shown in the photo.
Press the seams of the lining to one side.
Step 16
Fold in 1/4″ on the open edge of the lining. Press the fold.
Stitch along the edge to close the lining.
Step 17
Push the lining into the finished purse.
Use and enjoy!
Fill a purse with chocolates!
Wrap your purse in clear gift wrap and tie with a bow to add a touch of sparkle when giving the purse as a gift. What you put in the purse will be a surprise!
