Remember this bag from Sketchbook Crafts? I was so in love with it, but couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money on a purse. Crazy Husband, who just doesn't understand how complicated this sewing thing is, suggested I just make my own. Really, because it's just that easy?!
Motivated by Mr. Plaid's confidence, I decided to modify the Charming Handbag project (from Bend The Rules Sewing, of course), to try to get the feel of Sketchbook Crafts' bag. I used what I had in the stash, which was a somewhat stretchy dark blue heavy cotton (no idea what it is, really, found it at Joann's in the Red Tag fabric section last Christmas). For the pintucks, I used a grey and white shirting (also from the Red Tag section).
I just sort of winged it on the pintucks, but I was pretty happy with how they turned out. I just made the pintucks in the grey fabric, then sewed the pintucked fabric to the front outside piece before putting the bag together.
Here you can see the grey fabric and tiny stripes a little better. One of my favorite parts of the Charming Handbag is the casing for the handles. It gives the bag such a cute little pucker.
Smaller than the original bag that I loved, but a fun modification of the original pattern.