Free Motion Quilting as Decorative Design on Purse

I am working on some custom ordered purses for a friend. She wants the purses to showcase my quilting as the main part of the design, similar to the purse I did on the post: Free Motion Quilting as Surface Design. I drew around my purse pattern piece on the quiilt sandwich and then began quilting. I used my purple air-eraseable pen for guidelines for the design and stitched a black outline.


Then I began adding some blue into the design. I'll continue on with some cream colored thread in the design and then finish with some quilting in the background.


A detail of the blue below:


Then I'll cut out the pattern pieces and begin assembling the purse. I created this purse pattern myself and when I made the first one for myself, I decided that after these, I wouldn't make purses for others. They're just fiddly and take a while. But now, I think that as I just make this purse, without the added trouble of designing the pattern, it might not be too bad. There's something about being familiar with a pattern that makes it much more enjoyable.

Do you make purses? Is there a trick to making the process more enjoyable?

I'm linking this post with Connie's Free Motion by the River, where she surprised me by featuring my linked post from last week's link party! Go and visit the other blogs and have a party!

14 comments:

  1. I also make my own purses. Only one has been from a purchased pattern. Each of the others have all been a different style which always adds to the length of time it takes to complete the purse. Most of my purses featured a machine embroidered design, the largest took three hoopings and featured an African village scene.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet it is beautiful! I have yet to dip my toe into the ‘pool’ of machine embroidery, but will try it soon.

      Delete
  2. Love love love the quilting and use of color! Can't wait to see what you do next on it! I love the idea of have the quilting be the focal point of the bag. I guess with bag making you either enjoy the process or you don't. I've found if I mentally slow down and just do one step at a time, instead of trying to get too much done at once (and getting frustrated/annoyed when interrupted), it goes smoother.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I sent poor overworked Jan off for a little tune up at the Janome dealership, so I will have to wait a few days to work on the bag again. It does seem to be more pleasant this time, without having to wonder how the pattern will work out.

      Delete
  3. looking good Amy! No purses yet, but I've been planning on making one :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! You better show us when you make one! Love your quilting!

      Delete
  4. ahhh... beautiful! alas... there is 'no trick'... just patience... practice... time... and more patience! i love making them, and you are so right, the more you do, the easier and more seamless {lol} it gets! truly. although i love them... i found that sometimes i was just 'in love' with the IDEA of making them... as i never got them done! {would you like some free bag/purse patterns? - i may have SOME!} xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! No, I need no patterns, in fact I need to do a serious purge of the fabric stash! I’m finding the second time around is a bit easier.

      Delete
  5. Beautiful! Please tell me more about that blue thread. What fiber and weight is it? It shows up very well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It’s just a Metler Polysheen, which is a trilobal 40wt. Poly. It is stitched pretty densely.

      Delete
  6. Looks beautiful!! I have made purses and totes and it is always fun to do something a little different each timed! Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Connie! Thanks for featuring me from last week! What a thrill!

      Delete
  7. Wow!!! I just did my first pillow and it didn't look this good

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I have had quite a bit of practice! But you’ll get there.

      Delete