This has to be my favorite project I've made this year. It looks like just a handbag, but I actually dyed the fabrics and then pieced them together and the sewed on glittery embellishments. I won't lie, it's a hefty project - took me about 10 hours total. But it was worth it.
Today's project just about killed me, but I finished it. I call it Kamikaze Purse Making 101, and here's how it went down.

A couple of weeks ago, at Art Unraveled, a national altered-art conference, I joined hundreds of serious crafters whose creations went beyond the norm. The crafters dyed their own fabrics, spun their yarn and worked all kinds of extreme magic on basic techniques. Once the event was over, I felt empowered to take on a challenging project and came up with this crazy fabric collage purse. The dang thing took me 10 hours over a span of three days to dye, draw and paint images, copy them onto fabric sheets and then unite them using multistrand metallic thread. It wasn't a pretty process, but it did help that I watched Project Runway for motivation.

However, when I was almost done with the topstitching, my sewing machine broke (or rather, it revolted). I refused to give in. I marched into a Target store 20 minutes before it closed, bought a new sewing machine and stayed up until 2 a.m., until the last stitch was sewn.





I'm so happy I did. Sure, it would have been easier to use a pattern, but I wanted (needed) to freestyle my way through the concept. Now that I look back, that's what I loved the most. This purse combines contrasting fabric swatches in various sizes to create a patchwork look. To keep with the theme of the fabric, I used painted embroidery hoops for the handles. If it seems overwhelming, there are many shortcuts, such as using a blank canvas purse or starting with pre-printed fabric, instead of dying your own. There are no set rules, and in the end, you will have a funky, textured bag that will be worthy of any art conference.
Fabric Collage Handbag
Supplies
Assorted fabric
Scissors, sewing needle
Solid fabric to use as lining for the bag
Assorted images printed on fabric sheets (sheets you insert in your printer, available at the craft store)
Letter or decorative foam stamps, acrylic paint
Assorted trims, yarns, ribbons, metallic threads, embroidery floss, etc.
Straight pins
Sewing machine
2 medium embroidery hoops
Beads, buttons, charms

If you want to dye your own fabric you'll need: 1 yard of cotton muslin, assorted high-quality fabric dyes (found at the craft store), plastic gloves.

Cut fabric into four squares, and following the directions on the package, dye each one a different color scheme (red/orange, blue/green, purple/pink, etc).

Directions: Cut your fabric into various squares, rectangles and smaller squares. Stick with shapes that will work well together. For example, I used 6 by 6 inches, 3 inches by 6 inches and 3 by 3 inches. Using contrasting colors of fabric, lay out the pieces to make up one panel of the handbag.

Embellish each piece by sewing on fabric images, stamping words, adding trims, etc. When finished, pin half of it together and sew the pieces together. Repeat for remaining pieces until the panel is complete. Repeat the entire process for the other panel of the handbag. If necessary, use the zigzag function on your sewing machine to seam the edges of the fabric so they won't fray.

To assemble: Face pieces right side in and sew around edges. Flip right side out and insert lining. Use the zigzag function to seam the top border. Paint the embroidery hoops and let dry. Stitch them to the inside of each side. If desired, continue embellishing the bag.

Variations: If you are experienced with sewing, add a 2-inch piece of fabric in between the two panels to give the purse more interior room.


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* All content/photos copyright, Kathy Cano Murillo, 2006. Photos property and courtesy of Arizona Republic and AzCentral.com. For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *

Labels: wearable art