I saw a gorgeous little bag on ‘Can I have a Whoop Whoop’ this morning, it was over on Sew Cook and Travel and the pattern was called Pick-a-Pocket Purse, as it has six pockets around the sides, craftily made when stitching the handles on. I downloaded the pattern for future use, as you do!

Over on the Monthly Stitch the challenge for April is ‘to put a bird on it’. I went up to my fabric stash, thinking I didn’t have anything with birds on…and spotted my chicken fabric! I keep chickens and I bought it a while ago to make a little bag to take the surplus eggs to work in. I had a coordinating stripe too…you can see where this is leading…the pick-a-pocket purse is just the right size!!

I started this afternoon as I had the house to myself, the ironing would have to wait! I’ve made a few bags but this one used a different method and it went together really easily. I cut out the pieces very carefully to get chickens centralised and stripes matching. I would have got the stripe on the handle more central only I was actually aiming to use the other side which had a red stripe down each side, but having laid it on the chicken fabric, I preferred the plainer side!

Each side is made first, the lining and the main bag being from one piece of material with the pocket laid on top. I used iron on wadding as I find it easier for bags. I also added a 1″strip to the handles as I prefer a little bit of padding. I used my quilting foot for this project, I didn’t have it on for the first strap and I can tell the difference between the two straps! I also used my long flower pins, they were great for lining up the seams and stripes.

Once the two halves were stitched, all that remained was to stitch all the way round the edge (remembering this time to leave a gap in the lining for turning) stitch across the corners for the gusset and then turn. I top stitched round the top edge to give it a firm, neat edge. A good press and it was finished!

I’m really pleased with it, the stripes and the seams all match up pretty much perfectly and it will be great for carrying eggs to work! A good afternoons work 🙂