Embracing Failures ~ Designing a Purse Sewing Pattern

I’ve often heard people say that they aren’t creative enough to make many of the things I make. Although I wish I were gifted, I’m not too sure that’s the secret. I used to be one of those people who wished they were more creative. I was in my later 30’s before I finally had an epiphany. I started to believe in myself. More than just that I started to embrace my failures.

Only a few close friends know that I actually design many of my patterns from scratch. Nobody, but me, knows how many mistakes I make along the way. My paper, drawing utensils, and erasers are well used. I’ve told my children many times that familar quote, “If we were meant to be perfect, pencils would not come with erasers”.   If you want an original, you’re going to have to do it yourself and fail many times.

Although I’m not going to show you all the mistakes I made along the way, I’m going to go through a design process with you. I’ll also talk a little bit about my oopsies and fixes.  

I acquired some spring tensors frames for purses at an estate sale. I’ve had the spring frames for quite some time. They came in a huge box with other wonderful supplies from the 60’s and 70’s. They still make similar purse hardware. They are commonly called flex frames. Here’s a site that has some, Tall Poppy Craft Products.

The spring will stay open when you squeeze the ends. It closes by pushing on the side. Above is a picture of the purse I created using the hardware.

I go through quite a few steps before I ever get to a pattern like you see above. I usually start a design by doing a lot of thinking and visualizing different shapes. I do some rough sketching of different concepts. Eventually I choose a design. After I’ve chosen a design I get out my ruler and some paper. In this case I measured the spring tensor, picked up some notebook paper, and did some calculations. I used the same sort of notepaper to create my design. I actually made the pattern in two pieces. The pattern above is pinned together for the lining of my my purse.

Above is my pattern pieces cut out of the fabric. I cut the fabric for this purse at the same time as I did for the completed purse at the top of this post. I almost always make more than one item from my design. If I were working in the industry as a product designer, these would be called my prototypes. I cut out more than one, because I expect to make mistakes.

I know the first one will have construction mistakes. I expect to correct the procedural mistakes in my first creations. I may be able to fix pattern mistakes in my first creation, but in general, I know it will take at least 2 iterations through my pattern to get correct and change my patterns. Sometimes I consider the first iteration so hopeless, that I go back and redesign the pattern completely.

 By the way, all of the fabric I used is from scraps I have in my stash.  I have some wonderful high quality upholstery fabric scraps.

The more modern spring frames come apart and can be slipped inside a seam. My vintage spring tensors are not easy to take apart. I had to hand sew the bottom part of the seam that holds the spring in place. Although my hand sewing is not bad, I decided that adding trim around that seam gives my purse a more finished look.   Embellishments are a great way of covering up seams regardless of how neat you sew.

A seam ripper is to sewing as an eraser is to drawing. I did a lot of seam ripping on my first spring frame purse. I also found that I had to trim up a few places. Two other tools I’ve found very useful for making neatening up my sewing creations, an iron and a small pair of scissors. The scissors are for trimming threads and removing excess fabric on turned seams. The iron for ironing the seams after turning.

I still have that second purse to make. Also I have two more spring frames to use. I will most likely create at least one more pattern for a spring frame purse. Along the way I’ll make many mistakes. Mistakes that I will gladly embrace.

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