Holiday Gift Blog Hop Day 2 - Toddler Purse and Doll Blanket

Welcome! It's Day 2 of our Holiday Gift Blog Hop, where some talented bloggers are sharing tutorials that you can use for last-minute gift ideas or file away to try after the holidays. Today we're thrilled to have Jennie from  Clover & Violet here with a sweet purse project (plus a doll quilt!) for a little girl using Bella Morocco. After you read through Jennie's tutorial, be sure to head over to her blog to check out her other designs (such fun bags!) and find out how you can enter to win a fat quarter bundle of Benartex or Kanvas fabric.

Hi, it's Jennie from Clover & Violet and I'm excited to be here today sharing a tutorial for a toddler purse and doll blanket.  Since my mom and I design quilted handbags, a friend of mine sent me an e-mail the other day looking for a purse for her 18-month-old daughter.  My toddlers love carrying all their special toys around in little bags, so I was excited to make one for my friend.  I chose the Bella Morocco fabrics because they're so bright and fun.  And, I just had to make a little doll blanket to go with it too!

Supplies:

• 3 Fat Quarters
• 3 - 4" x 20" strips
• 1/4 yard cotton flannel
• 6" x 8" lightweight interfacing
• Ric Rac
• Sew in magnetic snap

For Purse cut:

From Fabric:

• 3 - 4" x 6" rectangles of three prints for flap
• 1 - 8" x 6" wrong side of flap
• 2 - 9" x 10 rectangles for body
• 2- 9" x 10" rectangles lining
• 2 - 2 1/2" x 14" rectangles handle

From Interfacing:

• 1 - 8" x 6" flap

From Flannel:

• 2- 9" x 10" rectangles lining
• 1 - 2 1/2" x 14" rectangles handle

All seam allowances are 1/4" unless otherwise noted.

Make the flap by sewing together the three 4" x 6" rectangles to create one 11 1/2" x 6" piece.  Set your sewing machine to a long stitch length and stitch 1/4" and 3/8" from the top and bottom edge.  Also stitch and 1 1/4" and 1 1/2" from the bottom.

Carefully pull the threads and gather the fabric until the piece measure 8" x 6".  Fuse the 8" x 6" interfacing to the wrong side to hold gathers in place.  Stitch the ric rac over the middle gathers, removing any gather stitches that show.

On the wrong side of the fabric, sew the magnet to the gathered flap at the ric rac stitching line.  Sew the 8" x 6" piece, right sides together, along the bottom and sides.  Clip corners.

Turn right side out and stitch 1/4" and 1/8" from bottom edge, making sure to stitch through the bottom of the magnetic snap.

Quilt the 9" x 10" rectangles to the flannel.  I like to leave the flannel extra large and then trim it to the fabric after quilting.

Cut a 1 1/4" square in on each corner of one 10" side of each panel.  Sew the bottom and sides of the panels together with a 3/8" seam allowance.

Fold the box so that the side and bottom seams line up, stitch 1/4" from edge.  Turn right side out to form a box on the bottom of the bag.

 Sew the remaining magnet piece to the wrong side of the purse body, 2 1/2" from the top edge, so that the flap magnetizes closed.

Make the handle by layering the two handle prints right side together and the strip of flannel on top.  Sew along long edges, leaving ends open (note: for easier turning, back stitch at beginning).  Turn right side out and stitch 1/4" from each edge.

Sew the flap, right sides together, to the back of the bag (the side without the magnet).  Then sew the handle to the sides of the bag.

Make the lining in the same manner as the body, but leave a 4" opening on one side.

Place the lining over the body of the bag, right sides together.  Sew around the top.  Carefully pull the bag body through the opening.  Hand stitch the opening closed, then push the lining into the bag.

For the Doll Blanket:

Cut the remaining 4" strips in half, 1 3/4", and sew together longways.  Trim the panel to 11 1/2" long.  From the body fabric, cut 3 - 2 1/2" strips and sew as a border around the stripped top.  Sew the ric rac 4" from the bottom of the blanket.

Use the remaining fat quarter for the backing, layer with right sides together and a piece of flannel (as for the strap), then sew, leaving a 4" opening on one side.  Turn right side out and quilt as desired.

And there you have a great gift for the little girl in your life!

Thanks, Jennie!
Don't forget to visit the Clover & Violet blog to enter to win some free fabric! 

See the other Holiday Gift Blog Hop tutorials here:
Day 1: Fabric Gift Bags from the Benartex blog team
Day 3: Beer Coozies and Coasters from the Benartex blog team
Day 4: Mae's Daisy Quilt by Melissa from My Quilt Relish
Day 5: Honey Bee Quilt by Erin from Why Not Sew? 

Looking for more holiday gift ideas? Check out the projects from our Holiday Headstart blog hop back in October:

Day 1: Take Me to Class Tote by Tessa from The Sewing Chick

Day 2: Window Zip Pouch by Emily from Mommy's Nap Time

Day 3: Squared Stripe Pincushion from the Benartex blog design team

Day 4: Bold Braid Quilt by Kelly from My Quilt Infatuation