Level: Beginner - Intermediate

You can create this fun and easy Dinner Purse project from a half circle of fashion fabric. Make for a special occasion or for everyday depending on the fabric your choose. Maddie provides instructions how to create the lining and sectioned pockets for organizing your stuff! It's the perfect accessory for a night out on the town.

Janome Supplies Required:

• Any Janome sewing machine
• Zig-zag foot A
• 1/4 foot O
• Janome Embroidery thread
• Janome Bobbin thread
• Blue Tip needle 75/11

Fabric and Notions Required:

• 1/2 yd. fashion fabric
• 1 yd. lining fabric
• Two 22" length 1/4" elastic
• Two wooden dowels 7" long
• Two wooden ball knobs for the ends of the dowels
• 6" length cord for the button loop
• One button
• Permanent glue
• Fabric chalk

Fabric Preparation:

1. Cut one 18" (diameter) circle from poster board.
2. Draw a line across the center of the circle.
3. Cut poster board circle in half on the line.
4. Mark one half "Dinner Purse Pattern".
5. Draw a line 1" down from the straight edge on the other half of the poster board circle.
6. Cut away the 1" and mark this piece "Dinner Purse Pocket Pattern".
7. Cut two "Dinner Purse Pattern" pieces from fashion fabric.
8. Cut two "Dinner Purse Pattern" pieces from the lining fabric.
9. Cut two "Dinner Purse Pocket Pattern" pieces from the lining fabric.
10. Cut two 2" x 18 1/2" strips from the lining fabric for the carriers for the dowels.
11. Cut two 1 1/2" x 20" strips from the lining fabric for the straps.

Instructions:

1. Set up your Janome sewing machine for ordinary sewing.
2. Attach the 1/4" foot O.
3. Select Straight stitch #1. Adjust the length to 2.0.
4. Fold one 1 1/2" x 20" strip in half lengthwise, right sides together.
5. Sew down the long side.
6. Turn right side out.
7. Insert elastic into the strip to add body to the strap. Be sure elastic is flat, press.
   Hint: A small piece of elastic should extend past the open ends of the strap.
8. Making sure the elastic is laying flat and not pulled, press the strap.
9. Repeat for other strap.
10. Fold one 2" x 18 1/2" strip under 1/2" on the short ends. Press.
11. Baste the folded ends.
12. Repeat for other carrier.
13. Fold both carriers in half lengthwise, wrong sides together. Press.
14. Fold under the straight edge 1/2" on one of the "Dinner Purse Pocket" sections. Press.
15. Fold again 1/2" and press.
16. Stitch across the folded edge. Trim as needed.
17. Repeat for other "Dinner Purse Pocket" section.
18. Pin one strap 3" in from the corner on the right side of the
19. Dinner Purse half circle. Line up raw edges.
20. Pin the other end of the strap 3" in from the opposite corner.
21. Fold the 6" cord in half to form a loop.
22. Place in the center of straight edge so that the loop extends past the straight edge. Secure with pins.
23. Place one of the dowel carriers on the right side of the straight edge of the fashion fabric. Be raw edges are even.
    Note: The button loop, strap and carrier should be secured with pins to one of the fashion fabric half circles.
24. Using 1/8" seam allowance sew across the straight edge.
25. Repeat for other fashion fabric half circle.
26. Place one pocket piece on one of the half circle lining sections. The wrong side of the pocket should be on the right side of the lining.
27. Using fabric chalk, draw a line 6" in from the sides to form pocket divisions. The pocket should now be sectioned into three 6" wide pockets.
28. Attach the Zig-zag Foot.
29. Starting at the folded edge stitch down both lines to the raw edge.
30. Repeat for other pocket.
31. Place the lining section on the fashion fabric half circle, right sides together. Secure with pins.
32. Attach the 1/4" foot O.
33. Sew across the straight edge making sure to catch the strap, dowel carrier and the button loop.
    Note: Only one fashion fabric half circle has the button loop.
34. Repeat for the remaining fashion fabric half circle and the lining half circle.
35. Press seams as sewn. Press seams open.
36. Place fashion fabric on top of fashion fabric, rights sides together. Secure with pins.
37. Place lining fabric on top of lining fabric. Secure with pins.
    Note: You should now have a full circle.
38. Measure 2" down from the seam on both sides and mark with a pin or fabric chalk. This will allow the purse to have a 4" gap for opening.
39. Starting at the 2" mark on the fashion fabric sew around to the 2" mark on the other end of the same section.
40. Starting at the 2" mark on the lining fabric sew around to the 2" mark on the other end of the same section.
41. Press seam as sewn. Turn right side out.
42. Turn under the raw edge 1/4", matching fashion fabric to lining fabric. Secure with pins.
43. Repeat for opposite side.
44. Attach the Zig-zag foot.
45. Stitch the openings closed, using 1/8" seam allowance. Do not sew across the open ends of the carriers.
46. Glue one end of one of the dowels into one of the ball knobs.
47. Run the dowel through the carrier to the opposite end.
48. Glue another ball knob to the other end of the dowel.
49. Repeat for other dowel and ball knob.
50. Sew on button closure.