The next step is to insert the flap into the body of the purse and hand stitch it in place – yes had stitch 🙂 . A lot of people ask if the flap can be stitched in by machine. Probably! but I actually enjoy hand stitching and I find I can pull my flap right up against the body of the purse better by hand than machine stitching.
The first step is to pin the flap lining out of the way – you don’t want to accidentally stitch into the lining as you are attaching your flap…
Next, pin one side of the flap flush up against the strap on the BACK of the purse (remember the front has been top stitched but the back has not).
Then move across to the other end of the flap and pin it right up against the strap on the other side of the body of the bag.
Next, stretch the flap across the back of the purse and pin it in place. It should fit perfectly in the remaining space and sit nice and flat.
Using good quality doubled thread, from the inside of the purse stitch the linen to the edge of the strap – do a few stitches to secure the strap to the linen so that it does not move around.
Now, turn your purse so that it is facing right side up and bring your needle up through the edge of the purse body…
Bring your needle straight across and down between two loops and right up into the edge of the body of the purse about 1/4 inch away and tug. Continue this stitch all the way across the flap until you reach the end of the flap and the other strap end. Stitch down through the linen, turn to the inside and again anchor your linen to the edge of your strap a few times and then knot off and cut your thread. Your flap is now attached – all that is left to do is sew in the lining of the body of the purse.
The first step is to turn under about 1 inch at the top so that the lining is the same depth as the purse body – press with steam.
Remove the pins from the lining of the purse flap and flatten the lining down inside the purse body and pin.
Line up the seam on the lining with the side seam on the purse body. Then do the same with the other side seam.
Pin the lining to the front of the purse body about 1/8 inch below the edge.
Finally pin across the back with the flap lining tucked inside(remember to remove the pins 🙂 holding the flap lining down).
You are now all pinned and ready to stitch. I use a thread that matches the lining of the purse body so stitches are not visible. Start stitching at the spot where the flap and strap edge meet. Bring your needle up through the back of the lining about an 8th of an inch in to bury the knot.
Next bring your needle through the body of the purse straight through into the lining edge 2 times – this anchors the strap so that it does not wiggle when you are using your purse. (please ignore the dirty fingers – too much time in the gardens 🙂 ).
Next slip stitch the lining to the back of the strap.
Once you reach the other side you will once again bring your needle through from the edge of the body of the purse to the lining 2 times again to anchor the strap in place.
Then continue to slip stitch the lining to the body of the purse making sure you do not stitch through to the front of your purse i.e. just catch the back of the folded over edge. Once you reach the strap on the other side repeat the anchoring stitch at either edge and continue across the flap catching the lining ONLY – not the hooked part of the flap and knot off when you are finished. You can add a snap to fasten the flap to the body of the purse – I have always found that the flap is heavy enough that it does not require a snap.
And yeahhhhhh IT IS DONE! Now that wasn’t so bad was it? 🙂
I have added this purse to my kits page either as a full or partial kit or as pattern and instructions only.
Hooked On The Lake 