Aislyn Peek a Boo Purse

A flirty bag for any occasion; a roomy interior and a pleat to showcase your favourite
fabric.

Materials List
1/2 yard Fabric A
1/2 yard Fabric B
1/2 yard twill fabric

Tools needed

Machine needle for sewing denim

Walking foot or dual feed
Scissors
Iron
Ruler and Rotary Cutter
Self Healing Mat
Straight pins

Sketchbook Notes
I don’t pre-wash my fabrics. I never have and don’t intend to start . Traditionalists will gasp
and tell you that you must pre-wash all your fabrics so that the fabrics shrink. The concern is
that the fabrics will shrink at different rates, yet I love imperfections and think they add charm
and character. And who couldn’t use more charm and character?

I adore embellishments: rick-rack, fringe, buttons, yo-yos, ribbons, prairie points, lace, etc.
Feel free to embellish the bag as much as you like.

Fabric bought at your local quilt shop often comes with a customer service promise. Shop
owners and salespeople are passionate about sewing and they are more likely to help you than
a big box discount retailer. Furthermore, the extra money spent on quality fabric will ensure
that your project will last for generations.

Save gas, buy local.

Vocabulary & Shorthand

Aislyn: This Irish girl’s name is pronounced ASH-lynn. Derived from the Gaelic, it means
dreamer or visionary.

Backstitch: This is used to reinforce your stitching and keep it from unraveling. At the
beginning or end of a line of stitching, put your machine in reverse and stitch 3 or 4 stitches.
Baste: This is used to hold sections of the bag until you are ready to complete the final
stitches. Use a longer stitch on your machine. There is no need to back stitch.

Exterior: The outside fabric of the bag.

Interior or Lining: The inside fabric of the bag.

Selvage: The finished edge of the fabric as it comes off the bolt and usually has the
manufacturer’s name printed on one edge. Don’t use the selvage. Cut it off and throw it away.

Peek-a-Boo: A game similar to hide and seek, but played with babies. Peek-a-boo! I see you!

Topstitch: Topstitching finishes the bag and gives it a neat appearance ; it can also be used to
close openings left for turning the bag; and it can be used as a reinforcement stitch, by adding
another row of stitching to areas that will be heavily used. Stitch parallel to the edge at the
described seam allowance.

WOF = Width of Fabric: The measurement of the fabric from selvage to selvage.
The typical width of quilting cotton is 42 inches without selvages.

Cutting
Fabric A

• Cut one 10” strip – sub-cut into four 7” x 10” pieces

• Cut one 5” strip – sub-cut into two 5” x 20” pieces

Fabric B

• Cut one 6 ½” strip – sub-cut into two 6 ½” x 10” pieces

• Cut one 10” strip – sub-cut into two 10” x 19 ½”

Twill Fabric

• Cut one 5” strip – sub-cut into two 5” x 20” pieces

• Cut one 10” strip – sub-cut into two 10” x 19 ½”

Additional Cutting

• Layer both Twill pieces and Fabric B pieces measuring

10” x 19 ½” on your workspace. Mark and cut a diagonal line from the bottom corner
 to three inches in from the top corner, as diagrammed. You may want to use multiple
rulers for this step.

• From the Fabric B and Twill pieces measuring 10” x 19 ½” cut a 1 ½” square from
each of the bottom corners, as diagramed.

Sewing

Body Construction

• Sew the 10” pieces of Fabrics A and B together as diagrammed; Press.

• Cut a 1 ½” square from each of the bottom corners, as diagrammed.
• Fold the panels in half and press; this should mark the center of Fabric B.

• Open the panel with the right side up; Fold the seams between Fabric A and B to the
center fold line; these two seams should be kissing.
• Pin and press these two seams in place.
• Baste the pleat in place; backstitch over the pleat opening several times.

• With right sides together, sew along the diagrammed side with a ¼” seam.
• To box the corners, match each side seam of the bag body with the bottom seam; stitch
across the resultant straight edge with a ½” seam, as diagramed.
 • Turn right side out and press.

Handle Construction

• On the ironing board, layer the handle piece right side down and twill piece; fold in
half lengthwise with right sides out and press.
• Open this up, fold raw long edges into the middle and press.
• Fold in half again so the long raw edges are tucked into the center; topstitch a ¼” seam
on both sides of the handles.
• Repeat with the other handle pieces.

Completing the Exterior

• Pin and baste the raw edges of the handles to the top of the bag

The bag exterior is now complete, set it aside and begin on the lining.

Lining Construction

• This would be the place to add a pocket, if desired.

• On your workspace layer in this order: a large twill piece, a lining piece with right side
up, a lining piece with wrong side up, and a large twill piece.
• Sew along the diagramed sides with a ¼” seam. Leave a 4” hole in the bottom of the
lining for turning.
• To box bottom corners, match each side seam of bag body with the bottom seam;
stitch across the resultant straight edge with a ½” seam
• Do not turn right side out.
Final Construction

• Insert exterior bag body into lining including the handles and flap—they will be right
sides together—align the side seams and pin.
• Sew around the top of the layers with a 1/2” seam.
• Turn right side out through the opening in the lining bottom, push lining down into
bag body and press upper edge of bag.
• Topstitch 1/4” from the upper edge through all layers.
• Along this topstitching would be a good place to add rick rack.

All designs © Patricia Bowman, Sketchbook Maggie. No part of this product may be reproduced in any form,
unless otherwise stated. All designs, photographs, and images protected by copyright law. Designs not to be
created for resale. All rights reserved.

This pattern is for personal home use. Projects are not to be produced for commercial purposes, nor are they to

be made into items for sale.