This classic little structured bag is made from luxurious wool coating and uses smart leather handles and a sturdy frame to give the project a retro feel. Meanwhile, an embroidered woodland motif makes this an elegant accessory for autumn days, that can be customised to your delight.
Stitch a bag
Carefully iron the wool coating fabric and secure it into an embroidery hoop. Locate the oak branch motif on page 85 and transfer it onto the fabric. Carefully stitch the design into place using embroidery threads, and remove the fabric from the hoop.
Create a pattern to use with your chosen purse frame. To do this, lay the frame on a piece of paper and trace around the outside, marking the bottom of the hinges on either side. Draw the shape you’d like your finished bag to be, ensuring the sides of it are wider than the purse frame and adding a 1cm seam allowance around the entire shape (including the purse frame outline).
Place a corner of the frame onto a corner of the pattern, and turn the frame so that the side of it lines up with the edge of the pattern. Mark the pattern 1.5cm in from the bottom of the hinge. Repeat on the other side.
Using the pattern as a guide, cut two pieces each from the wool, lining fabric, and the sew-in interfacin