Functional Mini Purse

There are times I don't need or want to carry a large purse with me when I go out.  I have designed this adorable purse so I can grab my wallet, keys, and other small items that I may need for my trip.  The strap can be worn over the shoulder or tied in a knot for hand carrying.  It can easily be converted into a fanny pack.   Lets get started and I will show you how quick and easy it is to make!  

1 Neck tie.
1 Sleeve from a lined blazer or suit jacket.
1 Matching button.  
Hook and eye, snaps, or Velcro for flap closure if you don't make a button hole. 
Label optional.
Fuse-able inter-facing to use inside  the neck- tie as a stabilizer.
Matching thread.
 

Sewing machine or can be stitched by hand.
Sewing  needle.
Iron/ironing board.
Scissors.
Seam ripper.
Pen or pencil.
Tape measure.

In the next few steps we are taking apart the necktie and putting it back together. The reason we are doing this is because the necktie needs heavier interfacing to stabilize the fabric.  We will also be cutting off the widest part of the necktie for the flap and will be using the remaining part of the necktie for the purse straps. I hope by explaining this; it  will make the instructions easier to understand.  

Remove the stitching from the neck-tie as shown.
Remove the interfacing from the neck-tie.
Press the largest part of the necktie fabric using the original pressing lines as a guide. I made the mistake of pressing the entire section and discovered I should have pressed the tie using the original lines.  
Press the interfacing fabric from the neck-tie.
Place the neck-tie interfacing over the fuse-able inter-facing fabric.
Using the pen, Outline the neck-tie interfacing over the fuse-able interfacing.
Cut out the fuse-able interfacing as shown.
Place the bumpy side of the inter-facing over the neck-tie interfacing and press. I used the silk setting on my iron.
Place the interfacing into the widest part of the necktie until it fits correctly.
Trim the necktie to 7 inches.  This will become the flap of the purse.   

Using  the necktie interfacing as a pattern cut the remaining necktie fabric the same adding at least 1/4" seam allowance. 
With right sides together fold the necktie fabric in half and press.
Machine stitch along the long open side of the tie 1/4 inch seam allowance.
Trim threads.
Using the pen or a pencil turn the necktie fabric right side out. 
Fold the necktie fabric in half so the seam falls in the center of the necktie on one side.  
Place a safety pin in one end of the necktie interfacing so you can thread it through the necktie fabric. 
Thread the interfacing through the necktie fabric. 
Trim the necktie to the desire length and pin the interfacing to keep it in place.  Mine is 46"  long.
Fold a small hem at each end and hand stitch all the layers together to form a finished hem.  
 

You want to make sure you stitch the interfacing at the ends so it is secure.

Cut the jacket sleeve 9" long and the width of the sleeve. You will need to measure from the cuff of the sleeve because it will become the top of the purse. It has a finished edge already! 
Press the sleeve so that the seams fall in the center.  
Turn under a small seam from the right side of the sleeve to form the bottom of the purse and pin. 
Machine stitch the purse bottom close to the edge as shown.
Trim threads.
Turn inside out and see how much you need to machine stitch again to hide the raw edges.
Turn right side out.
Machine stitch again ( enough to have a nice finished edge on the inside of the purse as shown. ) 
Remove from the machine.
Check the inside of the purse to see if it has a finished seam on the inside.
Trim threads.
Press.

Turn the raw edge of the necktie  ( flap ) under and press.
Hand sew the center section of the necktie and the top as shown.
Place the necktie section over the top of the purse and machine stitch the tie to the purse to form the flap.

Place the finished strap ends on each side of the purse as shown.
Pin.
Hand stitch them to the purse. 

I removed the label from the blazer and hand stitched it to the purse to give it a little more personality.  

Sew on the button.
Make a button hole, or use  Velcro, a hook and eye, or a snap for the closure.

I do not have a way to make a nice looking button hole so I used a sew on snap and added the button to look like it is the closure.
If you do this you will want to sew the button on the top of the flap. If you don't you will need to sew the button to the purse section.  

This purse is a perfect solution to not carrying a large purse.  You can see the different ways to carry this purse.  This purse can be made strictly into a fanny pack by  not sewing on the straps.  A bag like this could be used for either sex. You can make several purses from a jacket. I will be making more and sharing them on Instructables so please stop by again soon. 

Thank you for stopping by and hope you have a happy day!
Sunshiine