Yo-Yo Purse

Thrifty women have been making yo-yo's for many years. Using scraps of fabric and turning them into beautiful items, They were used to make collars, hats and even bedspreads. You can make yo-yo's out of different sized circles but for this project we're using 3" circles A 3" circle will make a 1-1/2" yo-yo. This purse is quite time consuming to make but if you make these yo-yo's while you're watching TV, it goes by fairly quickly.  Make sure the fabric you choose is all simalar in weight. A medium weight woven cotton works well for this project.  

Sewing Machine
thread
plastic canvas
iron
several old cooton shirts or scraps of fabric
scissors
Bamboo purse handles
velcro or magnetic snap
straight pins and sewing needle
fabric for lining

Cut fabric into 3" circles. you will need 126 total.

Fold over the edge of each circle 1/4". using a needle and thread, gather all the way around circle and pull tightly. Sew several stitches in the same place to secure. Flatten out each yo-yo so that the gathered section is on one side, I will refer to this as the right side, and the wrong side is plain and flat.

The front and back sections are 7 yo-yo's across and 7 yo-yo's down for a total of 49 yo-yo's each. The side sections are 2 yo-yo's across and 7 yo-yo's down for a total of 14 yo-yo's each. While you're arranging the yo-yo's try not to place any 2 of the same next to each other.
  49
  49
  14
  14
____
 126


 

For the bottom of purse, cut 2 pieces of fabric 12-3/4" x 4-1/4". Pin these right sides together. Using the sewing machine, sew all around 4 sides, leaving a 4" opening to turn. Clip corners and turn right side out. Press. Hand stitch all 4 sides of purse to the bottom section. 

Pinning right sides together, hand sew all 4 corners  Turn right side out.

You will be making 2 separate linings because the outside of the purse has small holes in it and you don't want the cut edges of the lining showing through. Cut 2 pieces of fabric 16" x 28". Fold each one in half, short sides together so they now measure 16" x 14". Sew up the side seams with 1/2" seam allowance. Press seams open. Open each of the 4 corners and sew across, creating a flat bottom that is 3" wide.

Cut a piece of plastic canvas 10-1/2" x 3". Cover this with fabric and sew to the bottom of one of the linng sections at the corners. Place one lining inside the other, wrong side together, folding each lining inward 1".  Pin at the top edge.

Depending on how wide your bamboo handles are, cut a folded piece of fabric and fold over bottom of each handle. Sew across to hold in place. Place the fabric between the 2 liniings and pin. Sew across top edge, securing handles.  

Place lining inside of purse and hand stitch together at the top edge.