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Purse Palooza – Pattern Review – Triangle Patchwork Box Pouch

Triangle Patchwork Box Pouch

This post is part of Purse Palooza 2015. For schedule and contest details, check here.
Today’s post is by Heidi of Fabric Mutt.

Purse Palooza 2015 at Sew Sweetness

I’m the sort of person who likes to make a pattern once and then move on to the next project. I don’t know if it’s a short attention span or just a love for trying new things, but it’s rare that I’ll make the same thing twice.

The Triangle Patchwork Box Pouch from Patchwork, Please! by Ayumi Takahashi is a beautiful exception to that rule.

I love this pattern. I love that it calls for tiny scraps of my favorite fabrics, that it’s a project I can finish in a day or two, and that it gives me an adorable but completely useful little pouch when I’m done. I’ve made three of these cases — unheard of, let me tell you! — and I wouldn’t be one bit surprised if there are more in my future.

However, since I do like variety, I decided to try making the bag using a different method of construction this time. The original pattern has you make the exterior and lining separately, placing the inside-out exterior inside the lining, and finishing the piece by hand sewing the lining in place around the zipper. I thought it would be fun to try making this piece a little differently and eliminate the hand sewing by using the same construction methods I used in my Mosaic Bag Tutorial.

By quilting the main paper-pieced panels directly onto the main lining panels and creating a circular gusset using the top zipper panel and a long side/bottom panel, I was able to make this bag entirely by machine as well as strengthen it by quilting every single piece. I trimmed my top panel to 3 1/2 x 12 1/2″ and combined the side and bottom panels into one 3 1/2 x 13 1/4″ rectangle.

Although it would be simple to bind the interior seams, I chose to finish them with a zig-zag stitch. It gives the bag plenty of stability and is a much quicker process than binding. I also used a 1/4″ seam instead of 1/2″, giving me a slightly larger case at 5 ” high, 8″ wide, and 3″ deep. Lately I’ve been adding a little strip of leather as a zipper pull to all of my pouches. It’s a nice touch, and it really does make it easier to open and close the bag.

One of the best tips I learned back when I made this pouch the first time is how useful adhesive basting spray can be. Ayumi uses this product in the making of many of her projects, and I don’t know how I ever lived without it before reading this book. Though I still use fusible interfacing and batting occasionally, I almost always turn to adhesive basting spray and batting or muslin to interface my small projects. It’s quick, simple, and easy to undo if I make a mistake. The price may seem a little steep, but I’ve found that it’s worth every penny.

Incidentally, Ayumi’s book is chock full of adorable projects like this one. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend that you get your hands on a copy. It’s definitely on my top ten list of sewing books.

Ayumi herself labels this pouch with a high level of difficulty in her book, and I agree with her call. This project includes paper piecing, putting in a zipper, hand sewing, and basic bag construction skills. But if you work through it carefully one step at a time, you’ll end up with a darling little pouch that will make you smile every time you look at it.

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21 thoughts on “Purse Palooza – Pattern Review – Triangle Patchwork Box Pouch

  1. Norma says:

    Thanks for a great review. Love the fabric scraps you use. I should start using my scraps and this one is a very good way to do it.

    1. Norma says:

      I forgot to say: Woo Hoo! Purse Palooza is here!!!!

  2. Great project! I especially love the rose fabric you used as the lining. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful creative day!

  3. teri says:

    I visited Swoon Patterns website and I like the Sandra Saddle Bag pattern best right now. It’s perfect for everyday needs.

  4. I too find it hard to sew the same pattern more than once, so nice to hear your review.

  5. Holly D says:

    I like this bag too. I always like to read how people modify the original patterns of bags; this looks like something I could handle! And it is ALWAYS good to find a project where I can use my scraps!

  6. Awesome review! I rarely make the same pattern twice either; there are so many things to make. Thanks for kicking off Purse Palooza 🙂

  7. Helen LeBrett says:

    I love your bag, and I love the new way you put in the zipper: I’m going to have to try it! Thanks for the great idea!! I did a bag that I had to hand sew the facing around the zipper and I thought “There has to be a better way than this” but I didn’t come up with any ideas: I’ll be trying yours! Thanks!! Hugs, H in Healdsburg

  8. Patti says:

    I have made a couple of these as well, and I like your construction method!! I might have to make another to try it out!

  9. Lee says:

    I love the review, I would wait to make as I am a beginner!

  10. natalie says:

    Super cute! Glad to know your method works, I have this book but haven’t done the pouch yet. Great work!

  11. Carol says:

    That is so cute! I’ll have to look for that book.

  12. Kay says:

    I love the tip of using basting spray in small projects, I have only used it for quilts and not considered it for other uses. x

  13. It’s a lovely pouch and looks like a great pattern!

  14. Marianne says:

    I love this! I might just try it. Your fabric choices made for a really cute pouch.

  15. SO cute! Anything patchwork gets my vote!

  16. Sandra says:

    So many new ideas here! Can’t wait to look into this!

  17. Lori Michel says:

    Great idea for sewing the bag….I love reading how someone sees the potential for making a pattern much more simple to make….

  18. Adorable little pouch, can’t wait to try it

  19. James says:

    Great pouch.

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