BrambleStitches

One of my most favorite customers (hi Kate!) send me a mohair sweater that she was sentimental about, and asked that it be made into something she could use. The sweater itself had accidentally gone through the wash, so was considerably fulled and very distorted. My apologies for the rather poor photos. I took them after midnight in my under-illuminated garage/studio.

Step One: This sweater has a "v" neck, so I cut the body of the sweater off at the base of the "v." For a crew neck sweater you can cut across at the underarms for a slightly deeper purse.

Step Two: As this sweater is fulled, but still has space between the stitches, I wanted to line it. I used a 23" souvenir scarf, because it was approximately the right size. This will keep whatever goes in the purse from getting covered in mohair, too, since this sweater still sheds rather profusely.

Step Three: With pins, outline a pleasing shape for the finished purse. I rounded the corners, because I intend to pleat the top edge when it’s done, and it will look more like a slouchy hobo bag this way.

Step Four: Machine sew and trim away the excess, leaving about 1/2" seam allowance. Turn right side out and steam the seams so they lay flat.

Step Five: Sew the side seams of the lining, then miter the corners. 

Step Six: You could just round the corners of the lining, just like for the
outside of the purse, but by mitering I still get a roughly equivalent
shape, and I don’t have to cut the fabric at all, so I don’t have to
worry about the rayon fraying. The mitered corners are soft enough that
they won’t be noticeable when the purse is assembled.

Step Seven: With wrong sides together, pin the lining into the sweater. The lining is slightly smaller than the sweater edge, so I’ll just ease the knit to the scarf as I sew. I don’t want the lining to show from the outside, so I’ve pinned it about an inch below the edge of the sweater.

Step Eight: I machine sewed the lining in place, because I intend to cover the stitching line with additional trim anyway, but you might prefer to hand stitch it in place.

Step Nine: I’m afraid I didn’t photograph the next few things very well, so I will do my best to explain.  I pleated each side to the center, and pinned it in place to check the effect. The top of the purse would have been much too wide, otherwise. I also found this beautiful ribbon in my stash, and sewed it on as a handle. I sewed vintage white rick rack around the top of the purse, directly over the lining stitching line. The rick rack stitching holds the pleats in place, too.

That’s it! I steamed the purse a final time, and now it’s done! Sentimental sweater revived, mission accomplished.

Sewing