Safety Notice: Handmade items made from this pattern may contain small parts or long cords that pose choking or strangulation risks. Not suitable for children under 3 years. Please see the full safety disclaimer at sewmag.co.uk/safety.
Keep your coins and notes safely stored, and stitch a purse that Downton Abbey’s Lady Mary would be proud of. Featuring an appliqué embellishment, create realistic features using coloured crayons and embroidery stitches. This would make a great gift for girlfriends or a lovely little Mother’s Day token for fans of the TV series.
1 Download the templates and cut two purses from violet and lining fabric. Trace the face and hat shapes onto fusible webbing. Trim roughly and press onto lilac and pink felt. Cut around the outlines, remove the paper and iron onto one outer purse. Draw the features with an air-erasable pen and embroider with single strands of thread. Colour in the cheeks and eyeshadow with crayons. Edge each shape with zigzag or buttonhole stitch using matching thread. Cut the leaves from green felt, sew down each with green thread and add a button to the centre.
2 With right sides facing, pin and stitch the two fronts together between points A, with a 6mm seam allowance. Trim to 3mm and turn right side out. Join and press the lining in the same way, leaving a gap between points B. Press the unstitched seam allowance inwards. Slip the purse inside the lining with right sides facing and pin the top edges together. Machine stitch each side with a 6mm seam, and trim the allowance back to 3mm. Turn right side out through the gap and ease out the seams. Slip stitch the gap and push the lining into the purse. Mark the centre of each top edge (C).