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Fabric Fishy Purse…with a drawstring closure

Every now and then, I like to share a loved post from the past. Some are 3, 4, and even 5 years old (wow, has it been that long?)…..but are such fun projects to make. I revive my old tutorials all the time for myself and pull up the instructions on how I made something, so I can make it again. And even though some of you may remember this, many of you are new around here…….so today’s post, is an oldie but goodie!!

-Ashley

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This Fabric Fishy Purse was originally posted HERE on 12/07/2011

I have been busy with Christmas gifts. I always have a huge list of things that I want to make…..and can never get them all done. December 25th zooms in way too fast. But I’m at least going to get all the kid toy items completed. Okay, I probably won’t. Maybe half? The funny thing with me is that my mind is set on making something and then if I think of something else or see something else that I’d much rather make…..my whole brain shifts. I don’t even think back to what the other idea was. I know, I have fickle brain syndrome.

For example, I already had something I was going to work on for my oldest girl………but then I was walking through this little local toy store the other day, just for fun, and then saw the sweetest little fish purse. I gasped. And immediately decided that the other present idea didn’t matter and she must have this cute little fish purse. Done. Ack, my brain is so shifty. I think I need a personal assistant to walk around with me to keep my on track and focused. Anyone want to submit an application? (Keeping me focused on house cleaning rather than fabric shopping is included in the job description.) Haha.

Anyway, this little fishy purse takes a bit more time than a standard purse…….but who really cares? Those little scales make the purse.

Each scale is sewn individually and really helped me use up my lonely scrap stash. Hallelujah. That pile is getting hefty.

You can pull open the fish’s mouth to see inside…..and then pull the side strings to cinch the mouth closed again.

And since this purse is for my almost 5 year old, I’m sure she’ll shove it full of her most favorite things. All of these are necessities in her world.

Such a fun purse to make…..because the results turned out so darling. (And you could really make this in so many different colors and styles.) I may be found holed up in my craft space, making 5 or 6 more for this friend or that one. I’m sure we could find homes for them all. Oh wait focus, focus……I have more Christmas gifts to make. See? I’m a lost cause. ;)

This little fishy is stuffed full and ready to be hung from a little shoulder. But this fish will have to wait until Christmas morning.

**The finished purse is about 8 1/4 inches wide and about 12 inches tall from top to bottom, excluding the shoulder strap. The shoulder strap adds another 11 inches to the height.

Would you like to make your own Fishy Purse?

Supplies needed:

(Before heading to the store, check your fabric stash. I had everything I needed for this entire purse found by using a scrap here and a scrap there. Perfect.)

  • 1/2 yard of fabric in your base color: fish body, shoulder strap, and pull strings (mine is yellow)
  • 1/3 yard of lining fabric (mine is teal/white polka dot)
  • a variety of different scrap pieces for the 24 scales (at least a 3 inch square)
  • 1/4 yard of fabric for scale lining fabric
  • 1/2 yard of fusible interfacing (choose interfacing that is near the same weight [or less] as the fabric you’re using)
  • 2 Half Ball Cover Buttons
  • matching thread, scissors, sewing machine, etc.

First of all, you can find the pattern pieces for the fishy purse here.

Scroll down until you see the 3 images under the “Fabric Fish Purse” title in red. (Copy and paste each image into a document, adjust your margins to zero, expand the images to the full document size [8.5 x 11 inches], and print.)

You must cut:

  • Fish Body #1: Cut 2 of main fabric and 2 of interfacing (be sure to place the pattern piece on the fold where noted, and then cut)
  • Fish Body #2: Cut 2 of main fabric and 2 of interfacing (be sure to place the pattern piece on the fold where noted, and then cut)
  • Fish Body #3: Cut 2 of main fabric and 2 of interfacing (be sure to place the pattern piece on the fold where noted, and then cut)
  • Fish Body #4: Cut 2 of main fabric and 2 of interfacing (be sure to place the pattern piece on the fold where noted, and then cut)
  • Scales: Cut 24 out of your different colored fabric pieces and cut 24 in your lining color
  • Purse Lining: Cut 2 of your lining fabric
  • Shoulder Strap: Cut 2 pieces of your main color fabric that are 1.75 x 24 inches and 2 pieces of interfacing the same size (you may want these shorter or longer, depending on the size of the person carrying the purse)
  • Pull Ties: Cut 2 pieces of your main color fabric that are 2 x 24 inches

*Seam allowance for this project is 3/8 inch, unless otherwise noted.

Cut out all of your purse pieces, in whatever fabric and color choices you want. I used 100% cotton for my entire purse.

(You don’t want to use a stretchy fabric, or the purse won’t hold its shape very well.)

If you want to make your purse all one color or in all different colors like I did, it’s up to you.

Here are all my main pieces below (minus the shoulder strap, pull strings, and interfacing pieces).

Start by ironing the interfacing to the back of all 8 Fish Body pieces.

Now, sew several lines along the tail fin in a contrasting thread color, giving the fin some detail. Do the same thing to both #4 Fish Body pieces. Now, set all fish body pieces aside.

Now sew one of your scale “outer fabric” pieces to one of your scale “lining” pieces with right sides together. Sew along the curved side of the scale, leaving the bottom edge completely open. Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance while sewing each scale together. Repeat with all 24 scales. Then trim a little of the fabric off the curve of each scale, then turn right side out (use a pencil if needed to poke out the curve), and iron flat.

Next, grab one of your #2, #3, and #4 fish body pieces. Arrange the scale colors just how you want them and pin 5 scales along the upper edge of the #2 piece. (The upper edge is slightly longer than the bottom edge.) Be sure to leave 3/4 of an inch of open space at each end of the #2 piece. You will have to overlap each scale piece by just a bit to get all 5 pieces to fit along the upper edge and still have 3/4 of an inch at each end. Now, pin four scale pieces along the upper edge of the #3 piece, centering them so that there is the same amount of space left on each side. (The upper edge is slightly longer than the bottom edge.) Don’t overlap the scales in this row. Now, pin three scale pieces along the upper edge of the #4 piece, centering them so that there is the same amount of space left on each side. Don’t overlap the scales in this row either. Then sew right along the upper edge of each fish body piece, sewing the scales in place. (Use a 1/4 inch seam allowance.)

Now, sew each of your fish body pieces together by first placing the lower edge of the #1 piece together with the top of the #2 piece, with right sides together. Now, you will need to use a 3/8 inch seam allowance from here on out. Then place the bottom of the #2 piece together with the top of the #3 place and then sew together with right sides together. Then place the bottom of the #3 piece together with the top of the #4 piece and then sew together with right sides together. Now, you can zig-zag or serge each seam that you just sewed. Now, open up and iron the fish flat, with all the scales pointing downward towards the fin. (Trim off any side edges that may just be slightly off. But if it’s too off, you’ll have to unpick it, re-align it, then sew again.)

Here’s a view from the back. There’s my serged seams too.

Now, repeat with your other fish pieces and scales so that you have 2 identical fish pieces.

Now, place your two fish pieces together with the right sides together and sew together along the sides and bottom, using a 3/8 seam allowance. Then place your two purse lining pieces together with the right sides together and sew together along the sides and bottom, using a 3/8 seam allowance. Then trim off the corners of both tail fin corners and then cut a little slit where the fin meets the body, on both sides. Cut into the fabric right up to the seam, but don’t cut through the seam. This slit will help the fin turn right side out properly. (More info on clipping corners and curves here.)

Next, turn the fish right side out, poke the out the fish fin, and iron the whole fish flat.

Now, turn the fish to one of the side seams and place a pin on that side seam that is 3/4 of an inch from the top and then another pin that is 3/4 of an inch below that. Make a narrow zig-zag stitch (also with a short stitch length) right where those pins were, making each about 3/8 of an inch long. Then un-pick the side seam stitches between the two zig-zag sections, making an enclosed opening. Do the same thing to the other side seam of the fish.

Next, grab your two pull string pieces and sew each one in half lengthwise with right sides together, sew along the long edge using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Do the same to both pieces. Now turn each one right side out and press flat, with the seam along one side. (Need help turning a tube right side out? Click here.) Set these aside.

Now, iron your 2 interfacing pieces to the wrong side of both of your Shoulder Strap pieces. Next, place your two shoulder strap pieces together (with right sides together) and sew them together along both long sides. Turn right side out and iron flat, with both seams along both side edges of the shoulder strap. Now make a top stitch seam along both sides of the shoulder strap, about an 1/8 of an inch from the edge.

Now, grab one end of your shoulder strap and pin it to the upper edge of the fish, about a 1/4 inch from the side seam. Then place the other end of the shoulder strap to the opposite side of the purse, just a 1/4 inch from the side seam as well. One end of the shoulder strap is pinned to the front of the purse and the other end is pinned to the back……but both are really close to the side seam. Be sure that your shoulder strap isn’t twisted.

Next, make two seams, attaching your shoulder strap to the purse. Make the lower seam about 3/8 of an inch from the upper edge and the other one about 1/4 inch from the upper edge. Do the same to both strap ends.

Now, slide your outer fish into the lining while it’s inside out……so that you can have both pieces with their right sides together. Make sure the strap is down inside and out of the way as you pin the purse lining and the fish together along the upper raw edges, matching up the side seams of both. (If your lining is too big or too small to line up exactly, make adjustments and either take the lining in just a bit or take it out so that it matches up just right. You don’t want bunching or cranky fabric.) Sew all the way around the top of the purse (using a 3/8 inch seam allowance), leaving a 4-5 inch opening along one side.

Turn the purse right side out through that opening, and tuck the lining down to the inside of the purse. Now, iron the top of the purse, folding the opening to the inside of the purse 3/8 of an inch. Now top stitch along the top edge of the purse, about a 1/16 of an inch (or just really close) from the upper edge. Then make another seam that is 3/4 of an inch below the first one, sewing all the way around the purse, making a casing for your pull strings. (Ultimately, you want to make the seams even with those zig-zag stitches so that your casing is as wide as the openings on both sides…..so adjust if necessary.)

Using a safety pin, attach it to one end of one of your pull strings. Enter through one side, making your way all the way around your casing and coming out the same opening.

Then place the safety pin on the other pull string and thread that one through the other side opening. Make your way all the way around the casing and then back out the same opening. You should now have both pull string threaded through the casing, but entering and exiting on opposite sides.

Now, if you grab both sets of ends in both hands, pulling outward, your purse will cinch up at the top.

Now, select a fabric color for your eyes and cover 2 Half Ball Cover Buttons. Attach with a needle and thread. Place one on each side…….making them directly opposite each other so that when cinched up, the eyes meet up.

Now, pull the opening of the purse all the way open and then place a knot at each ends of the pull strings. Then cut off the excess ends on both sides.

And that’s it.

Your purse is ready to go.

Now gift it away or keep it for yourself.

And enjoy.

-Ashley

Ashley Johnston

Administrator at Make It & Love It
Ashley Johnston is a professional DIY costume maker, sewist, crafter, and owner of Make It & Love It. She is a mom of 5 and a wife to a very patient (with the craft clutter) husband. In case you’re wondering, she always chooses crafting/sewing/designing over mopping/dusting/wiping base boards……but bathrooms/laundry/full bellies are always attended to. Whew!

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Hi, I'm Ashley

Hi, I’m Ashley—the DIY-enthusiast behind this crazy blog!

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