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Friday, April 01, 2011

Tunisian Crochet Purse Wrap Up, Part 3

In this, the final installment of the Tunisian Stripe Bag wrap up, I sew on the buttons and do a little handbag-anthropomorphizing.

I was having trouble deciding exactly where I wanted to sew on the buttons, so I put a folded up towel in my bag to give it some shape.

Now that the bag has some shape, I know exactly where to put the buttons.

When I sew on a button, Ialways use something to create space between the button and the fabric.  For shirts and clothes, I use one of those blue plastic yarn needles.  But for coats and this bag I use a crochet hook because I want a lot of space to create a shank for my button so the thick crochet (or coat fabric) can fit between the button and the purse.

Side view.  The nice thing about using a crochet hook on a crochet bag is I can hook the hook into the crochet to keep it from sleeping around while I sew (er, *slipping.  I love that typo too much to change it ... hahaha).

After I sew through the bag and button enough times, I wrap the thread around the shaft to strengthen it.  The button stands up all by itself, now.

Here's the flap buttoned closed.  See how the flap easily and neatly fits between the button and the purse?  Yay!

The inside of the purse is total happy-making fun stripe.  You can also see in this photo how nicely the boning I added helps shape the bag opening.

Hahaha!  When I was going through the photos this one totally looked like a face to me.  I have five bazillion lip glosses and lip balms because I'm still searching for a replacement for my lip gloss soulmate (that stash didn't last ten years ...).  If you have any delicious shiny lip gloss recommendations, I'm all ears.

Right now the best one I have is alba coconut cream lip balm.  If my old fave is a 10, then the alba is a 4.  This is how not-close I am to finding a new fave.
50 Comments leave a comment


Karen said ...
Have you tried any of the Bath and Body works lip glosses? They go on sale quite often. And they have a plethora of choices. I don't know if they still have it but my favorite is the CO Bigelow No. 1421 Lemon Lip Balm. It glides on like butter and has a lemony custard taste.... Yum!
4/1/2011 9:33 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Karen ... I will check it out! :)
4/3/2011 12:55 PM

Meredith said ...
So I totally LOVED your 10-years-of-lip-gloss story because I loathe when my favorite products are discontinued and frequently want to hoard them, so the fact that you're out now makes me super sad for you. :( Perhaps you will eventually stumble upon something better, but I understand the mourning. (I like Aveeno chapstick, but it's certainly not a 10; maybe 7/7.5).
4/1/2011 11:36 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Meredith ... Sorry to hear that you're on the prowl, too. :)
4/3/2011 1:06 PM

Peggy said ...
Mac Cosmetics has a really nice one. I cant find mine at the moment or I would give you the name. When I do I will pass it on. ( Nice purse)
4/1/2011 11:48 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Peggy ... Thanks!
4/3/2011 1:07 PM

Great idea with the towel!
4/1/2011 12:22 PM

Michelle said ...
I just bought a Tunisian crochet book, I'm itching to start working on a project! Your purse looks so wonderful. Reminds me of jellybeans...
4/1/2011 5:02 PM

kelly said ...
Ah, a Freudian sleep...I mean slip!
4/1/2011 5:32 PM

Kuky said ...
Bwa ha ha love the "feed me lip gloss" photo.
4/1/2011 7:25 PM

Anne said ...
AWWW - I loooove this purse, a real beauty :o))

4/2/2011 1:15 AM

Charlotte said ...
Looking great!
Will you be lining this bag or is it sturdy enough as is?
4/2/2011 3:13 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Charlotte ... It's definitely sturdy enough as it is. The Tunisian crochet is VERY thick and dense. There is no way this would ever stretch out of shape.
4/3/2011 12:56 PM

HildeC said ...
Love the colours! I've never thought of sewing buttons like that, but it's a really great idea.
Thank you for your nice comment on my doll house project :-)
4/2/2011 3:29 AM

Carmen said ...
Love the Tunisian face. Love the lip gloss post even more! I thought I had read all of your posts, but I guess not. :)
4/2/2011 9:12 AM

Leitadala said ...
Have you tried "Whipped Vanilla Liplicious" from Bath and Body Works? I usually use their Mentha Lip Tint (which I love) but on a whim I picked up the little variety pack of flavored ones and they completely reminded me of my Bonnie Bell days!
4/2/2011 10:28 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Leitadala ... Sounds delicious! I hope they still have it!
4/3/2011 12:57 PM

Kavitha said ...
Loved the button-sewing science and the Tunisian face.
4/2/2011 10:36 AM

I do buttons like that as well.
4/2/2011 4:18 PM

mafe said ...
Love the bag!!!
Oh, and thaks for the tip on the button. I just bought a super cute wristlet at Target, it had a loose button and for that they gave me a super SUPER discount. It was $45 and I paid $7... how cool is that?!?!?!
When i got home I started wondering how to secure the button, your post came just in time for it!!!

About lipgloss... right now the cold weather and my allergies are killing my lips. For that I have a combination of Niveas lip gloss (I use the neutral one, but the other ones are nice too) and the rose petals from Bath and Body works (normally, they're on sale, 3 for the price of 2... or something like that)
4/3/2011 9:47 AM

futuregirl replied ...
mafe ... I don't know if it's just me being picky or quality getting shoddier ... but I find myself re-sewing on EVERY button that comes on our clothes. Sometimes before we even wear the item. It's ridiculous. I bought a shirt once that you could just tug on the button and it would come off. they hadn't knotted the thread they were sewn on with. The shirt was cheap, though, so what did I expect?
4/3/2011 1:00 PM

bindu said ...
I like the way you add the button. Very helpful tip
4/3/2011 4:58 PM

I love this purse and all the info you have shared about it - thank you so much for taking the time to do so! It has inspired me so much and given me oodles of great ideas and tips, and has convinced me to give tunisian crochet a try. Oh, and I love your button tip: I was sewing on a button yesterday - way to close to the crochet fabric - and was wondering how I could fix that - now I know how! (And yes, it is good how you can stop your crochet hook sleeping around! ha ha) Thanks again for all your great posts.
Caz from Never Knew :)
4/4/2011 1:13 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Caz from Never Knew ... Thanks for taking the time to leave such an awesome comment! :)
4/13/2011 11:47 PM

Erin said ...
I love your website. :) About the lip gloss, ever tried making your own? Play around with oils, waxes, shortening, etc, and add yummy flavorings like a couple of chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, meltable candies, etc. Here's my favorite base recipe: Equal parts beeswax, cocoa butter, and coconut oil with whatever flavoring you choose. Melt them all together in a pot (though stay away from flavorings with alcohol - they'll spit!), pour into an old container, and let it set. They can't take your favorite flavor away if you make it yourself!
4/4/2011 2:40 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Erin ... I've thought about it, and thought better. I don't think recipes are my thing. :) I love your enthusiasm, though!
4/13/2011 11:48 PM

jenni said ...
hmmm... I must have missed a post about your lip gloss :( Lip gloss is taken very seriously here...

As a lip balm junkie myself I've got quite the arsenal... Carmex makes a great one, "lip moisture" in a shnazzy grey lipstick type case, very cool, clear, stays on well.

Of course if you like color, Black Honey by Clinique is great and Neutrogena has some good glosses, a little gummy/gluey for winter, but great for summer... and a new one I just tried, "Revitalizing Balm" that has a nice amount of color and moisture...

oh, and that purse rocks, btw! :)
4/4/2011 6:56 PM

futuregirl replied ...
jenni ... Thanks for the recommendations! I'll have to check them out. :)
4/13/2011 11:49 PM

Olubunmi said ...
Oh my Alice, I have to tell you that I loved what you did with it. I was wondering about all the different colors, and if after you started you figured out a good way of working the colors in - without having to weave in each color individually.

You know that I am about healthy shortcuts.

Ijust loved what you did with the colors. Spring rocks!
4/5/2011 7:46 PM

tiffany said ...
wow this project is turning out so great! all the little details you pay attention to is so great. i was so impressed just by the thought of sticking towels in the bag! and when i got to the way you leave space behind the button...all i could think was 'this is a professional!' =) great job alice! oh and regarding a lip gloss recommendation, my current favorite is Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss. I've tried LOTS and this is one that works for me =)
4/5/2011 10:46 PM

futuregirl replied ...
tiffany ... I'll check out that gloss. Thanks for the sweet comment!
4/13/2011 11:50 PM

ashley said ...
I really love how detailed all your posts are. And that the last picture makes your purse look like a robot :)

A friend of mine is putting together a list of people willing to donate hand made items that can be auctioned off for charity. are you interested?

http://cleverknots.wordpress.com/2011/04/06/arts-and-crafts-for-donation/
4/6/2011 8:53 AM

futuregirl replied ...
ashley ... You're right. Definitely looks like a robot. Thanks for letting me know about the charity opportunity.
4/14/2011 12:07 AM

Kimmifer said ...
I'm a little disappointed to see that I've been sewing my buttons incorrectly for years. However, I'm very glad to know why they never last very long and how to fix that. Thanks!
4/7/2011 4:32 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Kimmifer ... Oh, goodness. I don't assert my way is the right way! But it does work for me. :)
4/13/2011 11:51 PM

Tamara said ...
Yeah. Thank you. All helpful tips.
4/8/2011 8:29 AM

chidori said ...
I've always wanted to try Tunisian crochet, and this project looks perfect. The stripes are fun, and the size is just right for taking around to the farmer's market. Haha, but the last picture with your finished bag demanding lip gloss is the best! I have plenty it can have ...
4/13/2011 7:35 AM

futuregirl replied ...
chidori ... Ha ha! It has an insatiable appetite!
4/13/2011 11:52 PM

Seanna Lea said ...
I love your robot bag picture at the end. I really cannot offer any suggestions about lip gloss. I buy it and either forget to use it or use it and decide I don't like it. (The ones I use most frequently either are super lemony ++ or smell funny but feel good --)
4/14/2011 8:43 AM

jojo said ...
c est superbe j adore ce que tu fais bravo bises jojo
4/14/2011 9:43 AM

futuregirl replied ...
jojo ... Merci!
4/27/2011 3:26 PM

popElephant said ...
I concur that the Bath and Body works "Liplicious" glosses are superb. Delicious flavors and quality gloss that stays shiny without being tacky. A lot of them also have a nice glittery effect that's not too much, it's juuuuuuust right. I currently have the grapefruit one. SO delish! But they make MANY foody flavors like cupcake, gelato, cotton candy, and practically every fruit as well as many healing minty ones.
Here's a link to 'Liplicious' in 'whipped vanilla': http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3579191&cm_vc=200
4/14/2011 7:29 PM

futuregirl replied ...
popElephant ... I've got the whipped vanilla on my list to try now. :) Thanks!
4/27/2011 3:26 PM

katie the kid said ...
well, i lvoe Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm - not really a lip gloss, but it is yummy - has pomegranate oil involved. shouldn't be ended soon, i hope : )

good luck, peace.
4/14/2011 8:07 PM

MamaBear said ...
I love the stripes but can't imagine hiding all those tails. You poor thing.

So, i buy lip products all the time. My favorite so far was bought on summer vacation on a whim. I wanted something with SPF and I liked the name/logo. It's been my favorite so far and I haven't run into it again. The first time my husband kissed me goodnight after I put it on he told me I smelled like a rice crispy treat. :D It's called Lizard Lips Original Vanilla. http://www.lizardlips.net/Products.aspx
4/28/2011 8:13 PM

futuregirl replied ...
MamaBear ... That's an awesome thing to taste like! None of the stores near me sell it (they have a great store locator), but I'll keep my eyes open just in case. I should ask the Whole Foods on my block to start carrying it so I can try it. :)
4/28/2011 9:33 PM

Patty said ...
Can you believe that I have been crocheting for like 45 years and never even heard of Tunisian crochet until now!!!!!!!!! I always thought there should be a great way to make a "knitted" look with a crochet hook. Ilove teh bag. I have made several of your Starling bags adn they are really hits as gifts. Unfortunately, people want to pay me to make them....guess they don't realize the type of work and the hours involved. I made one trimmed with buttons in different sizes...wish I had that button trick when I was doing it...next time! I also have been in love with the Vera Bradley pruses since I first saw one, but decided they were too expensive for me. So I bought some double sided quilted material and made my own..turned out GREAT...lots of compliments. Love this blog.
5/13/2011 1:21 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Patty ... I would love to see the Starlings you've made if you feel like sending me pix. :)

People definitely don't get how much work goes into making a crocheted handbag. How sweet of you to make them from your friends.

People are also making knitted looking crochet fabric using slip stitches. I haven't figured out how it works yet, but believe me, when I do, I'll post about it! :)

Thanks for the sweet comment!
5/19/2011 1:17 AM

Kelly said ...
Thanks so much for sharing your project! I recently took a Tunisian crochet class and have been wondering what a good first project would be. I need to make a bag for my iPad and I think this will be the perfect thing!
5/25/2011 11:41 AM
 
Noni~ said ...
My grandmother used to sew buttons in this manner but I was so little then and had no notion of the final step wrapping thread around the shank... this is BRILLIANT, thanx for that additional bit of goodness....
Ok Lip Gloss - I've so many issues regarding what I like and will allow myself to wear on my lips so for me its only 'Lip Shtick' I get it at my local Health food store. White cylinder and a blue cap! A very emollient lemony bit of deliciousness.
4/9/2012 5:08 AM

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