Patriot Moms

Submitted By Shelley Cassar, Patriot Mom

With our outdoor activities limited because of the colder temperatures, we are all about a fun and functional craft! Here is one I have been doing with my girls: Pot Holder Purses.
They are great for the kids to take with them on trips for digital cameras or their allowance. I like to keep one in my much larger purse and use when I just need my phone and money and don’t want to lug my huge purse around with me.

This can be fun for the boys as well……they can make the potholders for Mom and Dad to use in the kitchen or to give as gifts for birthdays and holidays!

What you will need:
2 potholders (see below)
Fun buttons
Large blunt needle and yarn
12 additional fabric loops

Making the Pot holders
To make your potholders you will want to follow the instructions that come with your loom. If you already have a loom, you can cut your own loops from your socks and t-shirts that are wearing out or are too small. You can also buy the loom and loops at Hobby Lobby.

How to Make your Purse:
When you have your two potholders completed, pick out a color of yarn that will complement the colors in the potholders. Then, place the potholders together and begin hand stitching the three sides together.

Don’t worry about doing it perfectly, with these, the more imperfect, the cuter the purse!
Once you have sewn together your three sides leaving the top open, turn the purse outside in. Then sew a button to the middle of the front of one either side of the purse (see picture below).

To make a button closure
For the closure, take a single fabric loop and sew it using your same yarn to the middle of the back of the purse. This will allow you to stretch the loop to the front of the purse and around the button.

Adding a strap
To make the purse strap, you will want to use approximately 11 fabric loops. You are essentially joining the 11 straps using small, simple knots. Start by taking 2 loops and placing one loop on top of the other so they overlap. Lift the bottom loop up through the top loop and back through itself and pull tight. Now place a new loop under the end of this double loop and repeat. Continue until your strap is as long as you want!
Take your strap and using your needle and yarn, sew it onto the 2 top corners of your bag.

Customizing the look
There are plenty of other things you can do to your purse to make it unique and more ‘you’. Add a third potholder to the top to make a flap closure. Add two purse straps. Or sew buttons or other cute accessories to the purse.

I hope you enjoy making these with your children. We sure did!