Purse Pattern Chronicles- Inspiration Revealed

Is it any wonder that this fabric "spoke" to me on a recent quest? The shiny gold design weaving thru this print reminded me a lot of the walls of the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna, and once I saw it, I knew it would be perfect for my new design.

Since I was reasonably happy with my 1st prototypes, I was ready to make up a sample in REAL fabric and carry it around for a while to see what I liked and didn't like about it.

I cut this sample out so that the stripes go up the bag & the straps, and I used a black polished cotton for the lining.

The verdict.... I'm not totally crazy about the size of the ruffles. I was after more flounce and less of a stand-up effect.

First off- I think the upper ruffle is a little too high in relation to the lower ruffle. Right now I'm thinking it's maybe ~1/2" too high. My next sample will reflect this change.

Second- The bottom ruffle seems too stiff, too rigid, and I think it's because it needs to be taller. I wanted it to give the overall effect of a flower opening up, and that's just not what I see right now. So I'll definitely make some modifications on the next bag. The bottom ruffle will be about 3/4"- 1" taller, and only about 1/2" of the upper ruffle will be visible above it.

Things I'm happy about? I like the way the straps attach, and the overall size is just about perfect for me. It's a good deal smaller than the Lollapalooza, and it has a much smaller feel to it when its carried. It feels more like the Boho Baguette on my shoulder.

And here's the thing I'm MOST pleased with. This is the first time I've attached the Magnetic snap in this way, and I'm VERY happy with how it looks and how it operates. (That's bubble wrap on the inside, in case you're wondering.)

So there you have it... Stay tuned for the next sample. Not only will the Ruffle dimensions be addressed, but I'm planning on announcing the new pattern name at that time AND I'll be sharing pictures of the NEW "secret pocket" feature!