I Made a Polka Dot Buttercup Bag!

I wanted a new summer purse. Something cute and fun because hey, it’s summer! I tend not to go vintage with purses because when I’m done with them they are so worn out they are completely trashed. I figure others may be the same way. This is another reason why I wanted a new summer purse – my old one served me for several summers before recently giving up the ghost.

Of course me being me, whenever I have cash in hand and start shopping whether it be online or in a brick and mortar store I can’t find anything I like. It. Never. Fails.

Consequently, whenever I’m pressed for time, or not ready to lay out cash the perfect item that’s been on my wish list for a very long time will practically throw itself at me from across the store, “Take me home! I’m perfect! I should be yours! And I’m on sale!”

Does that happen to you?

I’m also fairly picky about my purses. Not too big, sort of small, but not itty bitty. And fun. Did I mention I wanted fun? And cute. It must be cute. But not too cutesy because I’m short and too cutesy makes me look like I’m 6 years old.

How’s About Orange made a cute little buttercup bag. I love her purse! It was not too big or small. Best of all the purse wasn’t some obscure pattern - she said she got the pattern from Made by Rae. Rae designed the Buttercup bag and offers a free pattern for the purse on her blog.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!

A little rooting around in my fabric stash revealed some navy polka dot fabric I bought on a whim but didn’t do anything with because I didn’t have a specific project in mind when I bought the fabric. (A sewing room reorg made me realize that I should stop this practice or an intervention might be in order. I’m largely reformed now. Thank goodness for a little house with limited shortage space!)

I didn’t have enough polka dot fabric for the lining so I used some white fabric from the stash, cannibalized some parts from my old summer purse, and trimmed it with two vintage buttons from my Grandmother’s button box.

Keep your eyes on the sweet little buttercup purse. Please ignore the lackluster sewing room in desperate need of paint or the fact that I sew on my mom’s ancient 1972 Kenmore sewing machine. Thank you!

Not too big. Not too small. Fun and cute. The perfect summer purse. The price can’t be beat – free!

Thanks Rae!