Need Help With A Purse Pattern

[johnggrg]

The pattern is called a Hobo bag. My daughter liked it when she saw it and wanted me to make it for her. The pattern is for cloth not leather but still usable. My only problem with it is the side and bottom part of the pattern. It's straight. Now this is the first purse I have ever tried and seems like it should start small at top and widen out as it goes down the side then be a wider width at the bottom all the way across till it starts going back up the other side. I would like to post this pattern in the hopes some one can alter the side and bottom part of the pattern and help me with this.

hobo_bag_pattern.pdf

[johnggrg]

Anyone have any ideas???? The side and bottom is the long straight piece in the pattern. You have to cut two of them to make the side and bottom. Anyone????? John

[johnggrg]

Anyone??? Somebody must have some idea here. John

[dirtclod]

I'd just cut the pattern and the sides and bottom out of poster board one the way they have it one with the narrow top and wider bottom. Tape the pattern pieces togeather and see which one she likes the best. Then make it.

Edited September 12, 2011 by dirtclod

[johnggrg]

Thank you for the reply. The part shown in the pattern is only one half so having a problem making it go from narrow to wide. The narrow version she don't like. Says it's not enough room inside. I have never made one before so this is all new to me and a pain in the butt. The pattern is made to be used with cloth not leather so it would need to be widened anyway. That was why I asked for some help. The bottom would need to be an even width alll the way across the bottom then narrow gradually towards the top. I figured someone with some experiance would know how to do this and alter that part of the pattern for me. I know it's alot to ask but I hoped someone could. Thank you in advance for any help you could give me. John

Edited September 12, 2011 by johnggrg

[dirtclod]

I would cut a piece of poster board as wide and as long as half the bottom and side needs to be. Put a center line on that piece. Then measure what ever half the length the bottom is and mark that on the poster board. Then you can take a straight edge and angle the sides in to what ever width you want at the top. Or measure a set distance up the side and taper from there. If you line doesn't look right erase it and try again. I make patterns all the time and don't get them right the first time very often

[mrdabeetle]

If the pattern is intended for cloth, that may be why it is straight. Cloth behaves differently than leather, so if it were curved, it would just bunch up where it is widest. I say alter it and make it wider at the bottom.

[johnggrg]

Thank you for the replues. Dirtclod. I will try that. Thank you. John

[johnggrg]

Update. I cut the front and back panels out of the leather I am going to use already. Then decided to line the paper pattern of the side and bottom up to the leather and rap it around to see where the bottom would start so I could mark the pattern. It was way past the half way mark for the purse. I did not change the size of the pattern yet. The back and front I left the same size as the pattern. Now I am wondering if this part of the pattern is wrong. If so it would throw everything off if I were to alter that side and bottom part of the pattern.

Not sure what to do at this point. Can't afford to cut the leather wrong. Anyone know what I should do to fix this problem??? Please let me know. thank you. John

[dirtclod]

I cut ever piece out of poster board ( mark right and left pieces, tops and bottoms ) and put it togeather before i cut the leather, to make sure it all fits. You have to take in to account your seam allowinces to and mark them on your pattern. Tape or clip it all togeather to check the fit. The poster board will hold it's shape when you stand it up or move it around. Your leather i'm guessing a thin chrome tan and it won't hold it's shape if you try to move it much wrinkle and pucker. A plus on cutting every piece out before you cut your leather is you make sure you have enough leather and your able to move things around on the leather to make things fit and you may still screw up. It just happens.