Purse With Button

Age Range: 7 - 13 years

Time Required: 20 minutes

Fundamental: Guiding Traditions

Sewing is a lIfe skill! Refine your hand sewing skills by making a purse with a button.

Materials Needed

A piece of heavy material like calico, denim or upholstery fabric. Approx. 11 x 19 cm
Thread
Needle
Button
Scissors

Instructions

Fold up the bottom of the fabric till about 4cm from the top. The folded piece is the body of your purse and the top is the flap.
Stitch down each side of your purse with a running, back or blanket stitch.
Here is a link to some basic hand stitches
https://www.pixiefaire.com/blogs/sewing-tips-resources/14211157-how-to-do-four-basic-hand-stitches
Fold down the flap of you purse & carefully mark the centre on top for the buttonhole and underneath for the button.
Sew the button on through the front piece of material of your purse.
Carefully snip the buttonhole. You can stitch around this too if you like.

As a Girl Guide, How Can I Lead This Activity?

Consider changing the purse design or shape.

As a Unit Leader, How Can I Make This Activity Girl Led?

Suggest other examples of where girls can use the stitches they have learnt.

As a Unit, how can we make sure everyone is included?

Allow time for everyone to show their handiwork.

Follow Up Questions and Reflections

What can we do differently next time?
What other activities could you do with your new skills?
How did it make you feel?
What did you like or dislike?
What did you learn?

Activity source and acknowledgements

Contributed by Felina French