Funky Sweater Purse

7. Using accent color embroidery floss, couch a border onto the wool square just slightly larger than the silk square. Lay the embroidery floss on the wool, then stitch in place with a narrow zigzag stitch (figure F). Repeat with each square.

8. Position all nine squares, pyramid style on the front of one sleeve piece and pin in place (figure G).

9. Using a straight stitch, machine sew each square in place, first around the silk square, then close to the edge of the wool square.

10. Pin the body of the purse, wrong sides together (figure H), and slipstitch the side edges by hand with matching embroidery floss (figure I).

11. Press the seams.

12. Cut open one side seam of the remaining sweater body.

13. Cut off the ribbed bottom edge of the sweater, keeping it in one long piece. This will be used later for a shoulder strap.

14. Position the bottom edge of the purse body on a cutting grid to determine the size of the wool piece for the bottom.

15. Using a straight edge and rotary cutter, cut a piece of wool from the sweater body to the required dimensions. Press flat.

16. On the purse bottom, use pins to mark center points on all four sides.

17. Mark the center points on the front and back of the purse body.