Treasured Books into Unique Purses
Carol Coleman. coleman.carol@gmail.com
Dayton Ohio ASG Chapter
http://sewingwithcarol.blogspot.com
I. Select book
II. Repair or cover damages, holes etc.
III. Remove pages with Exacto knife. Cut carefully. If a cut goes through the outside, cover with strong tape (gorilla or duct) on inside.
IV. Reinforce spine of book with foam core board or heavy cardboard. (See note later about when to glue in place).
V. Add decorations to outside of purse - especially if you need to conceal raw edges.
VI. Make wedge or ends for purse. Width at top (when opened) x width at bottom x height. Add 1/2" SA (seam allowance),folded edge at top or 2 layers stitched together if one-way design. Optionall: interface fabric. In matching thread stitch along SA, fold to inside and press well. Miter corners.
VII. Glue wedges to same side of book (ie. the front cover). Clip and let dry. Then glue bottom of wedge and other side (back cover).
VIII. Add reinforcement strip at this time. Glue in place. Use weights to hold down.
VIX. Lining. Take measurement of inside of purse - length x width and add 1/2" SA around edges. Stitch around SA in similar color . Press and miter corners by pressing. Pockets and handles are sewn onto the lining for extra stability. If using magnetic snaps, attach now.
X. Pockets - copy pocket designs from other purses.
One option: cut 2 rectangles. 1" x length of pocket desired and 2 - 4" (depending on height of pocket). Sew each strip to one side of zipper that is longer than length of pocket. Sew purchased bias tape around pocket/zipper unit, miter the corners, and stitch on the inside edge of the bias tape. Pin pocket to lining and stitch along outside edge (leaving top unstitched).
XI. Add handles of choice before glueing in place. Glue along top edge and down adjoining sides. Clip. When dry, glue along other top edge and sides. Clip. Touch up any glued areas as needed.
Have fun. Think outside the "book".
The Repurposes Library - 33 Craft Projects That Give Old Books New Life by Lisa Occhipinti has ideas for what to do with those cutout pages after you've read them.
Lining with zipper and handles from old purse attached.
Seeing how the lining will fit in the purse.
Inside view with lining attached. 
Finish view of purse
The first book/purse. 
Worn edges on this book published in 1027 by the Butterick Publishing Company. Therefore a double fold of fabric was glued around the edges. 
The button in the lower right hand corner is covering a hole. 
The buttons added on the bottom are like feet. 
When trying to decide on a type of closure, I held the purse together. The distance was about the size of a zipper with the tape exposed . So a zipper became the closure.
Finished purse without pocket.
Inside lining with zippered pocket and recycled mirror and light from old purse.
Pressed SA to inside and press.
After wedges glued in position, then check lining.
Outside pocket had one half of closure sewn to pocket and other part of closure was sewn to lining.
Finished view. 
Purse made after jacket was made from Living Well pattern from Londa's Creative Threads.
Finished view duplicating the asymmetrical closure of the jacket.
The front piece was bound on two edges and the left side had the ruffle trim. This piece was glued to the cover before the dupionni silk was added across the bottom covering up the title and a contrast color band.
This piece was clipped in place to dry. 
Handwoven fabric was used for the wedges. Since they were a single layer, they were bound with a bias strip of the dupionni. A line of stitching was sewn along the SA, then pressed to inside.
Inside view before wedges were added.
Adding pocket with zipper to lining.
After stitching along SA, pressed to inside and mitered corners. 
Black interfacing used to reinforce area where pony tail tie will be sewn. 
Beige pony tail tie pinned in place before top of pocket sewn to lining. 
Wedge clipped in place while left to dry.
Piece of foam core board was covered and glued in place at the last. 
Finished purse and the handle was made from ribbing from the sweatshirt and the tube stuffed with cotton cording.
Removed piped panel to use on front and ends of purse.
After wedges were glued to each end, then the reinfircement strip was glued and weighs added till it dried. 
Leather belt with beads used for shoulder strap and buckle used for fastener. 
Scraps from Laura Ashley fabric, purchased in London in 1979 was a perfect match to the green and the belt was probably that old too.
Used large needle and punched holes in the leather. Drilled small holes in book cover and with heavy cotton sewed on buckle.
A journey or remembrance of my past.
Close-up of attached strap. 
Small child's dress with unique, sewn on panel.
