Welcome to my stop on the Color It Red blog hop organized by Carol of Just Let Me Quilt. My project for this blog hop is a couple of purses for the Sew Powerful purse project.
What is Sew Powerful? It is a non-profit organization based in Washington. They run a co-op in Zambia that provides training and tools to women to make garments, reusable feminine hygiene pads, soaps, etc. Sew Powerful purse project involves volunteers from around the world who make purses and send them to the co-op in Zambia. The women in Zambia add reusable feminine hygiene pads and give them to middle school and high school girls. This allows the girls to attend school throughout the month and helps them stay and finish school.
I visited the Sew Powerful booth at the International Quilt Festival in Houston and got a copy of the purse pattern. The pattern is free. There is also a really nice and detailed video you can follow along as you make your first few purses. It is a very simple cross body purse but has all the essentials – inner and outer pockets, lining, and a clean professional look.
I used red for the body of the purse and a gold fabric for the lining. All from my stash.
I also modified this pattern and made one for my niece. She graduates from high school this year and will attend Cornell University in the fall. We are all so proud of her. These are her school colors. This bag has a zipper on top, multiple hidden pockets and a magnetic snap for the flap.
The hidden pocket in the back has a green inner lining. Her school colors may be red and grey, but her favorite color is green. I found a way to get that in too.
Please don’t forget to visit everyone on the blog hop today:
February 19th
MooseStash Quilting
Quilted Delights
Everyone Deserves a Quilt
Storied Quilts
Just Sew Quilter
Kathy’s Quilts
Just Because Quilts
Words & Stitches
Scrapdash
What a great thing to do! I know those young ladies certainly appreciate that.
I’ve heard of projects making the pads, but this is the first I’m reading about making purses for them. What a great idea!
Beautiful bags for a wonderful cause!
Neat bags! I hadn’t heard of this project–looks like something our quilt group might like to do. Thanks for sharing your purses!
What a good idea! Those bags are lovely!
What beautiful bags and for such a worthy cause! I love how cute they are and your adaption of the pattern for your niece made a really sweet bag. I’m sure they will be appreciated and loved! Thank you for sharing these and inspiring us to use our sewing skills for great things like this. xo
I admire folks who can make bags and purses… it’s outside of my comfort zone 🙂
Such a great project! They bags are lovely!
Hi Vasudha! You did a fabulous job on these two bags/purses. I especially love the fabrics and colors you chose for your niece. And all the hidden zippers are stash places are so cool. Thanks for linking up today! ~smile~ Roseanne
That’s a little bag with a big heart behind it. What a great project! Your niece is going to love the custom one you did for her too.
Wonderful work you are doing. Thanks for supplying the links to us and sharing its purpose. The bags are great and the modifications for your niece are really thoughtful.
Beautiful bags for a wonderful project. Thanks for sharing the links for the Sew Powerful project. I really enjoyed seeing your “adjustments” to the purse pattern for the sweet bag for your niece.
Really cool bags and for such a wonderful cause. I hadn’t heard of it either but will definitely look into it. Love the adaptation you did for your daughter.
Your purses turned out beautifully! This is the first I’ve heard of the Sew Powerful Purse Project. Thanks for sharing. I would like to share this with my own blog readers, in case they’d like to get involved.
Nice projects! Thanks for sharing it with us.
What a wonderful project. Great looking bags for such an empowering cause. Nicely done!
Great project and a great cause. Thanks so much for sharing!
Well done. Thanks for sharing and letting us know about the great work going on out there to help these young ladies continue their schooling.
A wonderful project as well as cause. Thanks so much for sharing & joining in on the hop.
Great project that i will look into seriously. I like it better than some other kits I’ve seen. With your modifications I might make one for myself too!
I have a cousin who also makes the purses for girls in Africa. It’s such a great idea and so thoughtful. Your niece is going to love the updated version, too.
What great bags and for two great causes…Zambia and Niece!!! You did a wonderful job on all of them!
These are super cute bags.
Great bags and a great cause to support!
Well done on supporting such a worthwhile cause. Lovely bags.
Wonderful bags for a great cause! I’m sure your niece will love hers.
Lovely purses!
Great project. Do they make the reuseable pads too? I think my mom’s church group has been making those.
What a lovely project – thanks for sharing!
Lovely finish. Your niece is going to love the bag. Thank you for linking up to Put your foot down.
I think everyone could use a few of these cute little pouches! They look fun to make as well.
Hi Vasudha, those are really great bags for a good cause. Your niece`s bag is particularly useful. Thanks so much for linking up to Free Motion Mavericks!
I picked up the information from them at QuiltCon. I am still so happy from getting to meet some of my buddies from Island Batik and the internet.