I was inspired by Vera Bradley. Vera has a purse named “Cha Cha”. I saw this purse and fell in love with the design and thought it was perfect for construction using my serger. I had all the materials.  Below are the instructions and pictures of my creation.
Serger ruffle bag
You need
*1/2 yd-Pre quilted base fabric 12″ X 26″.
*1/2 yd-Lining fabric cut 12″ X 26″ plus a pocket fabric cut 11″ X 14″.
*Make straps from lining or ruffle fabric by folding and pressing  2- 4 ” X 45″ strip in quarter strips.
*1 3/4yd – At least 10- 6″ ruffler strips  pieced end to end and creased in half.
*One serger with match thread and 2 spools of decorative contrast hread for the upper and lower looper.
*
Thread to match, 1 pack of piping, pins, rotary cutter, mat, iron, press mat, ruffler for your machine.
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Piece the “6 strips end to end. Fold the long 6” strip in half and press. Overcast the raw edge side of the ruffler strip with a decorative thread. I used machine embroidery thread in the upper and lower looper. I basted the fold edge to secure and keep from pushing. Use the ruffler to ruffle the strip.
Make a pocket for inside the purse. Fold the pocket fabric and sew the 4 sides, leaving an openning to turn from. Fold and press the lining in half to form a right and left side.  Center the pocket midway down on the right of the fabric and top stitch in place on 3 sides to form the pocket. I also divided the pocket by stitching down the middle of the pocket.
Sew the piping to the top side of the purse edge. Make straps by folding the 4 inch X 45″ strip in quarters lengthwise.  Top stitch the straps. Position about 3″ from the right and left side and sew the ends of the straps to the top of the purse. Sew the purse together on the side seam. Try to match the ruflles on the side seam. Box the lower corners to give some depth to the purse ( bring the bottom and side seam together and seam a seam across the point about 1 1/2″ deep.)
Seam the lining side seam and leave an openning on the bottom seam for turning. Match the purse to the lining, right sides toether and stitch the top edges together. Try to get close to the piping so when you turn the purse the piping edge looks good.
Turn, press and place a snap on the purse under the ruffle. Position in the middle so the puse shapes correctly. You can topstitch the ruffle down to hide the snap positon.
