Lazies, Fussy cutting, or cutting to feature a particular part of the fabric, is handy for creating balance and symmetry when working with repeats. The green fabric on the Claire Handbag below is a fussy cut of a border print, or an elaborate stripe, from the Hushabye line by Tula Pink for Moda.

A centered stripe fabric, or border print,
makes up the symmetrical green fabrics.

Where To Start
Below is the striped fabric I used for this Claire. The stripe wasn’t wide enough to use just one for the cover, but the stripes are close enough that I can use most of two stripes and the space between them.

Lazies, Look at what a difference perfect final pressing makes on this Claire Handbag in the before and after pictures below. Not only does Claire stand up even nicer, but we’ve defined her shape and bottom edges with some simple pressing techniques for a more polished and professional finish.

Claire Handbag before and after final pressing.
Shown in ‘Hushabye’ by Tula Pink for Moda.

Three Steps: Press, Specialty Press, Re-Press
Slide the open end of your finished bag project onto the rounded and pointed end of the ironing board and press what you can. Work your way around the open end of the bag. Press along the top edge of the bag, gently pull on the handles and press where they attach at the top edge, and press as much of the body of the bag as possible.

Pressing the body of the bag is easy. But what about the bottom? You can’t fit your iron in there. Your ironing board doesn’t reach the nooks and crannies of your project.

Lazies, Claire is here! Our newest pattern the Claire Handbag #LGD125 arrived a few days early and has already shipped to all the waiting Lazies out there. Start looking for her to arrive at your local quilt shop in the next week or so.

Sue Congdon’s Claire shown in Moda’s Nostalgia,
with the outside pocket from Moda’s Crazy 8’s.

The First Claire
Sue Congdon from South Carolina was the first Lazy Girl to report having made Claire - good job Sue! Look at those little colorful polka dots peeking out from inside the bag - too cute!