How to make a bourse

I've had a number of requests for instructions on how I made my Halloween bourse. Making a bourse is so easy!!! I hand stitched mine cause I hate my machine.

You need:

A piece of cotton fabric in a print of your choice
Your needlework
Thin cording or ribbon
4 buttons

Essentially, the bourse is a square with the corners turned down (like dog ears)so the linen is showing.

Stitch something about 4-5 inches in size (about the size of an ornie or just a bit bigger) My design was about 41/2 inches square. I decided that I wanted about 4 inches of linen around the design to make the bourse. So, I cut my fabric 12 1/2 inches square.
I also cut my cotton fabric the same size.

With right sides together, I backstitched a 1/2 inch border around the entire square leaving an opening for turning.

Turn your piece right side out and press.

Stitch the opening closed.

Fold down each corner about an inch so that the linen is showing. (like a dog-ear). I used a ruler to measure each side of the triangle to make sure that the corners were even.

Stitch a 3/8" channel across the dog ear corner to thread the cording or ribbon through. I marked a line with a hard pencil and backstitched across the line.

Stitch a button on each corner. Don't stitch the button on the corner to the purse though.

Thread a 2 lengths of ribbon through the channel on each side so that you can draw up the bourse. Knot the ends and add a charm or button to the cording or ribbon. I used a couple of ghost charms that I picked up at the craft store.

When you gather up the bourse tuck the ends in so that they aren't *open*.

There ya go! You have a bourse!

If you have questions, let me know and I will try to explain. If you look at the pictures on my post and I think you'll understand my instructions. If not, I'll try to take some photos to illustrate it better.

Joanie