Sewing With A Discerning Eye, Principle 2: Focal Point

This month, we’re applying the Design Academy focal point principle to the Sew Powerful purse flap, using a technique called Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP). FPP allows you to assemble small fabric scraps into precise quilt blocks, which can then become the centerpiece of a purse flap. I previously demonstrated this at a tiny scale with my mini pot holder project, but here, I'm going to showcase this technique at a larger scale.Recently, MODA Fabrics graciously donated a large box of fabric scraps to Sew Powerful. My daughter Liberty and I have been exploring creative ways to use these scraps, and we discovered that many 6–7 inch FPP blocks were perfectly suited to serve as focal points for purse flaps.Below are two examples that demonstrate how focal point works in practice.Example 1: Herringbone Heart — Balancing BoldnessThe Herringbone Heart purse flap immediately draws your attention. Made up of many narrow strips of fabric, this block is a great way to use up your small scraps.We used assorted bold fabrics from Moda Fabrics’ upcoming Gradients Gallery collection to piece the block. Bright and bold pieces make up the heart while a blender fabric is used for the background. This contrast allows the heart to stand forward visually, while still creating some subtle interest in the rest of the flap.To further reinforce the focal point, the purse body was made from a soft pink fabric from the Grunge collection by Moda. The simplicity of the body means the eye is drawn naturally to the purse flap. Resources for this project:Herringbone Heart 7” Finished Block available from Thimbles and Needles online shop. The great thing about this FPP design is that it comes in several sizes, from 4-7 inches all in one download! The 4-inch size would look amazing on the back of the Liberty Jane Denim Jacket!Gradients Gallery coming soon from Moda Fabrics - 80s vibes all the way!Love that 1-inch wide checkerboard webbing? It's available from Wondergound Fabrics online shop.Example 2: Star Dew — Complimentary PiecingThis second purse makes me smile every time I see it! The fabric collection, called Happy Daze, perfectly captures a joyful 1970s aesthetic.This project uses a technique called fussy cutting, where a specific motif—in this case, a large flower—is intentionally cut and placed at the center of the block. The star points use the same fabric, but these pieces are not fussy cut, which helps keep the attention on the center. A multicolored swirl fabric peeks through the star points as a fun detail. The background of the block is made with a tone-on-tone white fabric. This keeps the purse from being too busy when combined with the strip-pieced body.We pieced together 1.5" strips to make a piece of fabric big enough for the purse body. Still using the same fabric collection, but adding in fabrics from the coral colorway, which gives a nice contrast to the mostly blue purse flap. Despite the added interest, the design remains balanced because the central flower remains visually dominant.Resources for this project:Star Dew Block Pattern — Quilt Cakes Online Shophttps://www.etsy.com/shop/QuiltCakesFabric Collection: Happy Daze — Chloe’s Closet. You can find this through a variety of quilt shops, Stash Fabrics has the full collection.Many prints in this collection work beautifully for doll-scale projects, and even some of the larger-scale prints feel appropriate because 1970s fashion embraced bold motifs. After playing around with these smaller scraps, I'm thinking we need to stock these prints at Pixie Faire - What do you think?Turning Blocks Into Purse FlapsIn the featured examples we've created two blocks. Now we turn them into purse flaps! The Sew Powerful purse flap pattern piece measures 7.5 inches wide by 10.25 inches tall, with a finished width of 7 inches after seam allowances. To adapt quilt blocks for this format, we added a rectangle to the top edge, creating the full flap shape while preserving the quilt block as the focal point. The Sew Powerful Purse Pattern is Free, Download it Here!Each block is different, here are the specifics for each size.Herringbone Heart Block - This first is block is 7.5" square (perfectly sized). Next, add a 7.5 x 3.25-inch rectangle to the top edge, using the same background fabric, to lengthen the piece to 10.25 inches. Star Dew Block - The second block is 6.5" square and needs to be adapted by adding 1-inch sashing to the sides and bottom. Then add a 7.5 x 3.75 inch rectangle to the top edge to lengthen the piece to 10.25 inches. Now that the purse flap is ready, it's time to round the bottom corners and finish the flap according to the purse pattern instructions.Both of these purse flaps are great examples of focal point in action. Foundation Paper Piecing makes this especially fun because even the tiniest scraps can become the star of the show. As you experiment with your own purse flaps this month, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try some bold designs!Next week, Shari will jump back in and take us to the 18th century, where focal point played a starring role in a very different way. She’ll be showcasing beautiful hand embroidery on a stomacher—the decorative center panel of a gown—and showing how historical makers used embroidery, placement, and detail to draw the eye exactly where they wanted it.It’s a wonderful reminder that whether you’re piecing scraps into a purse flap or hand stitching intricate details on tiny garments, the goal is the same: Help the viewer know where to look, and give them something worth seeing.PS. The month of February is the annual Sew Powerful Flaps of Friendship! Learn more and join the fun! It's happening in the Sew Powerful Purse Project Facebook Group

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