I was wondering if you thought that we would be able to put
a zipper on it instead of a button or snap? I know that it may not look as cute and would problably have to add another inch or at the top for it. What do you think? Has anyone else thought of this? I want to make my mil one but think she likes purses with zippers.

sounds easy, and cute, to me.

I waas thinkg the same thing. I like the security of the zippered top. If you try it first let me know.

I haven't made my bow tuck yet, but was thinking about that too. I think I am going to put a longer velcro strip. I know I couldn't be bothered with the button thing. You could possibly put the zipper on two fabric strips that you would sew to the lining before combining outside & lining. May or may not work.

I had a board member make me a Bow Tuck and I wanted a zipper installed(for security reasons), but if you do add the zipper you're not going to be able to have the ties on the ends of the purse. Then it's not a true Bow Tucks(hence the name). It would be very cute no matter how it's made.

A zipper would be a great idea, when I have my bow-tuck purse on my shoulder and bend down, things always fall out. I was thinking of adding a strip of velco, but that would be a pain to open and close everytime I need to go in it. My next one will definetly have a zipper.....

So why can't you have the bow tucks and the zipper too? I haven't made one yet, but will surely give it a try.

I have a leather bag that ties at the sides like the Bow Tucks, but it also has a zipper. I hope this rough diagram helps explain how the bag was done. As you can see, the zipper does not extend into the area that will be affected by the tie.



----------><>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><----------

Inside of bag

---------><>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><----------




-------- Bow Tuck area

>>>>> Zipper

Okay, so you people have pushed me into it. I am at this moment making a bow tucks purse. If I can when I get to the zipper part I will take pictures of it. We'll see how it goes. I love a challenge. And I don't have anything else to do today. :roll: :lol: :!:

Another option is the magnetic snaps that you can find in multiple packs at Joann's in the purse handle and canvas items isle.
I have not made one with them, however I have a friend who has made MANY for sale and other people. She used the magnets all the time.

If you are going to use a zipper, Nancy Zieman has a segment where she puts zippers in her bags using tape that looks like Grosgrain ribbon. You could possily match the tape to the lining material and sew it on after you turn your bag. I just made my first 2 bow-tuck, and while I'm not interested in carrying them, I think if you measured about an inch or so down and sewed your zipper in, it could work without interfering with your pockets

Happy Quilting
Susan

I think it can be done. Doesn't hurt to just try it.

Well, I am taking a break from quilting to comment. I just searched my zippers and of course I don't have the right color in the right size. But I AM NOT GOING SHOPPING!!! So I will come up with the next best one. I have already decided how I am going to attach the zipper to the bag and I will keep you posted. This has to be a one-day job because I have some other things I must to get to for other people. Back to quilting...

I haven't even bought fabric for this project yet, but when I do begin it will have a zipper in it. I figured the zipper would not go completely to the ends, but would be between the tied areas.
Angellight - I saw that Nancy Zieman show and that seems like an easy way to handle the zipper insert.

So here's the way it is. I have finished the bow tucks bag, and am ready to put a zipper in it. But there is a problem we didn't think about. If you put a zipper in, it has to be about 9" in order to not interfere with the pleats in the bow tucks area. And I don't think 9" is enough room to access the bag easily. It will negate the object of having the large opening. If you have any better ideas I'm listening. I think I will try the velco strip thing, although I am not really too crazy about that either.

How do I find Nancys segment? I went to her website, but not sure if I was looking at the right page.

If I remember correctly someone did make a bow tuck with a zipper and posted it, you might try doing a search for it.

You might want to consider a separating zipper. I came across this link the other day. It's for a different bag, but you should be able to come up with a similar way to use it with the Bow Tucks.

http://thereshesews.blogspot.com/200...per-panel.html

Alternatively, the magnetic snaps are very easy to use.

Well, Unfortunately, Nancy wants you to pay for all of that stuff...
However, after Looking through the patterns that I have (None have zippers) and Googling the question, "How do I sew a zipper into a purse?", I came up with many sites, and this one fairly decent tutorial on how to make a Messenger bag with a zipper in it and it looks fairly decent when finished.

http://www.savvyseams.com/bags/adventure4.php

Perhaps you can adapt this to the BowTucks.
Otherwise, as an "age challenged" woman with receding brain function, I think Nancy Z sewed the "Grosgrain" onto the sides of her zippers and then very carefully sewed the ribbon into the top of her bag(s) lining the edges up along the top. She just had the segment on here in Colorado the last 2 Saturday's and since I had seen them before, I was listening with half an ear and probabaly the one I can't hear out of anyway...

Adding: http://www.allcrafts.net/f.php?url=e...-tutorial.html
form an earlier posting.

Good luck & Happy Quilting!
Susan

I think I'll look at attaching some strips to the top (in between the lining and the outer bag) and add the zipper to them. It should help the bag keep a square shape instead of all pulled together at the top. I can't quite picture how the corners will work so I have to experiment a little.

If you have the mini bow tucks pattern and look on step 15 for turning the bag out. It doesn't say how to sew the bottom of the lining.

Well, that's what I was doing, but you still end up with only a small opening to get to your contents, since a 9" zipper is about the longest you can add without interfering with the pleats in the sides. Good luck with it, though, hope you get it to work. Keep us posted.

I put a zipper in mine but din`t put in the ties or tucks.
Gale

i was wondering if you could make the top a snap top with the metal tape measure like someone did for some other totes

how wide did you make the strips?

When you made your bow tucks did you use the same stitching throughout the quilting and stitching it together? I am about to sew around the top now and noticed that the quilting stitches is bigger and the hanles and front pocket are a smaller stitch. So I thought that maybe I should use the bigger stitch for the top stitch and for the ties or would you stick with the smaller stitch for the ties? Since most of my friends don't sew they wouldn't pay much attention. Any how this first one is for myself. Usually when I make things I don't get the first one or none at all.

If you use the velcro please show us.

Well as I mentioned on another thread that I finally finished my first one except for the bottom. Thank you all for your patients with my questions and trying to make it more complicated by asking to try and use a zipper. I will get mine posted tomorrow. Now when I make them it will be a breeze. I want to make 4 more for gifts for sister and friend, and mother and mil. When my girls see these that will be 3more a total of 7. I can just hear them now.

Do you mean that snap tape like you use on childrens clothes? I suppose you could, but I couldn't be bothered with snapping a bunch of snaps. This 4" of velcro seems to work fine.

The velcro is just stitched through all layers on the inside of the purse, nothing special.

I used the 2.5 length stitching everywhere. I just adjusted the distance from the edge of the fabric by adjusting the needle width. Hope that answers your question.

no those kind of snaps would make me crazy this is what i am goin to try i made a tote with a button like that and it never got used
http://tatteredgarden.blogspot.com/2...-tutorial.html

Oh!!! I watched the tute. Cute idea. It reminds me that I have a purse closure thing I got a hundred years ago, similar to that, that I never used. I will have to get it out and see what I can do with it.