My son and I had that exact discussion just yesterday.

I believe the term came before wallet. IE a wallet was originally called a pocket book.

Then they were transferred to ladies handbags. That's my guess without researching the topic. :wink:

My mother and grandmother each called her purse a pocket book. It was smaller with a handle, leather and had a clasp at the top. If I recall when they had larger ones they called them a purse.

Ladies handbags have numerous names (some are based on how it is held): pocketbook, purse, handbag, tote, clutch, shoulder bag, etc.

What do you call them in Australia?

Beautiful pocketbooks! I'm teaching myself, could be a mistake, on how to make purses with the metal clasp frames. I'm incorporating quilting in with the bags as the quilting is what I love the most, well I like all the other parts too. Thanks for sharing your talents!

There are some very nice patterns on http://www.allpeoplequilt.com and they are free!

very cute!

I have a bow tuck pattern and it looks hard to figure out. What do you use for the bottom and do you have to use interfaceing
for to make them sable? Josie

How cute!!

Great pocket books -- family term but I usually call mine a purse. Love all the pockets.

to kpwinter: could the purse in the first photo be a Joan Hawley design? Looks like her inside pockets to me. Love her use of several size pockets (especially pencil/pen ). I make them to fit my personal notebooks, wallet, credit card, etc. Anyway, you used beautiful combo of fabrics. :thumbup: :thumbup:

Very pretty pocketbooks!

Lovely projects, I too, love to take a break from quilting and do bags, I'm working on one now for my grand daughter who is 21 and wants one like she saw me carrying around. That's always a compliment. Keep up the good work!

is the denim one...one you can change the cover on...

nice, nice, nice!!

LOVE THEM. I MAKE BAGS A LOT TOO AND USULLY HAVE A FEW TROUBLES BUT END UP MAKING MORE AND MORE.

Quaint use of pocketbook. My mother used to say that all the time. Good for you. I love your purses. Very colorful.

These are beautiful. What did you use as the closure?

Very nice handbags. I have the bow tucks patterns but haven't made them yet. I need to get going, I want to make some for Christmas gifts.

Beautiful, love the bright colors.

Very nice,, I think you could say you were still quilting just different style. I love them both so can't pick a favorite.

I have a bow tuck pattern and it looks very hard. What do you use for the bottom and do you use enter facing for the body of the purse? Josie

Thanks for that explanation Thrums. Its Odd - In Australia what you call a purse, we call a handbag. In Aus a purse is the small wallet like thing that you put your cards, notes and coins in. Larger handbags are called totes - same as you. So we carry our purse in our handbag.

hoping to hear where to find the patterns for these, they are so nice !!

i love these, I need to brush off some patterns and make some myself...but yours are great!

lol...... and in Great Britain I'm sure the terms vary from both the US and Australia. It's interesting how English has evolved.