- Choose two to four different cotton fabric patterns cut at ¼ yard each. Remember that you will want both larger and smaller prints to alternate between. Also, pick up matching sewing thread and quilting thread, along with a crib-size batting. There will be enough batting to make quite a few quilted handbags. For the backing of the quilted work, purchase ½ yard muslin or other cotton material. Wash, dry and press all fabric before starting the project.
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On a large piece of graph paper, draw an 8-by-9-inch rectangle. Above the 9-inch mark, draw a line 1 inch higher, straight across. On the line, mark off at 7 inches in the center of your rectangular pattern. Draw lines on both sides from the top of the rectangle to the edge of the 7-inch line. This will be the top of the handbag with a 7-inch opening across. To make the bottom of the handbag corners curved, draw the shape at each end. If you have trouble with drawing freehand, use any curved object to draw around. The larger the object, the wider the curve. Cut out the pattern, trace it onto a piece of poster board and cut it out.
Draw a pattern on your graph paper for the quilted strips. It should be a 2½-by10½-inch rectangle. Trace the pattern on poster board for the final pattern. The handbag strap will be cut later without a pattern. -
Cut a total of eight strips with your 2½-by-10½-inch rectangle pattern, four for the front and four for the back. Decide on the placement of the strips and sew two right sides together, down the 10½-inch sides. Add another strip to the second one and then the final strip to the end using ¼-inch seam allowances. Repeat this procedure for the back side of the quilted handbag. Press all the seams to the right.
Place your poster board pattern of the handbag on the wrong side of the fabric and draw around it, making sure it is centered and straight with the seams. Cut out the pieced fabric. - Cut out two pieces of muslin or backing fabric, as well as batting. They should be approximately 10-by-12 inches. The exact measurement is not important as they will be trimmed later to the size of the handbag. Place the backing fabric, wrong side up, onto your workspace, then the batting and then the pieced fabric, which should be right side up. Use several large safety pins around the top of the quilt sandwich to secure the three pieces together. Sew ¼ inch around the outside. Repeat the process for the back.
- Regulate your sewing machine for a wider stitch. After removing the safety pins, sew along the seams of the four strips of pieced fabric. This is called "sewing in the ditch." This will give the handbag a quilted effect without any stitches showing. Repeat with the back piece. Trim the batting and backing fabric to match the pieced front. With both pieces facing, right sides together, pin and sew a ¼-inch seam all the way around except for the top opening. Remove the pins and turn the handbag right side out.
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Cut a 1½-by-18-inch strip of one of the fabrics to use as a bias for the top of the handbag. Also cut a 2-by-18½-inch strip for the handbag strap. The length of the strap can be adjusted to your preference. Starting with the bias strip, press it in half lengthwise, then press ¼ inch along one of the long raw edges. Pin the strip to the top of the handbag, with the unfolded raw edge, right sides together, starting at one of the seams. When you reach the beginning of the strip, measure ¼ inch and cut off the excess. Fold the end of the strip over ¼ inch and sew. The center fold should rest right at the top of the handbag as you fold it over to the inside. Hand sew the inside of the fabric strip to the inside of the handbag. You may add a snap to the inside, top part of the handbag.
With the 18½-inch strip, press under ¼ inch at both short ends. Press it in half lengthwise and then press in ¼ inch on both sides of the raw edges lengthwise. Sew around close to the edges. Hand sew the ends of the strap to the inside of the handbag at the seams.
