DIY Lace Purse

Use your favorite patterned lace to make the purse.

Create a delicate and feminine fashion accessory to wear with your favorite evening dress. Show off your love for lace and with a purse made from an outer shell of lace in any color you like. Include an inner layer of satin lining in a similar or contrasting color. Add a layer of interfacing to add some stiffness to the purse for everyday use and embellish the finished handbag with a lacy ribbon strap.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• Cardboard
• Sharp scissors
• Lace fabric
• Satin fabric
• Fusible interfacing
• Iron
• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Use a ruler to draw a 12 1/2-by-18 1/2-inch rectangle on a piece of cardboard. Poster board or card stock can be substituted for cardboard. Cut out the rectangle with a sharp pair of scissors.

2. Lay the cardboard rectangle on top of your lace fabric and trace around the rectangle with tailor’s chalk.

3. Use the cardboard to trace the shape onto the satin lining and the interfacing for a stiffer purse. Cut out the shape from both fabrics.

4. Lay out the satin lining face down on your work surface and place the interfacing on top. Iron the two layers together according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

5. Lay out the lace fabric rectangle face down on your work surface. Center the fused lining face up on top. Fold over the exposed 1/4-inch of lace fabric along the 12-inch-long sides and sew the folded lace to the lining.

6. Fold the purse in half with the lace fabric facing inward. You now have a rectangle that measures about 12 1/2 inches wide by 9 inches long. Sew a tight straight stitch along each side of the purse, leaving 1/4-inch seam allowance.

7. Cut a long strip of lace for the strap. Make the strip 30 inches long by 3 1/2 inches wide. Cut a piece of satin to line the strip. Make the strip 30 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide.

8. Lay the satin strip on top of the wrong side of the lace strip. The satin strip should be about 1/4-inch away from one long edge of the lace. Sew a few stitches at the short ends to keep the satin in place.

9. Fold the lace in half to enclose the satin and sew a straight stitch down the long edge. Sew a few more stitches in each short end. Sew the ends of the strap to the top, inside edge of the purse, at the left and right side seams. Turn the purse right side out.

References

• "The Bag Making Bible: The Complete Guide to Sewing and Customizing Your Own Unique Bags"; Lisa Lam, et al.; 2010