How to Make a Straw Purse

Make a handmade straw purse using basic craft supplies.

Straw purses and handbags look fresh and romantic, and are available at any department store or specialty shop. However, handmade straw purses are expensive if purchased from a store. One alternative is to make your own handmade straw purse using a few inexpensive materials that are purchased from an arts and crafts supply store. Making your own handmade straw purse also enables you to customize the purse using your favorite decorative silk flowers and ribbons.

Things You'll Need

• 1 pound basketry straw
• Scissors
• Bucket
• Bobble button
• Sewing needle
• Thread
• Elastic ribbon, 1/8-inch wide
• Woven ribbon, 2-inches wide

Instructions

1. Trim 1 pound of flat basketry straw to measure 24 inches long each.

2. Fill a bucket with boiling water, and add in the basketry straw. Allow the straw to soak for 30 minutes.

3. Lay 20 pieces of straw horizontally along a tabletop, placing each straw 1/4 inch apart.

4. Weave 10 pieces of straw vertically back and forth through the horizontal straws to create a rectangular section of weaving in the middle of the form.

5. Bend the length of each straw upright, leaving the woven rectangle flat against the table as the base of the purse.

6. Weave straws back and forth around the upright straws, cinching the straws down as you weave to make the weaving tight. Stop weaving within 2 inches below the top edge.

7. Fold over the straw tips that are sticking up over into the inside of the purse, and tuck the ends of the straws into the weaving. Allow the straw purse to dry for 6 hours.

8. Position the straw purse horizontally in front of you, and stitch a large bobble button onto the center of one of the long edges using a needle and thread.

9. Cut a piece of 1/8-inch-wide elastic ribbon to measure 1 inch long. Fold the elastic into a loop, then stitch the edges of the loop onto the center of the other long edge of the straw purse. Hooking the elastic loop over the button enables you to close the straw purse.

10. Cut a piece of woven ribbon to measure 18 inches long. Stitch the ends of the ribbon onto the inside of the straw purse, positioning the ends 4 inches below the top edge of the short sides of the purse.

11. Trim off any excess thread before using the handmade straw purse.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep sharp scissors and sewing needles out of the reach of young children.

References

• Primitive Ways: How to Weave a Basket, a Primer