How to Make a Beaded Handle Handbag at Home

Add style to your accessories by adding beads to the handle of your purse.

You can add style and glamour to your accessory collection by making your own beaded handle handbag. You can choose your own color and fabric pattern and then select beads to match perfectly. Making your own beaded handle handbag is fairly simple and easy to make.

Things You'll Need

• 18 x 36-inch of nylon fabric
• Sewing machine
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Four sets of silver snaps
• Hammer
• Pair of 5 1/2 x 3 3/4-inch silver screw handles for the beads
• Forty 1/2-inch beads
• Epoxy resin
• Fabric glue
• Paper clips

Instructions

1. Cut two 14-inch x 13-inch pieces of fabric. Lay the fabric right-sides together -- as if the purse were inside-out. Stitch the short sides and bottom seams together.

2. Unscrew one end of the bead handles and place the beads on the handle. You may need to use smaller, spacer beads at the end to ensure a tight fit. Add a couple of drops of epoxy resin to permanently fix the screw fastening.

3. Cut four 1/2-inch x 3-inch strips of fabric. This will be used as handle holders and will be attached to the purse. Slide the strips through the handle holes at the end of the purse handle. Use fabric glue to stick together.

4. Turn the purse inside-out and turn down 3/4-inches. Hold the top hem in place with paper clips. Tuck the handle tabs under, which is attached to the beaded handle, and fold up so that they are just above the top edge. Stitch around the lower edge of the hem and then again around the top edge.

5. Mark, with a pencil, 1/4-inch on both sides of the side seam in the middle of the top hem. Secure the snaps on the side seam and close the snaps. Mark the center point between the handles and secure another set of snaps.

Tips & Warnings

• For a neat inside finish, glue the side and bottom seams together before stitching.

References

• The Decorated Bag; Genevieve Sterbenz
• Beaded Bags; Jean Campbell

Resources

• Bag Fittings: DIY Handles