How to Design Your Own Purse

Creating your own purse is a good way to express your own personal style. This purse is so simple that you can make one for every day of the week. It is also reversible so you can design it with coordinating patterns to match both your day and evening look. Don’t be afraid to try fabrics that you normally wouldn't try. You may just discover a side of yourself you did not know existed. These make great gifts as well.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Heavy card stock or paper
• One half yard of solid fabric of your choice
• One half yard of patterned fabric of your choice
• Pins
• Pencils
• Thread that matches your material
• Scissors
• Iron
• Sewing machine
• Needle and thread

Getting Started

1. Decide what shape you want your purse to be. For beginners, a good pattern to use is the shape of a baby’s bib. Remember that your purse pattern needs to be about six inches bigger than you think it should be. Your seams will take up some of the extra fabric and the bulk of the purse once you put things in it will take up the rest

2. Cut out your fabric once you have your pattern drawn on the cardstock. Fold each piece of fabric in half and trace the pattern onto the material and cut it out.

3. Pin the two patterned pieces together with the right sides facing. Repeat with the solid pieces.

4. Sew: The “neck piece of the bib” is going to be your handle. Sew along the tops of each handle. Then sew around the curved bottom of the bib. Leave the sides of the “neck pieces”, or the bib, open.

5. Leave the patterned pieces inside out. Turn the solid pieces right side out, insert them inside of the patterned pieces and pin them together. This should make the right sides of both the patterned and the solid pieces facing each other.

6. Pin the edges of the handles and sew them together.

7. Turn the bag right side out by pulling it through the handles. Clip and iron all of the seams flat. Baste the sides of the handles closed and use your machine to top-stitch around the handles of the bag to give your new purse a finished look.

Tips & Warnings

• When designing your pattern, the basic idea should be the same, but the shape of the lower part of the bag can be any shape you wish.
• For a pretty little evening purse, pick a satin or a glittery fabric. Pick patterns that match or complement your style.
• Try decorative stitches when top-stitching the handles on your purse. Applique, embroidery, or decorative buttons can give your purse a unique touch.
• It's a good idea to pin each step and look at it to be sure you have not closed up a hole you will need later.