How to Make Quilted Handbags
Besides being stylish, making your own quilted handbags gives you a chance to be creative as well as express your uniqueness. If you know how to make a simple quilt, you can easily make quilted handbags. Just as blankets or wall hangings, quilted handbags are made by piecing together fabric and then quilting the facing to batting and backing.The only difference in making them is that you fold the sides and sew them together to make a handbag and add a shoulder strap.
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Things You'll Need
- Fat quarters fabric (or any type of fabric) Quilter batting Quilting needle and thread Sewing needle. Sewing machine Rectangular quilting ruler 2-x-12 inches 2-inch square quilting ruler Lining or interfacing (optional)
Instructions
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Making a Quilted Handbag
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1
Choose a facing. You can create anything from an art or appliqued quilt to a block one with geometric shapes. For simplicity's sake, use fat quarter, which are 18-inches wide and 22-inches long. Using a quilting ruler as your guide, cut several fat quarters of different designs and colors into 2-inch wide strips, each 12-inches long. Then cut each strip into 2-inch squares, using a 2-inch square quilting ruler.
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2
Arrange squares, creating whatever design you choose. With right sides together, sew squares together, remaking the 12-inch long strings, using ¼-inch seam allowances.
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3
Sew together strips, leaving a ¼-inch seam allowance. Now you have the facing part of the quilt.
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4
Cut backing fabric and batting the same size as the facing.
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5
Bast together facing, batting and backing and then quilt, either by hand or machine. Trim batting and backing. Next turn under ends, iron and stitch, leaving a ¼-inch seam allowance.
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6
Fold quilting in half with right sides together and sew sides either by hand or machine, leaving open the top side. Turn quilted handbag to the outside.
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7
To make the shoulder strap, cut a fabric that is 12-x-2 inches, using your rectangular quilting ruler. Then fold under ½ inch of fabric on each side. After ironing the folds, sew them in place. Repeat this process for an identical piece. Sew the two pieces with right sides together, being careful to not sew the end side as this is where you will turn the piece over to its right side over. Then turn the right side of the strap to the outside and slip stitch the edges on both the ends of the handbag. Sew both sides of the strap to each side of the handbag.
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Tips & Warnings
To make the job easier, quilt long strips rather than squares. Use contrasting quilting thread to make it stand out. Sew interfacing to the inside of the quilt before sewing sides together. To make several handbags at a time, cut out multiple pieces and then quilt and assemble each one.
Choose only fabrics that can be laundered.
