How to Make Purses Out of Sweaters

Creating purses out of old sweaters is a great way to make something one-of-a-kind and to live a little greener. The best sweaters to use for making a purse are those tightly knit or made of wool, which generally does not unravel and fray as you work. This project is great for beginners.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Old sweater 1/2 yard fabric for lining Measuring tape Tailor's chalk Straight pins Scissors Sewing machine Lightweight cardboard Hot-glue gun Hand sewing needle and thread Velcro Iron Pressing cloth

1. Turn the sweater wrong side out and lay it flat on your work surface. Measure and trace a rectangle 12 inches wide by 14 inches long on one side of the sweater using tailor's chalk. Pin the rectangle through both layers of the sweater and cut out. These pieces will be your purse body. Measure and trace a rectangle 4 inches wide by 16 inches long on one sleeve of the sweater. Pin the rectangle through both layers of the sleeve and cut out. These pieces will be your sweater purse handles. Measure and cut two pieces of the lining fabric 12 inches wide by 14 inches long for the purse lining.

2. Place the two pieces for the sweater purse body together with the right sides together. Match the edges of the cut sweater and pin the 14 inch sides and the 12 inch bottom. Sew the pinned edges together using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Press the seams open with a warm iron and a pressing cloth, being careful not to scorch or melt the sweater fibers.

3. Sew the lining fabric in the same way as in step 2. Leave a 4-inch opening along the bottom seam for turning the purse right side out.

4. Match a side seam of the sweater purse body with the bottom seam. Measure across the point to a 2-inch span and pin. Sew across the 2-inch span. Repeat for the opposite side of the sweater purse. This will form a boxed bottom on your sweater purse. Cut off the excess triangle points. Turn the sweater purse body right side out.

5. Fold the length of one handle in half and pin. Sew a 1/2-inch seam allowance along the pinned edge. Repeat for the other handle. Press the seams open and turn the handles right side out. Press the handles flat with the seam centered down the middle of one side. Pin the short open ends of one handle to the top edge of the sweater purse. The handles should be centered on the top edge of the sweater purse, spaced 4 inches apart, and have their seam side facing out. Turn the sweater purse over and pin the other handle to mirror the first.

6. Place the sweater purse inside the sewn lining. Pin the top edges of the sweater purse together and sew around the top of the purse using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Turn the sweater purse right side out through the 4-inch opening in the lining seam. Using matching thread hand sew the opening closed. Press the top edge of the sweater purse. Top stitch around the top of the sweater purse 1/4 inch from the edge.

7. Cut a 1 inch piece of Velcro. Pin one half of the Velcro on the inside center edge of the sweater purse. Match and pin the other half of the Velcro on the other inside center edge of the sweater purse. Sew the Velcro to the purse to attach. Cut a piece of lightweight cardboard 2 inches wide by 11 inches long. Place the cardboard on the leftover lining fabric and cut around 1 inch larger than the cardboard. Using the glue gun, fold the edges of the lining fabric to one side of the cardboard and glue. Place the covered cardboard in the bottom of the sweater purse with the fabric side up.