How to Design a Purse

Most women have a trusted purse that they carry with them every time they leave the house. In addition to the essentials, such as a wallet and keys, this carry-all is home to a variety of make-up, hair accessories, lotions, perfumes, tissues and other supplies to combat nearly any emergency. The perfect purse can quickly become a girl's best friend. Every woman has her own set of essentials that she carries with her as well as a preferred method of organizing these items. While one can troll the aisles of department stores in an endless search for the ideal handbag, why not put the time and effort into designing your own unique bag? The following instructions will help you design your own purse by beginning with a very basic bag and adding your own embellishments and accessories. For even more control over the design, you can explore some of the patterns in the "Resources" section for instructions on sewing your own purse.

Things You'll Need

• Plain purse or tote bag Seam ripper Fabric for purse handle Thin matting Fabric for purse liner and pockets Scissors Sewing machine Thread Embellishments

Instructions

1. Select a basic purse or tote bag. Canvas or another soft fabric will be easiest to work with when adding your own design to the bag.

2. Design your own purse strap. Most canvas bags have a very plain canvas purse strap. To give your bag some individuality, you can tear this off using a seam ripper and sew your own strap in its place. Consider using a length of fabric stuffed with thin matting to make the purse more comfortable to carry. Experiment with different lengths until you find the one that works best for you and the way you carry your bag.

3. Create a liner for your bag. This will be the base for your pockets. Select a bright, contrasting color to give your purse a pop of personality. Measure the liner so that it comes within about 1 inch of the top of the bag.

4. Add pockets to the liner. Having the right combination of pockets in your bag can be a lifesaver when it's time to find your ringing phone or pull out a tissue. Look over the regular contents of your purse and decide which ones deserve their own compartment. The fabric for your pockets can match the interior of your bag, or they can be a contrasting color or pattern. Carefully measure the items that you want to fit into each pocket. Hem the top of the pocket first, then sew it onto your liner.

5. Attach the liner. If your bag has a hem around the top, this will work perfectly to conceal the seam from your liner. Simply rip out the hem and sew the liner onto the hem so that the seam will be hidden when you sew the hem back on. If your bag doesn't have a hem at the top, consider folding over the top inch or half-inch to make one.

6. Embellish the outside of your bag. This is the part where you get to be really creative. You can embroider flowers, leaves or other shapes onto your bag, add exterior pockets, or use beads, buttons and iron-on appliqués to make your purse uniquely yours.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are especially talented at sewing, knitting or crochet, make the basic bag yourself and use the steps above to complete your design.

Resources

• Free Bags, Totes and Purse Sewing Projects
• Henrietta's Handbags and Purse Patterns