How to Make Leather Handbags

Making a leather purse is not much different from making a fabric purse or a canvas one, but the results in each case are vastly different. You can make a leather handbag using the same sewing patterns as one for a regular purse in a few afternoons, depending on the pattern. For a handbag made at home, you will want to use a lighter leather, something with some movement. It will make sewing considerably easier.

Things You'll Need

• Leather sewing machine needle
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Paper clamps
• Thread
• Handbag pattern

Instructions

1. Prepare your sewing machine by making sure that you are using a needle specifically for leather. They are usually thicker and will pierce through the leather. Make sure, too, that the seam length is set to the longest setting. This will also ensure for better leather sewing.

2. Cut out your pattern pieces and your leather. Hold the pattern piece down against the leather using the paper clamps. When working with leather, they will work like pins, since pins can damage the leather permanently.

3. Pin right sides of the leather together, and sew. When sewing leather, make sure to move slowly and take note of how your machine is reacting to the thicker fabric.

4. Take caution when sewing three or four layers of fabric together. Use the balance wheel, rather than the sewing machine pedal, to go through them.

5. Follow your pattern instructions as you would for a normal canvas handbag. Each one varies, but you will need to create the bag itself out of two rectangular pieces of leather. Your pattern will provide exact measurements for the bag itself.

6. Make sure to clip corners while putting the bag together. This will make sure rounded or pointed corners retain their shape.

7. Create your straps. Depending on the style of the bag, they could be a number of ways. For the most part, they will be created from two thin, long pieces of leather folded over and sewn onto each other. Sew them into the sides of the bag.

8. Create your lining. You may wish to quilt this lining or create some kind of pattern. Do this first before inserting the bag.

9. Create a way for your bag to close. This could be either through a flap which will be about the size of your main bag or a zipper. This will usually go in shortly before or after putting in the lining depending on your pattern.

10. Trim any excess thread, fill your bag with stuff, and go.