Things You'll Need:
- Placemat Straight pins Iron Sewing machine Scissors Thread Iron Cord Button Embellishments (if desired)
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Step 1
Place the placemat, wrong side up, on your work area, longwise (up-and-down). Fold the placemat 3/4 of the way up, from the bottom. Pin it in place and steam press with our iron so there is a nice creased fold at the bottom of the handbag.
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Step 2
Fold the top down 1/4 of the placemat. The fold will hit right at the edge of the placemat, where you folded it up, 3/4 of the way (in step one). Press the new fold with your steam iron to make a crisp crease. This will form the top flap of the handbag. This might be called an envelope fold, as your placemat looks like an envelope.
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Step 3
Pull the top flap of the handbag up. Sew a 1/4-inch seam along the two sides of the handbag, on the right side (outside of the handbag) of the placemat.
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Step 4
Attach a cord loop at the underside center of the handbag's top flap. The loop should hang past the edge of the flap. Place the flap down and sew on a button where the loop hits the outside of the handbag. Pull the loop over the button, to keep the handbag closed.
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Step 5
Measure a round cord the length you would like the handle or shoulder strap, plus 2 inches. Hand sew each end on the sides at the inside seam, down 1 inch from the seam top.
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Step 6
Decorate the outside of the handbag with trinkets, lace, buttons or any other embellishments that you like.
