How to Make a Shoulder Purse or Handbag

To make a shoulder bag, you simply make a larger bag with a longer strap. This bag consists of a front, back and closing flap; two sides; a bottom; handle; and lining. The directions below target a medium-sized handbag. Measurements for a shoulder purse are listed at the end of the article.

Things You'll Need

• Old newspaper
• Felt tip marker
• Fabric marker
• Ruler or yardstick
• Purse fabric (1 yard)
• Lining fabric (1 yard)
• Strong interfacing (1 yard)
• Hand sewing needles
• Thread
• Sewing machine

Instructions

Preparation

1. Draw your pattern on old newspaper. Draw each of the pieces as follows:
   Front and back (total 2 pieces): 9 ½ inches wide; 7 inches high
   Sides and bottom (1 piece): 4 inches wide; 24 inches long
   Closing flap (1 piece): 9 ½ inches wide; 24 inches long
   Handle (1 piece): 4 inches wide; 34 inches long

2. Cut and mark the fabric. Lay each of the pattern pieces out on the back side of your purse fabric and pin them in place. Use a washable fabric marker and trace the pattern directly onto the fabric. This will be your sewing line.

3. Cut each piece ½ inch outside the marked lines. Remove the pins and do the same with the lining fabric: pin, mark and cut. Remove the pins and cut one of each piece from the interfacing. The interfacing for the handle piece should only be half as wide--just 2 inches wide.

4. Hand baste the interfacing to the back side of each of the pieces of purse fabric. Make large stitches inside the marked sewing line. On the handle, stitch the interfacing to one side or the other, not in the middle. Fold the handle in half lengthwise, right sides together, and stitch the long edge. Turn inside out and press.

Assembly

1. With right sides together, pin the side and bottom piece to the purse front along both sides and the bottom. Machine stitch. Be careful not to catch any extra fabric at the corners. Next, pin the side and bottom piece to the purse back in the same way. Trim the interfacing close to the stitching. Press all the seams toward the inside of the purse.

2. Trim the interfacing close to the stitching. Press all the seams toward the inside of the purse.

3. Fold the flap piece in half, with right sides together at the short ends. Stitch the long sides. Turn inside out and press.

4. Pin one open edge of the closing flap to the outside of the back of the purse, right sides together. The inside portion of the closing flap will be left free, unattached. Machine stitch.

5. Hold the flap up so that it extends directly upward away from the back of the purse and press. Turn under the free edge of the inside of the closing flap and pin it to the inside of the purse. Hand stitch the inside of the flap into place. Top stitch over your hand stitching at the back, top of the purse.

6. Repeat the above steps with the lining material to assemble the front, back and sides of the lining.

7. Turn the purse inside out and lay the lining over the bag, wrong sides together. Pin together, matching all seams. Hand or machine stitch the lining to the bag along the existing seams.

8. Turn under the raw edges at the top front of both the purse and the lining and pin them together. Sew the front top of the lining and bag together. Hand stitch the back of the lining to the back of the purse. You should have an opening at the top of the sides for the handle to be inserted.

9. Place the two ends of the handle into the open spaces at the sides of the bag. Pin into place and stitch.

10. Press the handle and all seams. Trim all loose threads.

Tips & Warnings

• Get coordinating fabric for the purse and lining.

• You may want to top stitch the handle for reinforcement.

• You can make pockets in the lining before you secure it in place.