Instructions on How to Make a Metal Frame Purse

Purse silhouettes and shapes, such as the clutch, coin and barrel, can be revamped by changing frames and handles. Making an original mold is quite costly. Purchasing a pre-made metal frame will help you bypass the expense and you will be able to design the type of purse and handle you desire. The frame has hinge placements, purse chain hooks, sewing holes for your fabric and a snap fastener closure.

Things You'll Need

• Pre-made metal purse frame
• Sketch pad
• Colored pencils or markers
• 1 yard of fabric, approximately
• 1 yard of lining, approximately
• Purse handle
• Purse feet
• Pattern paper
• Ruler and pencils
• French curve ruler
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Tailor's chalk
• Sewing machine

Instructions

Designing Your Metal Frame Purse

1. Purchase a pre-made metal purse frame. Make sure the frame includes the hinge placements, purse chain hooks, sewing holes, handle hooks or an attached metal handle, and a snap fastener closure.

2. Design your purse's shape. Make freehand rough sketches, keeping in mind the metal frame's sizing and hook placements. Use your colored pencils or markers to depict your fabric and trim placement during construction. These preset hinges and hooks cannot be altered with basic crafting supplies.

3. Choose your fabric: cotton, silk, faille or leather such as calfskin or lambskin. Select trim embellishment such as beading or fringe. It is important to select a sturdy lining. You will be attaching the fabric to metal hinges and hooks that can cause delicate fabrics to fray. If your metal frame does not include a fastener, you will have to add a metal clasp or magnetic snap.

4. Coordinate your purse handle and feet with the frame and silhouette. Pre-made frames often do not include decorative handles. You can attach a pre-made handle into the frame's handle hook slots. Purse feet do not come with the frame. Coordinate purse feet appearance with function so the bottom of your bag will be protected when you set it down. This separate accessory is available in a variety of shapes such as dome or square as well as different height dimensions.

Making a Basic Metal Frame Half-Moon Purse

1. Measure out the width, depth and length for your purse's outer shell. For an 8-inch width by 2-inch side length frame, you can opt to follow dimensions such as a 10-inch width by 4-inch depth for your half-moon's center point and a 2-inch side length for your outer shell's pattern.

2. Draft your half-moon purse on pattern paper. Contour the purse by gradually reducing the 4-inch center point measurement to 2 inches at each of the frame's sides. This will give you the half-moon shape. Use your French curve ruler to shape the contours. It is very important to include the metal frame's sewing holes or attachments in the draft so you will stitch and attach your fabric properly.

3. Cut your paper pattern with your scissors and pin it to your fabric and lining. Lightly mark your sewing holes and hinge placement onto your fabric with tailor's chalk. You will have two outer shell fabric parts and two lining parts.

4. Sew your outer shell and lining separately. Turn your outer shell inside out and insert the lining.

5. Insert your metal frame and attach your fabric to the frame's hinges or sewing holes. See the metal frame's instructions and diagram for fabric placement. For a metal frame that does not include a handle, use a flathead screwdriver for any screws and washers you need.

Tips & Warnings

• It's better to purchase a pre-made purse pattern when you work with metal frames.

References

• "Chic Bags: 22 Handbags, Purses, Totes and Accessories To Make"; Marie Enderlen-Debuisson and Caroline Laisne; 2007

Resources

• UMX Catalogues: Handbag Frame Supplies
• Henrietta's Handbags: Half-Moon Tote Purse Pattern
• UMX Catalogues: Handbag Frame Supplies: Purse Feet