How to Make a Fabric Purse With a Pattern
Do-it-yourself projects are popular with crafters. Creating your own ideas gives you the opportunity to develop your interpretation of your own original project. Making a purse from fabric and developing your own pattern can be a rewarding experience. You can design and develop your inspiration as well as create and construct the final product. By making a simple pattern, you will be able to make different variations of fabric purses.
Things You'll Need
- Fabric, approximately 3/4-yard, such as medium weight 100 percent cotton printed jersey
- Interfacing: fusible fleece-approximately 3/4-yard
- Lining: 3/4 yard, such as satin or taffeta
- Trim: such as a magnetic purse snaps
- Paper pattern
- Ruler/penicl
- French curve (optional)
- Pre-made pattern (optional)
- Scissors
- Tailor's chalk
- Thread
- Sewing machine
Instructions
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Drafting Your Fabric Purse Pattern
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1
Design and sketch your fabric purse. Your sketch will be referred to during pattern making as well as construction. If you are not working with a pre-made pattern, keep in mind that the more complex your design, the more challenging your pattern will be to draft.
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2
Select your fabric, lining and trim. Your fabric weight will influence your construction as well as lining, fusible type and trim. For example, designing a leather purse will require you to work with leather hides and leather tools, such as a leather awl, knife and shears. Making a cotton purse can be easily constructed with basic sewing tools such as your sewing machine and thread.
You can opt to use a medium weight printed cotton jersey and an interfacing fusible fleece to make your purse have body and shape. You can also opt to use a satin or taffeta lining.
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3
Draft your paper pattern. Refer to your design in order to draft your pattern. Generally, your pattern will consist of a front and back panel, one strap, two side panels and a bottom panel. Your side and bottom panel's width will dictate how much room your purse will have once fully constructed. You can opt to use a French curve ruler for your shaped corners.
For example, for a simple basic fabric purse draft a pattern meauring 14 1/2-inches in width and 9 1/2-inches in length. Your side and bottom panels will be 4 1/2-inches in depth. You can draft a short strap measuring 2 inches in width by 21 inches in length. Use the same strap pattern for it's facing. Follow these same specs for your lining and interfacing.
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4
Spread your paper pattern onto your fabric and pin in order to prevent your fabric from shifting. Cut your fabric parts, interfacing and lining. Do not remove your pins until you are ready to iron your interfacing and construct your purse. Cut interfacing for your straps as well as your straps' facing. Mark your front and back lining panels with tailor's chalk for your snap's placement.
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5
Iron your interfacing individually to each of your purse's fabric parts and straps. You can opt to pin your parts again. Try your purse on over your shoulder and check your strap length. Make any necessary adjustments prior to stitching.
Making A Basic Fabric Purse
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Pin your front and back panels to your side panels and straight stitch. Repeat with your lining and stitch. Once the front, back and side panels are stitched, pin your bottom panel to your purse's shell and lining separately. You can opt to add a reverse stitch to your purse's shell and lining corners to secure. Do not attach your shell to your lining until these parts are fully constructed separately.
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7
Reverse your lining and insert it into your shell. Your purse will have an opening for entry. The edges will appear raw, which is a term used for an unfinished hem or seam.
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8
Turn the raw edges inwards to form a hem. It is best to iron the edges flat. Pin the two shells together along with your strap. Stitch all your parts together carefully.
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9
Attach your magnetic snap for closure inside of your purse. Read the manufacturer's directions. Your fabric purse is complete.
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Tips & Warnings
It is best to purchase a pre-made pattern which resembles your design. You can trace your original pattern and keep it for future reference. Alter the copy according to your design.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit faschion image by Ogis from Fotolia.com
