How to Sew a Faux Leather Purse

Faux leather is vegan-friendly and perfect for sewing

Faux leather can be buttery soft, and is vegan-friendly. A pair of thrift store pleather (fake leather) pants can provide a clutch purse purse for you and one for a friend, which makes faux leather environmentally friendly as well.

Things You'll Need

• 1 pair of faux leather pants (makes two purses)
• Cotton fabric for lining
• 1 large button for each purse
• 3 inches of 1/4-inch elastic for each purse
• Thread
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Measuring tape

Instructions

How to Make a Faux Leather Purse

1. Measure 13 inches from the bottom of one leg of the pleather pants and cut straight across. You'll use one 13-inch section of pant leg for each purse, so you could get two smaller and two wider purses from each pair of pants.

2. Double the lining fabric, right sides in, and lay the pant leg on top with one long edge against the fold. Cut around, including a 1/2-inch seam allowance on all three sides.

3. Turn the lining fabric so that the narrower end, which was measured by the ankle of the pants, is the top. With the right sides still facing, sew around the wider edge (which is the bottom of the purse) and the long side, opposite the fold.

4. Turn the pant-leg section inside out. The wider end is the bottom of the purse. Sew the wider end together. Turn the top edge of the narrower end (the top of the purse) under 1/4 inch and sew that hem.

5. Slide the lining into the purse, with the wrong sides of each facing. You should be able to look into the purse and see the right side of the lining. Fold the top of the lining under so that it is even with the top of the purse. Fold the three-inch piece of elastic in half to make a loop. Pin the loop between the lining and the purse in the middle of one side of the top. Sew around the top of the purse, attaching the lining to the faux leather and catching the elastic ends in the seam.

6. Measure three and a half inches from the top and in the center of the front of the purse. Attach the button. To close the purse, fold the top down and slide the elastic around the button.

Tips & Warnings

• Try using a big, bold vintage button for the closure.

• Any type of pants, in any fabric, can be used to make a similar clutch-style purse.

References

• Earth 911: Reuse ideas