How to Sew Handmade Handbags

Make your own fabric purse to reflect your fun, creative side.

When the right handbag is impossible to find, it may be easier to make one to match your mood, personality or style. There are unlimited patterns, colors and fabrics available to create a fun purse. With just a yard of fabric, matching thread and minimal sewing skills, you can create a homemade bag in time to run daily errands or to head to the beach. This simple pattern adjusts easily for a larger or smaller bag to fit your needs.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 yard patterned fabric
• 1/2 yard solid lining fabric
• Thread
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Straight pins
• Tape measure
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Iron

Instructions

Making the Bag

1. Measure, mark and cut two rectangles 15 inches high by 18 inches wide from the patterned fabric for the outside of the handbag. Cut identical rectangles from the solid fabric for the lining. Leave enough fabric to cut the straps later.

2. Pin together the right (brighter) sides of the patterned fabric facing each other. Sew a seam 1/2 inch around the two 15-inch sides and one 18-inch side. The open side will be the top.

3. Turn fabric right side out and press to flatten seam, now inside the purse. Press down 1/2 inch along the open edge without sewing. Follow the same steps for the lining, but don't turn the right side out.

4. Place the solid lining wrong side out into the patterned bag so the wrong (duller) sides and the seams of the fabrics are touching.

Making the Handles

1. Measure, mark, and cut two strips 2 inches high by 18 inches wide from either the patterned or the solid fabric for the straps. You will have two pieces in the fabric you chose to make into straps.

2. Fold down and iron a 1/4-inch seam on the 18-inch edge of the two handle pieces. Fold the handles in half lengthwise, line up the 1/4 folds and sew a 1/8-inch seam along the long edges. The short ends are open.

3. Place 1 inch of the short ends of the straps between the outside fabric and bag lining, approximately 3 inches from sides of the bag.

4. Topstitch 1/8 inch around the open edge of the bag and sew a second seam 1/4 inch below the first to finish the bag. The bag is complete and ready to use.

Tips & Warnings

• To reinforce the handles, make a backstitch after you stitch over them once and continue to sew forward over the straps again as you continue around.

• Add embellishments or a closure to personalize the handbag.

• Do not tug or pull the material through the sewing machine or it will damage the needle and gears.

References

• Better Home and Gardens: 10 Simple-to-Sew Totes, Purses, and Bags
• Obsessively Stitching: Coin Purse Keychain

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Sew Glamorous: Bags