How to Make Fabulous Purses and Totes for a Bag Boutique

Turn your love of handbags into cash by making your own purse.

Many women dream of becoming handbag designers. Whether it was playing dress up and accessorizing with mom's tote bag as a little girl or searching for the perfect clutch as an adult and heading out for a night on the town, fabulous purses are an important part of any fashionista's wardrobe. If you want to take your affinity for handbags to the professional level, making your own purses and totes to sell in a handbag boutique can be accomplished in a few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine
• Appliques, snaps or other add-ons (optional)
• Fabric
• Handbag pattern

Instructions

1. Decide what type of handbag you would like to make, using your sewing machine. If this is your first attempt at making a handbag, opt to make a simple tote bag without any appliques or detailing. The simplest totes have only two pieces of fabric to sew: the bag itself and the handle.

2. Choose a handbag pattern based on the style of handbag you like. You have two options when you choose a pattern: 1) you may download one from the Internet; or 2) you can head to your local craft store to purchase a pattern. In contrast to a pattern that you download from a Web site, the pattern from your local craft store will contain pattern paper that is significantly easier to use with fabric.

3. Determine how much fabric you will need for your handbag, according to your chosen pattern specifications. Select an attractive and functional fabric; purchase enough yardage in that particular fabric. The type of fabric you choose will define and perhaps alter the look of your handbag dramatically. A thicker fabric gives a sturdier look, whereas a dressier fabric like velvet or silk gives the purse a more refined and elegant look. To make your handbag look sturdier as well as to give it more support, you have the option to line it, using a thicker interfacing.

4. Open your pattern and cut out all pieces of the pattern paper along the dotted lines. Lay out your fabric, with right sides and selvages together, on a flat surface. Pin the pattern pieces to the wrong side of the material; cut the material following the shape of each pattern piece.

5. Sew the material together, according to instructions on the pattern. Keep in mind that you will be sewing your handbag inside out and then turning it right-side in, when you have finished this project. A handy idea that will allow you to close your handbag without sewing a zipper is to sew a metal magnetic clasp about two inches deep to the interior of your handbag.

6. Cut off any extra material around the interior seams of the handbag --- to avoid bulkiness --- and turn it right-side in. Place a few items in the bag to test the sturdiness of your handbag. Make a few more designs; exercise your artistic flair by experimenting with appliques, sequins and jewels or beads; and present these samples to boutiques to see if they are interested in selling your creative products. You have just become a handbag designer!

References

• Lovetosew.com: Sewing Bags, Purses & Pocketbooks
• Thriftyfun.com: Making Fabric Stronger for Purses
• Allcrafts.net: Basic Purse Tutorial