Homemade Handbag Patterns

To make a handbag, or any homemade sewn item, first you need a pattern or a pre-made template. Making your own handbag is rewarding because you can personalize it, get the design you want, and you get to show off your creativity. The pattern you need depends on the shape and size of the handbag that you want to make.

Handbag Pattern One

This pattern consists of two different kinds of fabric which will make up the outside and the inner lining of the handbag. Choose an outer fabric that is a little sturdier than the fabric you will use for your inner lining, and make sure the colors of the two fabrics match. Good outer materials you could use are denim, corduroy or heavy cotton. To make your pattern that you can use multiple times, you will need a piece of poster board, a pair of scissors and a ruler.

First, measure and trace a shape that is 11 inches wide and 6 inches high. This will be the front and back outer pieces of your handbag. Then you will measure and trace a shape that is 4 inches wide and 8 3/4 inches long for the top hem of the front and back pieces. For loops that you would attach rings to for the straps, trace a piece that is 2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. You will use these pieces to trace your outer material.

For the inner lining, trace a shape that is 8 inches wide by 8 3/4 inches tall for the front and back panels. You also can include inner pockets that are squares of varying sizes, but this is optional.

Cut out all of these shapes and label them so you know which piece is which. When you trace and cut out your fabric, trace two pieces of material per shape.

Handbag Pattern Two

This pattern will give you a handbag with a flat bottom and a rounded top. You can change the shape of the top of the bag as you wish.

Start by tracing a rectangle that is 12 inches wide and 23 inches long on a piece of poster board. Use a ruler to measure 11 inches down the long part of the rectangle and make a mark. Measure another 2 inches from that mark and make another mark. Trace a line across the width of the rectangle from those two marks. This 2-inch strip in the middle will be the bottom of your handbag, so cut this piece out. You also need a shape that is 11 inches tall and 2 inches wide for the side panels. You will need two pieces of fabric for each shape, but only one for the bottom. If you want to create a lining for this handbag, you will need to double that.

References

• Cut Out and Keep: Skull Bag Pattern
• Henrietta's Handbags: Cafe Latte Bag Pattern

Resources

• Free Craft Ideas for Handbag Patterns