Create a Cute Handbag

here's the "pattern" you can use. you can just cut it... you can edit the pattern and shapes in anyway you like but make sure you dont mess up the bullets. this one happens to be 8" high. you will cut 2 with the interior fabric and 2 with the exterior fabric.

you then have the body of the purse..interior and exterior...and then you have 2 pieces to create the strap for your shoulder at the bottom of the picture.

you will sandwich the zipper between one zipper piece of each the interior and exterior. make sure the top of the zipper (outside face) faces the good side of the exterior fabric.. you may want to unzip the zipper to make this process easier. oh and cut the zipper to the length that you want for the opening. make sure to sew at the end of where you cut so that if you accidently unzip it all the way..you dont waste an entirely good zipper...this has happened to me... the shorter the zipper the smaller and scrunchier the purse.. my zipper is about 12".


this is what it will look like once you finish both sides and both interior and exterior. this picture shows only the interior side



then take one of the interior body pieces and pin in place with pleats. i start from the middle of each piece (zipper piece and interior body) and pin them to keep them centered...then i pleat and pin..space them accordingly so that once you reach the end where it curves that it will line up with the end of your zipper piece. which by the way...the zipper piece should be just a tad longer on either side of the length of your zipper.


do this to both interior body sides.



now you want to put the good sides of the interior body pieces together and sew them...like so. make sure you leave a space..this is where you will turn your purse inside out at the end.



now you will do the same to the exterior fabric. pin and pleat and sew.



open it up and face the good sides of the exterior together and sew..this time don't leave a space like the interior pieces. unzip the purse more than half way so it's easier to turn inside out.



now where you left the space...turn the entire purse inside out.


and this is what you get when you turn your purse exterior side outside. you will have holes on either side of the purse unfinished for your strap.



put one side of your strap in the hole and turn this portion of the purse inside out so you can sew it easier.



the other side will be split open so it will be a little more tough. sew in place like the picture.



and basically wrap your purse around the strap and sew. make sure the zipper ends are lined up and close to eachother.



...... and TA-DA!!! that's it! it took me about 4 patterns to get this right. this purse took me about 3 hours to make. i added embellishments. i recommend doing that before you sew the exterior body pieces together. i also added a pocket. here are some finished pics.

thanks for looking. -------------------------------------------------------------------- here's my new one. the request was for it to be silver and yellow...so this is what i came up with...

AND WE'RE DONE