Womens Handbags – Can You Make Your Own

Womens handbags were traditionally, rather small and made of leather or similar materials. Back in the 50s and 60s the popular handbags and cutting edge designs were the clutch handbags and the envelope handbags. Times have changed and womens handbags are now almost any size and shape and made of almost any materials. Modern handbags as well as being used to carry items, are also often just used to accessorize an outfit.

Have you ever thought of making your own handbag. It is relatively straightforward to make a handbag from various materials, even if you are not particularly good at sewing. Try some of these suggestions.

A larger handbag design

If you sometimes need to carry a number of bulky items as well as you purse, then you need a larger bag you can carry on your shoulder.The classic shoulder bag can be very easy to fabricate. Sizes from 8×12 up to perhaps 1 foot by 2 feet can be practical. They become unmanageable if any larger than that. Rug making materials can be used to make a very useful personal style handbag. Either buy one of the kits which come complete with canvas, wool and the needle or Design your own pattern and buy canvas and wool separartely. Then proceed as if you were making a small floor rug. When it is finished, fold is in half and oversew the seams, using matching wool. If you are going to be using the bag for delecate or damp items, you could line it with appropriate material

You can either leave the top open or if you want a closing top, use a zip or velcro.  You will also need a matching handle to finish off. Options for handles are limited only by your imagination. You could use a long strip of the rug canvass to make the handle, fixing it by tying it onto the canvass while making the knots.  You could use plaited wool and sew or tie it to the bag. Make sure it is two or three rows down the stitches so that it does not pull the canvass apart. Another option would be to attach a leather belt by its buckle.  Students with lots of books to carry or mothers with all those baby necessities would find this type of bag very useful. – It is also ideal for those women who have to carry everything except the kitchen sink, just in case!

A smaller handbag design

Making your own smaller handbag design will guarantee that you have a unique handcrafted handbag.
More delicate materials and greater skill is required when making smaller bags. Try making one from tapestry in the same way as above but on a smaller scale. You can choose your picture and colours to compliment your favourite outfit.
For an evening womens handbag use a piece of strong material either in black or white, Stiffen it by sandwiching with card or simply starching then make it really stand out by covering the whole thing with beads or sequins.

There are a whole raft of choices if you make other clothes. Make a handbag with the same material you use for a skirt or top. It will certainly draw attention and will give that ‘put together’ look.

Funky womens handbags

You could also consider using fruit or animal shapes or even geometric designs. First draw your shape on a piece of paper in the size you want it. Then copy it onto stiff card to make two copies. Using the card as a template cut four pieces of material slightly large than the card. Now place a piece of material each side of a card and sew around the edge. Do that again for the second side. Next, sew the pieces of material together. The seams need to be really strong,double stitching would be advisable, The material was made oversoze to accomocate that. There are many ways to close the top as with the large bag. a zip, velcro, buttons (if you are confident of making buttonholes) or press studs. Ensure that there is sufficient strength to carry the likely weight of contents when you design and make the handle(s). You can use the same material, just make sure it is either strengthened or use a number of layers to give it extra strength.

Making your own womens handbag can be great fun. See what you can come up with from your imagination. If it fails, throw it away and go and buy one!