How to Make a Purse

One of the most important and must have accessories for any women's wardrobe is a purse. Most women have more than 4 to 5 different styles of purses that can be worn with particular outfits. I too love purses, especially a clutch that can be coordinated with different apparel. Women can never have too many purses and most women would like to add some more to their collection. However purses do not come cheap and you have to shell a lot of money to get the most coveted one. When you do not want to waste your money in designer bags and purses, making your own purse makes sense. All you need is a bit of creativity, attention to details and the right materials and supplies. You can even use simple household materials to make a purse or handmade handbags for yourself.

Making a Purse Out of Jeans

Things Required

• Old jeans
• Beaded fringe
• Lace trimmings
• Fabric glue
• Buttons
• Colorful sequins
• A pair of scissors
• Needle
• Black thread

Procedure

With the help of a pair of sharp scissors, cut around the back pocket, keeping the seams intact. Cut another square inch of fabric from the thigh area of the jeans. Also cut the side seams around the leg, to make the strap of the jeans purse. With the square piece of fabric that you had cut from the thigh area, fashion a flap for your purse and sew it to the top edge of the pocket.

Next attach the bead trimming to the bottom edge of the pocket/purse to make it look more attractive. You can glue this to the purse with a bit of fabric glue. Now sew the strap for the purse and attach individual sequins on one side of the purse. Stitch the button on the top edge of the purse and make a buttonhole on the flap of the purse. Your jeans purse is ready for use and it looks like a cute messenger bag.

Making a Purse Out of a Shirt

Things Required

• 1 patterned or plain shirt
• A pair of scissors
• 1 meter fancy cord (like those used for tying curtains)
• 1 meter satin ribbon
• lace trimmings
• Needle
• Matching thread

Procedure

To make this tote bag, place the shirt inside out on your work table and gently open up the seams of the sleeves. Remove the sleeves and sew it up so that the shirt looks like a square. Cut the shirt along the collar, so that the top portion is in one straight line. Next remove all the buttons of the shirt and sew it up with the needle and thread. Sew the bottom edge of the shirt in a similar way. Now add the trimmings to the bottom of the shirt with the help of fabric glue. Also attach ribbons and lace in a crisscross fashion. With the scissors, make ½ inch round holes on the top portion of the shirt at 2 inch intervals. Next take the chord and push it inside the round openings that you have just made. Pull the chord around the adjacent opening and thread the chord slowly until you come to the last opening. Pull the chords from both sides to close the purse. Your drawstring shirt purse is ready to be used. This is one of the easiest and simplest drawstring bag patterns.

How to Make an Envelope Purse

Things Required

• 18 x 6 inch plain fabric
• 18 X6 inch patterned fabric
• 1 large button
• Needle
• Black thread
• Fabric glue

Procedure

Sew the patterned fabric over the plain fabric neatly. Now place the rectangular piece of fabric in front of you with the patterned piece facing towards you. Next fold the fabric, leaving at least 4 inches at the top. This 4 inch fabric will act as the flap for the purse. Attach the edges of the folded fabric with fabric glue neatly and remove excess glue with a wet sponge. Make a buttonhole on the flap of the envelope purse to fasten the purse. You can use this pretty envelope purse to hold coins and small change. By varying the measurement of this purse, you can make it into a handmade fabric handbag.

You can make a lot of beautiful purses at home with common household materials. The best thing about making a purse is that it is unique and one of a kind. You can even make duct tape purse, crochet purse and a sewing purse in almost the same manner as described above.