Handmade Purse Tutorial

Finding a purse that perfectly fits your taste is difficult and expensive, but making one is fun, easy and cheap. Although you have to spend some time in sewing the perfect handmade pouch, the long wait is worthwhile.

Before starting your handmade pouch, a few things must come first. Find the right fabric for the handmade purse. The fabric should be strong enough to carry the weight of the items inside. If you will use the handmade pouch for shopping, then you must look for a strong fabric. If you are making several pouches, buy a lot of fabric. You can make great savings when you buy your fabrics at thrift stores or yard sales. You can also recycle materials in making your handmade pouch, like an old pair of jeans and your favorite t-shirt. Nowadays, handmade pouches are made from sacks, tetra packs and other recycled materials. More so envision, the design of the handmade purse, better yet put it in writing so that you will not forget or loss a thing.

After planning, it is now time to gather your materials. Aside from the fabric, you will also the need the following for your handmade pouch: thread, needles, scissors and sewing machine. For these DIY instructions, we will make a handmade purse from an old pair of jeans. For a smaller handmade pouch, a child's jeans will be used while for a bigger purse, an adult size jean will be used.

Step 1: Lay the jeans on a flat surface and cut the legs off in line with the crotch.

Step 2: Cut a 3-inch by 17-inch strip in one of the legs. This will serve as the handle of the handmade pouch. The length will vary depending on who will use the handmade purse.

Step 3: Fold the strip in half, with the right side facing each other and sew the edges together all the way through, with a ½-inch seam. Turn the right side out, and then iron it with the seam at the center.

Step 4: Get the top portion of the jeans and turn it inside out. Position it with the pockets away from where you will sew the handle. Align the bottom edges and secure it with pins. Make zigzag stitches along the seam edges leaving ½" seam so that the jean will not ravel.

Step 5: Turn the handmade purse right side out. Pin the handle to the sides and stitch them in place. You can also use a velcro inside the top of the handmade purse for closure.

Step 6: Add ruffles to the bottom of the handmade purse or to the handle. You can also add other embellishments like beads or draw arts with fabric marker.

Making a purse is a simple and rewarding way to acquire a purse that fits one's personal style and budget.

MadeItMyself is a rapidly growing, unique and fun artisan online marketplace that lets you post your handmade creations and share them with the rest of the world.