Oh the joys of sewing fashion accessories for fun. With just the basic how to’s of sewing you can make a bag to coordinate with any and all outfits you wish to have. That’s correct. Knowing how to make a purse unlocks the door to a special creative flow and puts you in an enviable place to create all the custom fashion accessories you dare to dream of.
If you don’t yet know how to sew, it is quite simple; you can even teach yourself the basics by reading sewing tutorials or taking advantage of the many learn to sew programs available on and off-line. But if your level of expertise is above average then you can choose an even more difficult sewing project with patterns complete with all the bells and whistles for making astounding purses.
In any event as long as you are able to read, you can learn and if you can learn then surely you can create. So here’s what to do. Find yourself a pattern for your “must have” handbag. If it seems to be a bit challenging to make, then start with an easier design until your skill and confidence are ready for a higher level of difficulty. With a little practice and after a few small bags you’ll be on your way to much grander designs. In the mean-time, take it slowly so that you will enjoy the process.
Take a look at all of your store-bought bags. Turn them inside out to see how they were sewn and what hardware was used, if any. Check out the straps, see what are they made of. Do you like the closure or would you prefer to see something else on the bag? Perhaps the closure is great but maybe you will need to add a few safety measures like interior magnetic snaps for privacy.
What do you wish you favorite purse had… was it more pockets on the inside or outside or perhaps both? Does the bottom of your purse get scuffed when you set it down or does it sag when you carry all your items except the kitchen sink in it? Then think solutions before you get started on your sewing a purse mission. The solutions may be easy and standard like installing purse feet on your bag and putting a base in the bottom of your purse.
A good purse designer is also a great problem solver. In design school, students are told that “form follows function”. Establish the purpose of your purse and then back-up to create the beauty around it. It’s absolutely pointless to have a beautiful purse that can’t hold anything and won’t serve any useful purpose.
So here are a few things to consider when you are going to make bags.
1. Is it for work or the beach?
2. Is it a for casual or formal use?
3. What materials would you like it to be made from?
4. Do you need it to fit your make-up kit and large hairbrush or just lipstick, keys and a cell phone?
5. Does it need to coordinate with any outfit or shoe in particular?
6. Should your purse be soft or firm bodied?
7. How much money do you want to invest in making the purse?
8. What kind of lining should it have if any?
9. How much time are you willing to invest on creating your purse?
10. Is it for personal use or for sale?
These questions may not seem very important until you’re ready to use the purse. It’s at that point you find that your hairbrush, your glasses along with your husband’s keys, his and your cell phones and some of what the kids want you to carry for them too just won’t fit. In this case you will probably need to construct a larger bag, perhaps a tote with a strong canvas-like fabric. Now if your occasion calls for you to be footloose and fancy free then you might wish to make a clutch purse. These can be pretty snazzy especially if it’s made with custom painted fabrics.
Whatever you choose to make, take your time and make it well. Ensure that the seams are properly stitched and your presentation is top-notch. Just because your purse is home-made doesn’t mean it should to look thrown together. Set high standards and begin creating your totally awesome collection of custom sewn purses today.