Making a Purse

The other day I was browsing in a Walmart that still has a fabric section and came across some wonderful navy, green, and taupe upholstery material, so I decided to make myself a purse for Christmas.

It is really fairly simple. You cut 2 pieces of fabric 15 x 17” for the outside, 2 pieces of lining fabric 14 ½ x 16 ½”, and 1 piece of lining fabric 6 ½ x 16 ½” for the pockets. If the lining fabric isn’t thick enough, you should double it. You will also need 1 yd. of webbing for the handles and a piece of 4 ½ x 11 ½” cardboard or plastic with rounded corners for the bottom of the purse.

First, attach the front to the back of the purse, sewing the sides first and then the bottom. Pinch the bottom corners so that the bottom seam of the purse meets the side seam. Sew across 4” to make a squared corner and do the same on the other side. Trim off the triangles. Serge or zigzag around the top of the purse, turn, and insert cardboard in the bottom.

Finish the top and bottom of the pocket piece (serge or turn and topstitch). Pin this piece onto one of the larger lining pieces, 2 1/2” from the top, and sew vertical lines to make the pockets whatever size you want them to be. Sew along the bottom of the pocket piece too.

Pin lining pieces together, pockets inside, and attach front to back, sewing the sides and then the bottom. Make corner seams, just like you did for the outside of the purse, and trim off the triangles.

Place the lining inside of the purse, wrong sides together, with the cardboard between the lining and the purse. Turn the edges under and pin the top of the lining to the top of the purse fabric. I always place the lining a little further down than the purse fabric (I don’t make them exactly even at the top). Cut the handles 18” long and insert them 4 ½” from the sides. Stitch, reinforcing the handles as you do. If you want to, you can sew on about 2” of Velcro to close the purse. You can also add trim around the top.

Here is a purse I made a while ago that has trim around the top: