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. They are used either to accessorize an outfit or to carry particular items.

How about 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 over the shoulder bag can be very easy to fabricate. Sizes from 8×12 up to perhaps 1 foot by 2 feet can be practical. Any larger and it becomes to cumbersome. 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 buy the materials separately and create your own design. 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. Line the bag with suitable material if you are likely to be carrying damp or small items

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. with a little pre-planning you could make this part of your pattern and attach it with the rug 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. Alternately you could use a leather belt fixed by the buckle and by the holes at the other end.  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.
To make smaller womens handbags requires much more delicate materials than larger one. You could make a smaller version of the previous one by using a tapestry kit rather than a rug kit. 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, starch it, so that its really stiff of use two layers and place cardboard between then cover the whole with sequins and/ or coloured beads so that it shines in the dark.

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 give that put-together look and certainly get some attention.

outlandish womens handbags

You could also consider using fruit or animal shapes or even geometric designs. make a full-size paper pattern first. Then copy it onto stiff card to make two copies. Next place the card on your material and cut out four shapes slightly larger than the card. Now place a piece of material each side of a card and sew around the edge. Repeat the process with the other side. Next, sew the pieces of material together. The seams need to be really strong,double stitching would be advisable, hence the extra size of material. There are many ways to close the top as with the large bag. Depending on your abilities, you can use a zip, velcro,buttons or clasps. Remember, if you are making straps for your bag (either to carry on your shoulder, or on your arm, then these need to be strong enough to bear the weight they are going to be carrying. You can use the same techniques as for the large bag, but you may need to strengthen or use multiple layers if using the same material.

It can be great fun making your own womens handbags. Let your imagination run wild and see what you can come up with. If it goes wrong, it won’t have cost you much