Making Handbags with new and recycled materials

Making Handbags
Retro, Chic, Luxurious
Ellen Goldstein-Lynch, Sarah Mullins, Nicole Malone

Handbags are the ultimate fashion accessory-they can pull an outfit together, suggest a mood, or serve a range of practical functions from workplace tote to weekend travel bag. And in a fashion environment where color and originality reign, the style possibilities are endless.

Making Handbags shows readers how they can create affordable, designer-quality handbags right in their own homes-even if they've never sewn a stitch. Using just four master patterns, readers learn to alter fabrications and embellishments to make everything from vintage styles to fun and trendy beaded bags, and from faux fur to fringed bags.

Each bag takes cues from major fashion houses, highlighting the best styles from recent decades. Complete with shortcuts, tips, and secrets from the Accessories Design staff at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, this smart guide can turn any reader into a do-it-yourself fashion designer.

Ellen Goldstein-Lynch is the Chairperson of the Accessories Design Department of at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York. She is an authority on handbags and accessories and been featured on national television and in print.

Sarah Mullins is a graduate and faculty member of the Accessories Design Department at the FIT in New York. Sarah has her own line of unique handbags and her passion is experimenting with different combinations of materials in her designs.

Nicole Malone has worked for various handbag and fashion designers and produces her own line of handbags and belts under the name "Stargon Accessories." She is a graduate of, and an instructor at, the Accessories Design Program at the FIT in New York.

This book is simply packed full of great designs! Not only is it a major source for inspiration it has 4 pullout master patterns for making more than 36 designs!

(Click on image to enlarge)

This is the super cute purse that was my inspiration for the purse I made.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, the handle may look familiar to you, if not click here to see what else I did with this motorcycle part. If you want to be a regular reader but forget to pop by here, then subscribe and it will be delivered to you! (top right)

So off the the denim stash and I pulled out this skirt. The detail that caught my eye was the backside dart. I opened the side seams.

I then cut the skirt down to a trapezoid shape.

I then sewed up the side and bottom and then sewed about a two inch cross stitch on each side end to make a flat bottom. I then seam ripped the belt loops on the bottom end and linked the handle in the loop and stitched it back on with orange heavy duty denim thread.

Then, as a child of the 80's my button stash was raided to embellish on side of this cute little purse. Then I linked up some chain just to give it a bit more of a "punk rock look"

That's one of the really cool things about working with denim, if hardware isn't your thing, try flowers or embroidery or paint! It all works great.