Hip Handbags to Make

Metallic Pleated Handbag

A metallic handbag can match almost any outfit and is fairly easy to make. Any metallic fabric can be used in this project (though vinyl is recommended) and most are rather inexpensive. Pick out thread and handles that match. Start your purse by folding the material so that the metal side is inside the bag. Sew up the sides and pinch small amounts of fabric into the bag. Hem these pinches into the bag to create pleats on the inside. Neaten up the upper hem of the bag and sew on the handles. For a more aesthetic look, add a silk liner and exterior decals.

If you have an antique bag that has become outdated, you can reinvent the bag by painting designs onto the leather. Tooled leather bags work best for this, as they will make the fabric paint pop off the bag. Once you have your design painted onto the bag and it has dried, cover the purse in a water-based varnish to prevent cracking or fading. For additional personalization, add fabric flower pins or rhinestone decals. Costume jewelry or outdated metal chains can also be used to replace the chain.

If you do not have a sewing machine, you could create a soft and stylish handbag using an Ultrasuede material. Cut out a large rectangle from the fabric and use heated bonding paper to seal together the sides that are not soft. After the purse has cooled, remove the paper. Cut out another rectangle and lay it on top of the bonded rectangle with the soft side up. Seal them together with a flat iron and a press cloth. Use a utility knife on the lengthwise edge to create slits every 1 inch, and thread a 17-inch strip through the slits. Pull to gather and attach the ends to the handles.

Duct tape purses are stylish, colorful and easy to create. Layer two strips of duct tape on top of one another so that the sticky sides fuse together. Create a dozen of these strips (or more if you want a larger purse) and create a fabric out of them by adding yet more duct tape to the seams. Once a fair amount of fabric is created, fold it in half to create a rectangle and tape the sides together. Use a complementary color of tape to create the handles.