Getting Started

Useful Tips For Sewing Projects

• Ask the good folks at your fabric or crafts store for advice if you’re unfamiliar with the properties of the fabric that interests you. Tell them what you want to make using the fabric, and ask if they have any advice about sewing with the fabric you’ve chosen. The same applies for interfacings too.
• Prewash all the fabrics you're using that are washable.
• Press the fabric before you cut out the pieces for your handbag.
• Cut all the pieces on the lengthwise grain if possible; crosswise is okay, too, if the amount of your fabric is limited.
• Test dressmaker’s pencils or marking pens on a scrap of your fabric to make sure they don't adversely affect it before using them in earnest..
• Before beginning work, check the tension on your sewing machine by using it on a swatch of your fabric. Make sure you have the needle size right.
• Make a practice “mistake." Some materials don’t leave you any room for error: if you stitch a seam and then have to rip it out, the needle holes remain. Leather, suede, and novelty nonwoven fabrics (like vinyl) fall into this category. Before you sew, it’s a good idea to do a test seam on a scrap and then try to remove it to see how your fabric responds.
• Test all your new techniques on a scrap piece of your fabric before you commit to incorporating them into your handbag.

Skill Level

• Experienced Beginner

Materials

• Pattern for a tote bag
• Polyester taffeta, 1⁄2 yard (46 cm)
• Hair canvas (for the interfacing)
• Cotton lining material, 1⁄2 yard (46 cm)
• Silk organza, 1⁄8 yard (11.5 cm), cut into 24 pieces that are each 2" (5 cm) square, and 24 pieces that are each 1-1⁄2" (3.8 cm) square
• Grosgrain ribbon, 1-3⁄4" (4.5 cm) wide, 1-1⁄2 yards (137 cm) long, cut into 2 pieces that are each 26" (66 cm) long

Tools

• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Needles (machine and hand)
• Pins and pincushion
• Marking tools—water-soluble pens or dressmaker’s pencils
• Turning tools—point turner, bodkin, loop turner
• Measuring tools—tape measure, hem gauge, ruler
• Seam ripper
• Scissors—embroidery scissors, craft scissors, shears
• Iron and ironing board

Pieces to Cut

• Bag—2 of fabric, 2 of lining, 2 of canvas interfacing
• Bottom—1 of fabric, 1 of lining, 1 of canvas interfacing
• Handles—2 pieces, each 26" (66 cm) long

Seam Allowance

• Use 1⁄2" (1.3 cm) seam allowances.