When I saw the small bag in this ad, I thought of the tutorial here called "Classy pleated iridescent clutch"
I made this bag for my sister for Christmas based on the inspirations.
The stiffening I used was artist canvas that had been coated with Gesso...it was great to work with - easy to cut and stitch.
***Handbag Tutorial****
Materials: Fabric for Bag
Lining
Interfacing (I used artists canvas that was Gesso covered)
Zipper for inside pockets
Magnetic snap
Handle hardware – hooks and D-rings
Decorative buttons
Chain and Charms
Cut a rectangular piece for body of the bag. The width of the piece will be the width of the bag plus seam allowance (my bag was about 9 inches wide) and the length of the piece is twice the height of the bag. I cut a piece about 11 inches long and then trimmed off the excess during assembly once I determined the height I wanted.
Fold four deep pleats in each end of the length of the piece. Ensure that the pleats are even. Baste across.
Fold in half with right sides together. Sew side seams. You may want to curve the seam toward the fold.
Using the bag body as a pattern, cut lining and interfacing. (Because of the deep pleats on the outer bag, I chose to make the lining and interfacing different than the outer bag.)
Sew the bottom of the Interfacing and then open the seam and press and the stitch each side down. Then sew up the side seams.
Make pockets in lining – with or without zippers. Remember to sew in your label if you have one.
Sew lining together with right sides together.
Put the lining inside the interfacing and then inside the bag and check for proportions. Make any adjustments to the height. Cut the interfacing down to the exact height of the bag. Cut the outer body and lining to allow a seam allowance for finishing the top of the body.
Flap:
Make a paper pattern for the flap and test it on the bag. Find the centre of the front of the bag a look for markings that need to aligned (e.g. stripes). Determine the length of the flap to be attached to the back of the outer body – allow for additional length once the bag has contents. Cut two of fabric – remember seam allowance. Cut one piece of interfacing without seam allowance. Sew the fabric pieces with right sides together and turn and press. Insert the interfacing.
Make the tab for the flap: Cut a piece of interfacing the width of the tab and about 2 inches longer than the flap. Round the tip. Cut 2 pieces of fabric with seam allowance. Attach the male side of the snap to one piece of the tab plus the interfacing – through the interfacing. With right sides of the tab fabric together, sew the side seams, using the interfacing as a guide. Turn.
Attach the tab to the flap using topstitching through all thicknesses. Finish the back edge of the flap. I used a piece of double folded bias tape, but could have turned the edges in and hand sewn along.
Take the lining and interfacing out of the bag body. Attach the flap to the body of the bag and reinforce the stitching.
Check the placement of the female side of the snap and attach. I used a scrap piece of interfacing behind for reinforcement.
Reinsert the Interfacing and Lining and finish the top edge.
Make the Handle. Cut interfacing the desired length of the handle plus an allowance for folding over the hardware. The width of the D rings. Cut the fabric twice the width of the interfacing plus a seam allowance. Make the centre seam and turn. Insert the interfacing. Top stitch the sides of the handle to keep the interfacing in place. Finish the ends. Attach the hardware to each end.
Make a tab for the D- rings using the fabric. If your fabric is sturdy interfacing may be unnecessary. Attach to bag body and stitch securely.
Attach your decorations. I used a series of similar metal buttons. The dangle was made from varying lengths of chain with charms on each end (from Walmart). I used a ring to loop them together. I made a small tab from fabric and sewed the tab to the flap and attached a button on top.
Whew – sounds like a lot of steps but it was actually very quickly made. (This tutorial took longer to make!!)
