Have you ever wanted to make something but couldn’t find the right pattern? Today’s post will show you how to hack a handbag pattern so you can create the exact type of bag you want.
This happens to me a lot. I see something I want to make and I search high and low and cannot find a pattern to replicate it. It’s very frustrating. Or I find the pattern I’m looking for, and it turns out to be much more complicated that it should be. I consider myself an intermediate sewer, but I shouldn’t need an advanced degree just to decipher a sewing pattern. I find this to be the case with vintage sewing patterns. Sometimes they are very complicated or use outdated techniques. As a result, you need to get creative and make some adjustments. Whether it’s with the size, shape, closure, or strap, most patterns can be adjusted to fit your needs.
I have learned there are two types of people who sew. Those who like patterns and those who don’t. I am most definitely the former. I like having the directions and pattern pieces all in one neat little package. Sewing can be time consuming enough without having to create a pattern on top of sewing a garment. The great thing about using a pattern is that you get the basic design of something, whether it’s a bag or an item of clothing, and you can then make changes. That is what I did when I made this pink bouclé bag.
Fabric
I bought this pink bouclé fabric at a second-hand store in Western NY when I was visiting my family over the summer. I’m sure you know what bouclé is but never knew what is was called. I didn’t until I learned to sew. Bouclé is a woven fabric made of looped curly yarns. Think Coco Chanel. It looks like messy woven tweed or wool fabric. It’s a medium weight, and has a tendency to fray very easily.
According to this article from Elle magazine “Her use of the now legendary fabric was not only inspired by menswear, but by a man—and a Duke no less. After borrowing sportswear from her beau, the Duke of Westminster, Chanel realized the comfortable, supple fabric had a sophisticated quality that would lend itself well to her designs.” You can read the entire article here.
I paid about $20 for at least 4 yards. I’m going to attempt a Chanel inspired jacket at some point this winter so keep an eye out for that.
How to Hack a Handbag Pattern
I found this vintage Butterick 3264 handbag pattern on Etsy. As you can see in the photo this pattern has seen a lot of use. It’s great when I find vintage patterns and the previous owners have made notes and scribbles on it. It decreases the overall value of the pattern but it makes me so curious as to know who owned it and what they might have made. I also love how the envelope says you can “make a wardrobe of bags”. The manufacturer definitely had me mind when they created it. What girl doesn’t want a wardrobe of bags?
Closure
I followed the pattern in making the body of the bag. I opted for the largest size bag because I carry a lot of stuff around. The closure and the strap are where I made my changes. I didn’t love the rubber band/button closure so I used a brass flip lock I bought from this Etsy shop. I don’t think they still have this exact lock, but they have a lot of other great options. Remember, when you add a lock like this, it needs to be attached before you sew up the lining of the bag. Otherwise you will see the back of the hardware on the inside of the bag, and it’s not pretty. If you have never used one of these before that’s okay. It’s not difficult to attach. You just need to figure out exactly where you want the clasp to go before you cut the bag. Here is a great tutorial on how to do this.
Strap
Once I attached the lock, I needed to figure out the handle. The pattern tells you create the handle using cording, wrap it with fabric and sew it to the top of the bag. I didn’t love that option and it seems like a lot of extra work. Instead, I wanted a chain strap, similar to what you see on Chanel bags. I had purchased this strap on Etsy. I apologize, I can’t seem to find the exact shop I bought it from, but if you search chain strap on Etsy you will find a lot of other options.
Then, I decided to put two grommets on the top of the bag and attach the chain using OT toggle clasps. Attach the toggle clasps with a jump ring and add chain. Don’t be concerned if you have never used grommets before. They are very easy to install. You can watch this YouTube video to learn how. I used them on the summer tote bag I made here. They are a great way to attach bag straps without having to sew them to the bag, and the strap options are endless. I have used ribbon, rope and now chain to create bag straps. Grommets are a very useful option.
Here is what it looks like from the inside.
So, there you have it. I hope some of these tips will help you in your future projects. I’ll be sharing more pattern hacks soon so stay tuned for those.
As always, if you prefer to shop instead of make something like this, you can shop similar items below. Most of them are reasonably priced, but I did throw in one original Chanel bag just for fun!
Thanks for reading. Happy Monday!