Similar to my obsession with palm print, I have an equal love of handbags with bamboo handles. I don’t know what it is, but I find them very stylish. As I mentioned before one of the first things I learned to sew was a clutch. Once I figured out how to make it, I realized it needed a handle. I wanted something other than fabric to make the handle so I ended up grabbing a bamboo bangle I had and used that. Now, I know I didn’t create the wheel here or anything, and handbags with bamboo handles aren’t anything new. What I didn’t know was how interesting the history of the bamboo bag handle really was.
Bamboo Handle Bags – A History Lesson
Gucci was the first design house to come up with the idea of using bamboo for a purse handle. After doing some research, I learned Gucci’s iconic bamboo handle was created in 1947 while Europe was still dealing with the aftermath of WWII. Rationing was still in effect and the design house had to come up with an alternative to its leather bag handle due to the scarcity of leather and metal. They discovered that bamboo was readily available and could be imported from Japan. Gucci patented a method to heat and mold the wood into a curved shape, unbeknownst to anyone at the time, one of the world’s most recognizable and iconic bags was created. You can read more about Gucci’s bamboo handle here and here.
Almost every celebrity and socialite you can imagine has been photographed carrying this celebrated bag, even the late Princess Diana.
This DIY bamboo handle clutch tutorial shows you how to make a cute summer clutch using a bamboo ring for the handle. I’m pretty sure no one will mistake it for a Gucci handbag, but it will definitely add great style to any outfit. If sewing is not your thing you can always shop similar items at the end of the post
Bamboo Handle Clutch
Materials:
- Outer fabric
- Lining fabric
- Lightweight interfacing
- Medium weight interfacing
- Fusible fleece
- Zipper
- Lobster clip or split ring
- Leather
- Bamboo ring
- Craft glue
- Ruler
- Rotary Cutter
Bag Instructions:
Cut all material 11” x 7”. Following the directions on the package, fuse the lightweight interfacing to the wrong side of your lining. Fuse the medium weight interfacing to the wrong side of your outer fabric and fuse the fusible fleece on top of the interfacing. The fleece helps give the bag a little more structure. Use a 1/2″ seam allowance for all seams unless otherwise specified.
With right sides together, sandwich the zipper, with the zipper pull facing the right side of the outer fabric, between a piece of outer fabric and a piece of lining. Sew using a zipper foot. Flip the fabric open and repeat the same steps with the other two pieces of fabric. When finished, be sure to leave the zipper open, and set aside.
Cut a piece of outer fabric 3” x 3”. Fold in half and press with an iron. Open it up and fold each side in until it reaches the middle crease. Then fold in half again and press.
Wrap folded fabric around handle.
Fold the bag so both outer fabric pieces are facing with right sides together, being sure to fold the zipper towards the lining. Slide the handle in between one of the side seams of the outer fabric and stitch catching the tab in the seam allowance. Stitch all remaining sides leaving a 5” opening at the bottom of the lining.
Flip bag right side out and sew the bottom of the lining.
Tassel Instructions:
Cut a piece of coordinating leather 6”x 3”.
Cut a 2 1/2″ x 2″ square out of the leather. It should look like this.
Using a ruler and a rotary cutter cut ¼” strips to make the fringe being careful not to cut all the way through.
Cut another piece of leather ¼” wide and 1” long. Fold around the lobster clip or split ring and glue.
Apply glue along the top of the tassel including the strip. Place the clip at the opposite end from the strip and begin rolling it. Once it’s dry attach to the zipper.
You’re done! Now you have a fabulous new DIY Bamboo Handle Clutch bag!
If sewing is not your thing you can always shop similar looks below.
Thanks for reading! Hope you are all off to a good week.
Photos by Chloejane Photo +Film