Date Night Purse

Not all handbag patterns are complicated or difficult. Nicki LaFoille shows how to make an easy purse that is a great last minute addition to date night or another fun outing.

Supplies and Pattern Pieces

Before you can learn how to sew a purse, Nicki first explains what supplies will be needed. These supplies include fabric in fun prints for the outer and lining pieces, trim embellishment, cording for a strap, and a magnetic closure.

Nicki then shows the pattern piece — download here, or draft your own. She then talks about fabric selection and explains what direction the fabric needs to be going if you select a directional print for your purse. The way the fabric needs to be aligned may seem upside down at first, but because of the way the top closure flap comes down, you want that piece to be right side up.

Nicki then shows how to cut out the pattern pieces and how to attach the magnetic snap closure. Once the snap has been applied, Nicki shows how to sew a purse with the inner and outer fabric pieces and embellishment trim. She also shows where to position the cording for the strap so that it will be attached between the layers. After Nicki shows how to sew a purse, she demonstrates how to box the corners of the lower edges to give the purse more of a bottom.

After you learn how to make this fun and easy crossbody bag with cording as a strap, you can use the same pattern or same construction methods and make another purse.