Trish's Machine Embroidery Designs

7. Detail of the webbing inside the handle. There is also a length of cotton sash cord to make the handles rounded. The photo doesn't show it - but the webbing is turned around the 'D' rings and machine stitched securely. The leather is folded over that and riveted.

8. Making the inner pocket. It's double sided with the same Fast2fuse used for stiffening.

Wrong side up.

9. Right side up

4. This is how it will sit when done - with the leather fold level with the top edge of bag.

10. Wrong sides together- ready to be stitched and turned so Right Sides are out.

5. The inside of one top edge showing plastic boning that I cut from a sheet of flexible polycarbonate (used for covering green houses and patios etc.). It is there to keep the upper edge from bending out when the bag is heavy.

11. Finished bag. I lined it with quilt backing bonded to heavy Vilene interfacing. This was stitched to the bag wrong sides together and turned through one open side.
I stitched across the bottom corners of the bag and lining before turning it.

6. Shows back with lacing started. The knot is accidental - my lacing was a bit old and it broke;-(

12. Shows the inside. The pleat at each end of the inner pocket is held with a 1/8" brass bolt with brass washes and nuts.

13. This is the finished bag with strap and buckle applied. There is a magnetic stud under the buckle.

2. I punched holes down each side of the 1.5" wide leather and laced it to the bag. I used a sewing awl to extend each hole though the bag fabric.

1. It started with some tapestry upholstery fabric that I bonded to some Fast2fuse interfacing. This is one of the brands used for fabric bowls etc.
The 1" wide webbing I sewed from one side of bag to the other and looped the ends over the brass 'D' rings before sewing them securely.

3. A close-up of the webbing under the leather

This is how I made my handbag. Sorry but I didn't think in time to photograph every step ;-(

Handbag