Free Handbag Patterns and Photo Tutorials

From ikat bag

Free Handbag Patterns

From PatternPile.com
This is the largest collection of free handbag patterns I've seen.

Handbag Pattern and Tutorial

This bag is just one of a number of tutorials, patterns and projects generously offered by

Warehouse Fabrics Inc.

Free Purse, Bag and Baby Shoes Patterns

There is a very large library of sewing tutorials at SewLover Arts School. The entire site is interesting and there are more than 50 patterns just in the bags section. Other sections include toys, patchwork, and items for the home. The site is in Chinese but Google Chrome does a very good job of automatic translation. I was even able to say thank you through the message tab at the bottom of the page.

Baby shoes are here.

One of my favorite patterns is for this sweet little case.

Make Your Own Buttons

Hoo-Boy, I really love these buttons! I was browsing CraftStylish and fell for the project only to find that it's designed by my favorite CraftyPoder, Diane. No wonder I like it. Bag makers take note. It's the details that count and this one has some of my favorite attributes. It's interesting, cost effective, green, materials are easily available and the step by step photos and text are great.

See what I miss when I walk away from the computer for a period of time? Sometimes I just have to do it so I can hear my own internal voice.

Bird Shaped Purse Found at Pip Stitch

Patty aka Pip Stitch has posted tons of links to stitching fun. Here are just two but you should visit her blog to explore in depth. Be sure to browse her freebie finds.
This cute bird coin purse from Tiny Garden. Pattern here.
Tiny Garden also offers lots of embroidery patterns so do check through the list of downloads.
 Thanks Patty!

Stitch Point has a cool online tool
for creating your own text into stitching charts.
6 different fonts.

Diane's Reverse Applique Tote Tutorial

One of my favorite craft bloggers, Diane Gilleland aka Sister Diane of CraftyPod, has contributed a tutorial for this tote to the fabulous CraftStylish blog. Diane's projects are always well written with step by step photo illustrations. She's also the author of DIY Alert, her blog about all the crafters and crafty stuff happening in Portland. You will wish to live here in Oregon!

10 Free Bag Patterns

From the online crafts page of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
This one is shown first. Click on their arrow that says slide 1 of 11 to see the other patterns.

The BHG craft site is quite extensive. You will have fun browsing it.

The Purse Project

Barb Lawrence aka Woof Nanny's blog all about creating and altering handbags. Tips, inspiration, links to patterns and so much more. She really blows me away with her generosity. I couldn't pick just one picture to show. You'll have to visit to see for yourself. Be sure to also check out her craft blog, Woof Nanny; it's a favorite of mine.

Japanese sewing patterns

A very large pattern library offered by otsukaya which I think is a fabric store. The library appears as a table of links each one goes to a downloadable PDF pattern. There are dresses, skirts, tops, outerwear, children, home dec and bags. Over 100 patterns. The pics below are direct links to the pattern shown.
Little dress and a kimono

Dog coat and one of several bags

esprit cabane

le magazine des idees creatives et ecologiques. Hey! We're creative, ecological and like ideas. This was a fun visit. Click the categories listed on the right and at the bottom of the pages click "page suivante" to see older posts in that category.
Lots of projects and patterns. Here are just a few that I've linked the picture to the project page.

Handbag Pattern

This 1949 handbag by Cecilia M. Rose caught my eye.


I think getting a pattern from this requires some fiddling with the scanner to get each piece or hand trace each piece to photocopy. Remember that you really only need half of each piece to print out a pattern.

The pieces are the two sides and the two inside pockets. I would make it quilted and use bias tape to put it together and probably run some cord through all the bias tape and handles.

I had to come to the realization that I am not going to be able to use the resources and ideas I have so I'm sharing with you.

Handbag making

If you have any interest at all in the production and/or marketing of handbags click on over to Fashion-Incubator. Teacher extraordinaire, Kathleen Fasanella, has two posts on this topic.
The first is an introduction to leather handbag artist Henry Hibbard including links to his tutorials and resources.
The second is the start of a tutorial series by Kathleen called Pimp My Style.
"The premise of the series is to take a product produced by a DE (designer-entrepreneur) and to move it up a level with regard to structural design. I won't be changing the look of the item itself. All I'll be concerned with is mostly production related challenges. The criteria for improvement will be style management, tracking (e.g. style numbers), pattern accuracy and efficiency with the goal of lowered costs, less ambiguity, improved construction and a higher quality product."