Hello everyone!
So for those of you who aren't aware, www.LeoBeso.com is a consignment based website for crafters and vendors :) I've had the site for quiet some time, and am looking for people to join :) Please check out the site and it's pages and either get started or give me some feedback please :) If you make art and crafts, or if you are legal to sell a particular item, aka, you're a vendor of a product(s) I'd like to hear from you :)
Thank you all very much :)
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
How To: Handmake A Purse... Without Sewing
Hello, many of you may be interested in making your own handmade purse. Handcrafted purses are often a subject of interest if you cary one with you. In this post I'll try to briefly explain how to make one from scrap, and without sewing (no sewing required!). For a couple examples, see: http://www.leobeso.com/about-leobeso.html at the bottom of the page.
Step 1.
I learned these secrets observing my dad's work making moccasins and pouches many years ago as a child, and I turned them into my own ways and crafts. Ok, make sure you have a good section of cloth (preferably the same color as what you will use for the main body of the purse, but it isn't necessary... the same kind of material, probably best) separate from what you will use for the purse body. Now, start at a corner and start cutting around and around your piece of fabric (about 1'' thick). I personally try to round my cuts on the corners and also trim the outside of the corner cuts to make them more rounded too. Keep going to the end and then cut your end piece at an angle... it isn't necessary, but it will help you out later on. And make sure that if there is an exceptional weak spot (near the end, on corners, areas wear you cut too thinly), that you cut it off there.
Step 2.
Take your fabric for the main body and cut out a general shape, make an almost identical one (it helps to cut them at the same time). I say almost identical, because if you would like to extend a flap on one of them, then you can do so. You could make it all out of 1 piece, but for this tutorial we will do two separate pieces.
Step 3.
Now take your two pieces and place them over each other... make the outside that you want showing, on the insides. Make a series of holes or slits through each piece (do them at the same time to make sure holes are matching) all the way around except across the top. Be careful how you do this, I have cut myself pretty bad using puncture methods. I found the best and safest way to do this is to take some good scissors and kind of crimp or push both pieces into the barely open scissor tips, removing your hand and then using both hands to close the scissors (because it can sometimes be tough) make your slit. Then if they're uneven or not big enough, you can easily cut them larger. I tend to cut following the direction of the cut fabric.
Step 4.
Take your fabric strip from step 1. and tie it to one end of the body of your purse using the farthest hole or slit. Next, start 'weaving' your strip in a spiral like way through one hole, around the fabric, and then through the next hole, keep it tight but not too tight as the fabric may break if you yank on it too hard. When you do pull, grip the strip close to where the hole is. It is in this step that cutting the strip at one end diagonally really helps you to get through the holes better. After you are a ways down, you should notice the fabric starting to curl up where you have already passed by, this is ok. At times the fabric may get pinched and misaline the holes, just find it and tug on it, tug on the side that's crimped, not both. When you're all the way around, tie it and cut the access off.
Site note: when tying, always do at least 3 knots, 4 or 5 is also good if you can. When dealing with fabric, sometimes you can get away with 2, but best to do at least 3 still. AND, since it's fabric, you can even make a small cut in your strip and tie it to itself if need be.
Step 5.
Flip it inside out and poke out the corners :) Next is the strap. Now, the easiest, and very snazzy way to make a strap without sewing, is to braid. This can be tedious, but well worth it. Again make a long piece of fabric and then make sure you have at least 3 or 4 strips the same length. Tie a knot in one, leaving 3-5'' (good estimate) of fabric behind it... essentially, however much room you need to tie them together onto the purse. Tie them to a chair or something and start braiding, tie it off at the end and leave yourself again--however much room you think you'll need to tie it to the purse.
Step 6.
Make some holes or slits for your strap (remember the side note in step 4) and tie it onto your handmade purse. You can even make it go through the top of your flap, if you have one, by cutting a hole through that, and then tying the strips onto the site of the purse. I find it helpful in this stage to make sure each strap dangle has been tied into a knot with another at least 2-3 (3 if you can manage) times or more.
Step 7.
Make any embellishments or decorations as you desire. Some may at the very least require a needle and thread, lol.
Step 8.
Admire and show off your creation!
End of ~ How to make your own handcrafted purse tutorial.
Make sure to visit us at: www.leobeso.com
Step 1.
I learned these secrets observing my dad's work making moccasins and pouches many years ago as a child, and I turned them into my own ways and crafts. Ok, make sure you have a good section of cloth (preferably the same color as what you will use for the main body of the purse, but it isn't necessary... the same kind of material, probably best) separate from what you will use for the purse body. Now, start at a corner and start cutting around and around your piece of fabric (about 1'' thick). I personally try to round my cuts on the corners and also trim the outside of the corner cuts to make them more rounded too. Keep going to the end and then cut your end piece at an angle... it isn't necessary, but it will help you out later on. And make sure that if there is an exceptional weak spot (near the end, on corners, areas wear you cut too thinly), that you cut it off there.
Step 2.
Take your fabric for the main body and cut out a general shape, make an almost identical one (it helps to cut them at the same time). I say almost identical, because if you would like to extend a flap on one of them, then you can do so. You could make it all out of 1 piece, but for this tutorial we will do two separate pieces.
Step 3.
Now take your two pieces and place them over each other... make the outside that you want showing, on the insides. Make a series of holes or slits through each piece (do them at the same time to make sure holes are matching) all the way around except across the top. Be careful how you do this, I have cut myself pretty bad using puncture methods. I found the best and safest way to do this is to take some good scissors and kind of crimp or push both pieces into the barely open scissor tips, removing your hand and then using both hands to close the scissors (because it can sometimes be tough) make your slit. Then if they're uneven or not big enough, you can easily cut them larger. I tend to cut following the direction of the cut fabric.
Step 4.
Take your fabric strip from step 1. and tie it to one end of the body of your purse using the farthest hole or slit. Next, start 'weaving' your strip in a spiral like way through one hole, around the fabric, and then through the next hole, keep it tight but not too tight as the fabric may break if you yank on it too hard. When you do pull, grip the strip close to where the hole is. It is in this step that cutting the strip at one end diagonally really helps you to get through the holes better. After you are a ways down, you should notice the fabric starting to curl up where you have already passed by, this is ok. At times the fabric may get pinched and misaline the holes, just find it and tug on it, tug on the side that's crimped, not both. When you're all the way around, tie it and cut the access off.
Site note: when tying, always do at least 3 knots, 4 or 5 is also good if you can. When dealing with fabric, sometimes you can get away with 2, but best to do at least 3 still. AND, since it's fabric, you can even make a small cut in your strip and tie it to itself if need be.
Step 5.
Flip it inside out and poke out the corners :) Next is the strap. Now, the easiest, and very snazzy way to make a strap without sewing, is to braid. This can be tedious, but well worth it. Again make a long piece of fabric and then make sure you have at least 3 or 4 strips the same length. Tie a knot in one, leaving 3-5'' (good estimate) of fabric behind it... essentially, however much room you need to tie them together onto the purse. Tie them to a chair or something and start braiding, tie it off at the end and leave yourself again--however much room you think you'll need to tie it to the purse.
Step 6.
Make some holes or slits for your strap (remember the side note in step 4) and tie it onto your handmade purse. You can even make it go through the top of your flap, if you have one, by cutting a hole through that, and then tying the strips onto the site of the purse. I find it helpful in this stage to make sure each strap dangle has been tied into a knot with another at least 2-3 (3 if you can manage) times or more.
Step 7.
Make any embellishments or decorations as you desire. Some may at the very least require a needle and thread, lol.
Step 8.
Admire and show off your creation!
End of ~ How to make your own handcrafted purse tutorial.
Make sure to visit us at: www.leobeso.com
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