Add Ribbon Handles to Gift Bags

 

I saw this post about DIY gift bags at Thrify Fun ages ago and wanted to make my own at Christmas but didnt have time, but a recent glut of birthdays and other events meant i needed a few nice gift bags so i finally did it, well part of it... I didnt make the bags myself, i bought cheap ones and then changed the handles for pretty ribbon ones, but i think it works really well, no chance of anyone else having the same wrapping as you too!

Wooden handle leather clutch

I subscribe to a few making magazines and they seem to have a free gift attached every week! I got some square wooden handles a few month ago so I thought I’d have a go at a little leather clutch for myself.
It was pretty easy but (as always) I forgot to take pictures as I went along so no tutorial - sorry. I'll try and walk you through it. But aside from that im pretty happy with the finished article, it could probably be a bit shorter, to make it look more suitable for evening, but I’ll give it a try out next time im out for dinner :)

Basically I cut a rectangle of leather and another rectangle of lining fabric that was the same width but slightly shorter. I fed the handles onto the leather and then lined up the short ends of the leather and the lining, right sides together. I sewed the short sides together to make a big loop of fabric, with the handles on the loop.
I then lay the loop flat, right sides together, with the lining fabric central. Make sure the handles are in the right place and then sew along the long sides, only as far as the lining fabric. Don’t forget to leave a gap for turning out.
Turn the fabric out, fold it in half, right side together and match up the lining fabric. Sew a very narrow seam along the sides of the bag. Don’t sew all the way to the handles or you won’t be able to open your bag very wide! Turn the bag right side out and you’re finished

Handmade handbag

OK so I've not actually posted anything I've made on here yet, but I am working on stuff, mainly a big knitted blanket/throw which should be finished soon - pictures to follow. So instead I thought I'd post about the stuff I really want to make this year.
Lisa over at U-Handblog gives away her some of amazing handmade handbag patterns for free. The instructions are really clear and you can buy all the bits you need from her online shop, u-handbag.com, as well. She has some lovely leather handbag handles that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. I tried making her For Pleat's Sake Tote last year but got all my measurements messed up and it was a bit of a disaster! I'm also not the neatest and most accurate of sewers so it was even more wonky because of that! So this year I'm going to try again. I've bought some gorgeous brown leather handles from u-handbag, some cute Michael Miller Bonehead Fabric in grey for the outside and some fifties inspired blue fabric for the lining. I'll post photos once I'm done...