How-To: PolkaDot Shoulder Bag

Posted on July 13, 2008
Filed Under bags, tutorials |

Polka Dot Shoulder Bag

I really do enjoy making my own handbags, but I don’t tackle a handbag project nearly as often as I’d like. That’s mainly because I tend to become paralyzed by indecision. What fabric should I use? What style do I want this time? Oh, I’ll make this one… but, no, I think I’d rather have that one! It’s a vicious cycle. And sometimes I don’t make bags because, honestly, they can be a bit tedious. But every now and then, I come across a pattern or tutorial on the internet that is both irresistibly easy and stylish.

I’ve had this tutorial over at Tiny Happy bookmarked for a long time, and I’ve seen so many great examples of the finished bag on Flickr and elsewhere, that I finally had to make one myself. And I’m so glad I did! The instructions are very clear, the photos illustrate the steps well, the bag was so easy to make, and I’m really pleased with the finished product. One great thing about this bag is that there’s only one pattern piece, so you’re not making a strap and attaching it separately. You can also customize it quite easily. For example, I made the bag about 3 inches taller because I carry my calendar with me everywhere and needed a little extra height. You could even shorten or lengthen the straps if necessary.

Here are some tips for success when making your own bag, from this or any pattern:

Clip the curves as illustrated. It will make your completed bag look so much more finished.
For best results, invest in the right sewing machine feet for the job. In this case, an edgestitching foot or topstitching foot (check with your manufacturer) will help you achieve nice, even topstitching.
The method in this tutorial for sewing the ends of the straps together sounds crazy, and it feels a little awkward when you’re doing it, but it really does work.
Be careful when attaching the interior pocket that you keep the rest of the lining out of the way, so you don’t sew through something you’re not supposed to.
When stitching the bottom seam of the lining, don’t forget to leave an opening for turning the whole bag right side out.
Use something fun for the lining fabric.

Now, go make yourself a bag!

Polka Dot Should Bag - Interior