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Handbag Hardware
HANDMADE COUTURE: Make this look - A trendy shaped tote with gorgeous hardware features.
3/30/2018 09:01:00 AM
Have you been following the latest handbag trends, drooling over the new looks only to be quickly turned off by the crazy high price tags that come with designer bags? Or maybe scoping out bags that you see out on the town, wondering how to get that same look? If this is you, the Handmade Couture Series is for you. We show you how to recreate high end designer bags at a fraction of the cost using existing sewing patterns, Emmaline Hardware and quality materials. Have the same look, but you can make it totally you. Today, we show you how to recreate this Salvatore Ferragamo Medium Tote Bag:
This medium tote is the perfect everyday handbag, with classic clean lines and it’s minimalist look. It features a zipper top closure, a front exterior zippered pocket, purse feet and is made with a luxurious blue calfskin leather. It measures 10.6” H x 11.4” L x 5.5” W. Love the look of this bag? It can be yours for 1250 USD.
Like the look of the Salvatore Ferragamo? Let’s be our own brand.
Pattern + Hardware + Fabric= Handmade Couture
Pattern:
The Epiphany by Chris W Designs is the perfect match for our inspiration bag. It has all the features of our designer bag and then some! It measures 11” H x 14” L x 5.25” D. It boasts a zippered top closure, purse feet, and a front zip pocket just like our designer bag.
Hardware:
Add this to the front of your bag to get the same look at the Ferragamo zip pull.
Although our inspiration bag uses leather strap keepers, these are a great option to add some bling and are so easy to install.
Forget the embossed Salvatore Ferragamo logo, use these to boast your own brand.
Fabric:
Another great option is natural cork fabric, which is available from MM Cork Supply in Canada or from Sew Sweetness in the US. You can get cork in a various colors and finishes, like this blue cork:
You can choose to do this in whatever fabric you are comfortable working with! A fun cotton print, canvas or even denim! That's the benefit of creating your own, it's what YOU want it to be. Handmade can be couture too!
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Photos and content provided and written for Emmaline Bags by Cyndi Farfsing, from The Nosy Pepper. Cyndi's blog is chock is full of more bag photos and make making tips. Check out her bag series "It's in the Bag! Better Bag Making Series," to learn a ton of new bag making skills.
Share your projects made from Emmaline patterns and/or with Emmaline hardware in our facebook group Emmaline Sewing Patterns Group, or on instagram with the hashtags #emmalinehardware, #emmalinepatterns, #emmalinebags, or tag us @emmalinebags.
Like the look of designer bags but not the price tag? Do you find yourself staring at bags in stores, on TV and in the wild and wonder how to recreate that look? You are in luck! The Handmade Couture series is for you! We show you how to get the same high end designer look at a realistic price, using existing sewing patterns from some of your favorite designers, Emmaline Hardware and fabrics and materials that are easy to source. Today, we are going to show yhow to recreate this Shinola Medium Field Crossbody:
The Shinola is a gorgeous high end crossbody style bag that transitions easily from day to night. It measures 12"W x 4"D x 13.5"H, has a flap closure, an adjustable strap and the lining features zip pockets, slip pockets and a card divider. You can own this beautiful bag for 795 USD.
Like the look of the Shinola? Lets be our own brand.
Pattern + Hardware + Fabric= Handmade Couture
Pattern:
The Sew Sweetness Hyacinth Bag is the perfect pattern to use to recreate the look of the Shinola. Finished Size: 11” long x 12” tall x 2” deep. The Hyacinth has some of the same great organizational features as our designer inspiration bag including the card dividers and zippered pockets within easy reach and boast the same great shape with a similar size.
Hardware:
1.5” Metal slider:
1.5” Rectangular Ring:
Fabric:
The Tannery NYC has us covered again! You can scoop up this great Black Cowhide Leather to get the high end look of our designer bag. (Remember, Emmaline followers get 10% off purchases of 50 USD or more at The Tannery NYC using code: EMMALINEBAGS)
Not a fan of leather, no worries! You can use a high quality faux leather to get the same look. Try this Faux leather in Raven from Sew Sweetness:
Have you tried sewing with cork fabric? It’s a great alternative to leather and faux leathers and is available in a wide variety of colors and finishes. It is available from Sew Sweetness in the US and MM Cork Supply in Canada.
You can choose to do this in whatever fabric you are comfortable working with! A fun cotton print, canvas or even denim! That's the benefit of creating your own, it's what YOU want it to be. Handmade can be couture too!
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Photos and content provided and written for Emmaline Bags by Cyndi Farfsing, from The Nosy Pepper. Cyndi's blog is chock is full of more bag photos and make making tips. Check out her bag series "It's in the Bag! Better Bag Making Series," to learn a ton of new bag making skills.
Share your projects made from Emmaline patterns and/or with Emmaline hardware in our facebook group Emmaline Sewing Patterns Group, or on instagram with the hashtags #emmalinehardware, #emmalinepatterns, #emmalinebags, or tag us @emmalinebags.
I've been very inspired by the project photos of handmade bags and projects that are created using weaving techniques and patterns by Tara J Curtis of the WEFTY Needle. What is the WEFTY Needle and how can you use it? Tara is here to explain and inspire. I have my needle and I can't wait to start creating! Here is Tara:
Tara J Curtis is the inventor of the WEFTY Needle, a tool for reducing wear on the hands while improving the look of your work while weaving with fabric strips. You can find her tutorials online at weftyneedle.com and you can find her on YouTube and social @weftyneedle.
Tara J Curtis is the inventor of the WEFTY Needle, a tool for reducing wear on the hands while improving the look of your work while weaving with fabric strips. You can find her tutorials online at weftyneedle.com and you can find her on YouTube and social @weftyneedle.
Making a bag using a woven panel is one way to create a bag that is both eye catching and touchable. The texture of fabric weaving alone is so fun. Woven bags just feel good! But as you will see, a bag made using woven strips of fabric is also really beautiful.
Here are just a handful of the bags made all over the world by sewists who were experimenting with fabric weaving. All these makers used the WEFTY fabric weaving needle, which makes weaving easier and more accurate. Emmaline now carries the WEFTY Needle in the SHOP!
These bagineers also used patterns and/or hardware available right here at Emmaline Bags. I hope seeing these gorgeous makes gives you ideas for how you can incorporate weaving into your sewing!
The Gabby Bag
The Gabby Bag is a perfect candidate for an added woven panel, as is evidenced by Kim Johnson’s version!
Kim used a rainbow “chevron weave.” You can learn how to create your own chevron weave using my free tutorial on Sew Mama Sew and in this YouTube video I made. You can get the Gabby Bag paper pattern (or PDF) and WEFTY Needle in the shop. Find Kim on Instagram @KBCJohn.
The Everyday Tote
Sarai Schuk made the Everyday Tote, a pattern by Bagstock Designs, using Emmaline “Long John” Strap Anchors, purse feet, and her WEFTY Needle.
Sarai made this bag for Art Gallery Fabrics, to include in the Bloom Fabrics lookbook! You can learn the Tumbling Blocks weave design a few ways: my tutorial on Sew Mama Sew, the PDF pattern sold by Mister Domestic, and my YouTube video. Find Sarai on Instagram @sarai_hobbies.
The Violet Bag
When Crystal of Cloth Albatross originally designed the Violet Bag for Blue Calla Patterns, it was so that I could weave the exterior for the Alison Glass Handcrafted Patchwork look book! I added a hexweave in light violet over a dark background, and I think it looks great here.
You can get hardware kits for the Violet Bag here in the store. This bag’s design is quite literally made for the addition of fabric weaving. I can’t wait to see what you do!
The Makers Tote
Probably one of the most popular bags by far these days is the Makers Tote by Noodlehead. I’m really impressed with how Kim Johnson (@KBCJohn) added a woven pocket to the front of hers, as well as a completely woven back. She’s incredible.
Keli of @jeliquilts on Instagram added a rainbow and essex linen weave to her Makers Tote!
I hope these woven bags are inspirational for you! I’d love to see your weaving with the WEFTY Needle - tag me and use the hashtag #weftyneedle. Weave on!
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A guest post by Tara J Curtis, WEFTY Needle
Tara J Curtis is the inventor of the WEFTY Needle, a tool for reducing wear on the hands while improving the look of your work while weaving with fabric strips. You can find her tutorials online at weftyneedle.com and you can find her on YouTube and social @weftyneedle.
