I Love, LOVE Making Handbags

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I really do. I guess I just love to craft and make stuff.

This is my latest creation. A quilted handbag. With a coordinated little zippered clutch. I have been working on and off on this set for a couple weeks.

I showed you my fabric pull three weeks ago. Remember? I used all of these except the scripted fabric on the left and the avocado polka dots.

From That to This…

The handbag is quilted, lined, has one small inside pocket, has a swivel hook on the inside to hang keys from. Handles are dark brown wood. With magnetic closure. You can see the hardware and buttons I used here in this photo.

Photos of the inside.

Bottom and side views.

Zippered bag was made from the same fabric pull plus leftover strips from the handbag. I am so drawn to these little bags. I plan to make lots more.

How cute is this orange kitty cat zipper pull!!

It came from MiMi’s Etsy shop. She has them in lots of colors.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MiMisBeads

I didn’t have a pattern for either. Just worked from the vision in my head. Colors are green, rust and peach.

Handbag measures 15″ across the top, 10 1/2″ along the bottom, 11 1/4″ height, 4″ width. From handle to bottom: 17 3/4″. Zippered bag measures 10″ by 7″.

I am 67, and Lord willing, I hope to be around long enough to make thousands more items.

Have a great Memorial Day!!

Quilted Clutch Reveal Time

The last time you saw this was when I was making my table runner. Using these same fabrics. In my mind I could see “clutch” and I was carrying it under my arm.

That vision stayed with me all through finishing up the table runner. I was thinking ahead. How many pockets? Sew through to the bottom layer? Or do all the sewing on the inside layer? Quilt top and bottom? How to combine the top to the bottom? Bias binding?

I had a lot of decisions to make.

I started off the same as when making the table runner. Same design. Though different placement of the fabrics. I was working with the last of the batch. And had to make do.

I wanted the clutch to be sturdy, not flimsy and thin. So I quilted both sides.

It took about a week for me to chew on how to proceed. All those questions I had asked myself. I couldn’t sew the top to the bottom until I decided.

Made the pocket first. Actually a double pocket I lined with interfacing.

Next went on the magnetic closure. More Pellon. The thick kind.

Only then could I sew the top to the bottom. I was feeling great about then. The end was coming into view.

Another decision. How to form the clutch? That took a couple days of trying out different widths of binding. Single fabric. Folded fabric. Machine sew. Hand sew.

I went with a 3″ bias binding. Folded in half. Machine sewn on the bottom. Hand sewn on the top. The sides were kind of tricky. I made a sandwich with the bias binding, sewed them together and then opened them up to hand sew along the edges.

The wine broach-like pin on the front came from JoAnn’s Drapery Department. I saw it and loved it. Looks so much better than the buttons I had planned to use.

The FRONT.

The BACK.

It’s a nice sized bag and measures 14″ by 10″. It can hold a little.

Or a lot.

Now I have to decide. List it on Etsy. Or keep it. I found one shirt in my closet I can wear with it.

Macrame Mini Bags For A Friend

Sunday, July 6

I made these two macrame mini bags for one of my buddies.

She LOVES green so I knew just what color she would want. She surprised me by also asking for one in beige.

Just need to get the linings made and sewn in so I can mail them off to her.

Hope she likes them!!

Macrame Mini-Bag Line Up

These macrame mini bags are really fast to make. The colors are royal blue, brown, black and lime. I want to make one in many more colors.

4 down.

46 to go.

Each bag took 50 yards of 3 1/2mm braided cord. All except the lime one which is larger. It took 100 yards.

I added decorative buttons and cardboard tags for a different look.

Now a Set… I Added a Macrame Purse to This

Macrame Summertime Purses in Pink & White

I have been busy!! I made two more macrame purses. A large white one and a hot pink one for a little girl.

The fringe on the pink one takes me back. “Back In The Day” as my hubby likes to say. It has a drawstring closing. I found the pattern in one of my macrame books from years ago and decided to make it. I think it is cute.

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The white one is like the peach one. I jazzed it up with some of my black and white art glass handcrafted jewelry.

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Both purses are available for purchase in my Etsy Shop.   http://www.JustKnots.etsy.com

Peachy Knots, Fashion Ready

Another macrame purse finished. Started it yesterday and completed it this morning.

Cord color is peach. The design is similar to the lavender one only larger. It looks good with this peach, navy and light blue scarf. And my button bracelet adds the finishing touch.

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Used 127 yds of 6mm braided cord.

Measurements:

• Length 14″
• Height without straps 8 1/2″
• Height with straps 13″
• Width 1 1/2″

Macrame Purses: Before & After

Tuesday, June 10

I know, I know.. it took me awhile to circle back around to work on these macrame purses. I bet you thought I had forgotten.

On 5-21 I posted, More Macrame Purses Coming. And true to my word, here they are.

BEFORE

AFTER

Used 113 yards of 6mm braided macrame cord.

Measurements:

• Length 12 1/2″
• Height without handles 9″
• Height with handles 14″
• Width 1 1/2″

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BEFORE

AFTER

Used 98 yds of 6mm braided macrame cord.

Measurements:

• Length 10″
• Height without straps 8 1/4″
• Height with straps 12″
• Width 1 1/2″

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I have made many macrame purses over the years but had never tried either of these designs before. Both purses were really easy. Only had to consult the instructions twice. Once for the brown one, when creating and attaching the flap and another time for the lavender one, when creating the “V” shape in the front and back. Anyway you slice it, a square knot is a square knot. I can usually look at the picture and figure it out. Like cooking your favorite dish. You don’t need to look any longer at the recipe.

I am hoping the brown purse is a hit with a chat buddy of mine. She asked me to make her a macrame purse several months ago. She knew I was just getting back into macraming so said there was no rush. Not really sure what she would like, I searched through my macrame purse books and selected this one. I changed up a bit from the original instructions. I added the beads on differently and made it wider and longer. So after looking at the directions to add on the flap, it was just me and the knots, going to town.

The lavender purse was fun to make. So much fun, I have already started another one in peach and will probably make several more in summer colors. No added cost for a purse handle. It is all cord. And quite easy to make. I don’t think I will sew buttons on any of the others. I only added buttons to the lavender one since, # 1, it is Button Month, and # 2, I had a lot of lavender and purple buttons to use up.

There are so many other things you can make with macrame cord. Not sure if you have ever seen or heard of the Chinese Crown Knot. It is really a cool knot. Very easy to make. You only need two hands and a pair of knees. This knot can be used in so many ways. I have used it in plant hangers, candles, corn stalks, animal noses, snakes and bracelets. Once I get over my obsession with purses, I will show you how to create things using it.

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Macrame Cord Suppliers

http://www.kingskountry.com

http://www.macramecords.com

http://www.munrocrafts.com/

More Macrame Purses Coming

Wednesday, May 21

These are the colors I am using for the next macrame purses I will make. I have a pair of purse handles I recently found at JoAnn’s that I want to use and LOTS of buttons to use up.

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So.. the handles will go with the brown cord. I am thinking of putting a foldover front flap on this one.

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And the buttons will go on the lavender purse. I have some tiny lavender satin flowers I may also use to jazz it up. I am making this one similar to the white purse in the picture.

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The knotting for both will be about the same, mostly Square Knots. I don’t usually stray far from basic macrame knots. I have tried some patterns with fancy knots like the Berry Knot but they make my hands ache after awhile.

I will cut the cords for these tomorrow and get started. More details and photos to follow.

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Macrame Cord Suppliers

http://www.kingskountry.com

http://www.macramecords.com

http://www.munrocrafts.com/

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My Related Article (purses are done)
http://thisyearsdozen.wordpress.com/2008/06/10/macrame-purses-before-after/

1520 Macrame Knots

Wow!! Is this HUGE or what!! I wanted to make a big purse but didn’t think it would make up this large. There are 1520 macrame knots in this purse. I counted them. Well, actually I counted two rows to double check the count and multiplied by the number of rows.

And the purse used 258 yards of cords. It will hold a lot of stuff. I bet it will hold a laptop. Maybe TWO laptops!!

It took several days working on and off to complete. My hands, fingers and arms ached and got tired so I worked about five rows at a time.

I took frequent breaks to rest them and once pulled out my smelly and stinky Jointritis to rub gently on my right arm. Whenever I use it, I am REALLY in pain. It smells so awful and lingers until my next shower.

This is how much I had knotted after a day and a half.

Purse was made similar to the other cream one I blogged about, just larger and with only one row of wooden beads.

It was tied with the beginning Square Knot Sections, 18 rows of Alternating Square Knots, one beaded section and then 12 more rows of Alternating Square Knots. I could have used an extra pair of knees when closing up the bottom.

Not sure what I will do with it. For now, I am just enjoying looking at it.

Measurements: Length 19 1/2″, Height without straps 14″ and width 2″ at its widest, the bottom. Straps measure 26 1/2″.

Macrame Cord: 6mm Braided in cream

258 Yards Used:

• 3 yard cords for body (72)
• 6 yard cords for straps (4)
• 4 1/2 yard cords for straps (4)

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Macrame Cord Suppliers

http://www.kingskountry.com

http://www.macramecords.com

http://www.munrocrafts.com/