Sew: DIY Oilcloth Betty Bowler Handbag {Yeah, Let’s Make Our Own Handbags}

I’ve been meaning to make my own handbag for aggggges! I wanted a bag with all the right pockets and the look I’m into. I adore frame purses but that means I can’t have my signature coke accessible. So I planned the perfect bag. I talked about it so much that Mr Ask bought me a subscription deal to Swoon Patterns. Which means I had a huge selection of awesome patterns to play with. I had decided on the Betty Bowler before Christmas but I procrastinated.

You see, I hate cutting out bags! Oh it feels good to say it! All those bits to cut out, not just once but in exterior fabric, lining, interfacing, fleece. I hate it. I decided that I was going to make it out of oilcloth (even though it scares me to sew it) because it’s durable and you can wipe it down. My handbags do take a beating and I know a fabric bag would look filthy in minutes. Plus, less interfacing, yeah!

It took me a while to gather my supplies. I bought my oilcloth from here, my zipper and my pre made piping was from eBay. The red lining fabric was some lightweight cotton drill from stash and the aqua spotty cotton was from stash too. Then I spent a whole day cutting out and interfacing. Yep, a whole day! See why I hate bags?

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I traced the pattern pieces onto the back of the oilcloth in sharpie (be careful because you will see the sharpie through the fabric) and cut them out. I hair dryered the cut oil cloth and chucked a book on to weight the scrunched bits (yes, that’s my book. Not a shameless plug, it was just what was handy).  I cut out all the lining and pocket fabrics and added a craft fusible interfacing to all parts. I added a heavy duty fusible to the bag bottom and sides too. I felt so satisfied with my pile of parts.

So the next day was sewing day! I knew I had everything prepped and I was ready. So I start by reading the sewing instructions, which have you sewing on the straps and the metal loop first up. I get the tin of handbag fixings to get the loops and see that I really don’t have the right size. Shit! I have no car and no metal loops. I walk to the only shop in range that might have something, a cheaply shop. Nothing in craft, nothing in hardware, not even a suitable dog collar I could destroy. As I walked home, I knew. I had to cut up my current Nine West bag for parts. Cannibalisim was the only way forward…

Because I needed to have something to carry tomorrow, I did all the lining parts first. That way if I knew I couldn’t finish, I could hold off on the destruction of current bag. It was like sewing cardboard but went okay. I made the interior pocket as per the pattern but added another flat, patch pocket that I divided into four. Otherwise it was as per the plan and the sewing was straight forward.

 

I’d long decided to change the exterior. I omitted the zip pocket because even though it’s cute, I wouldn’t use it and I was worried about doing it in oil cloth. I also didn’t want the stripes but a pocket for my phone instead. I got the straps made up and ran out of red thread. I thought I’d die, right there at the machine but then I remembered I had red thread in my sewing kit. Can you believe the luck? It was exactly the same shade! I killed my old handbag and got going! Once it was done, I had a little hand finishing to do and then it was time to put my stuff in.

I anticipated issues with oil cloth but none of the issues I was expecting ever came to pass. However, oil cloth doesn’t ease like fabric and I had some hairy moments in the corners! I hated making this but I goddamn love the finished product! And if you love it too and want to give it a go (or something similar but different), I’ve got some great links for you:

Sewing Parts Online

This was hard, I won’t lie. It took 14hrs over two days. But it was all worth it because I FREAKIN’ LOVE IT! Apart from small details that only sewing snobs and myself see, it’s perfect and I love it. It looks the bomb and has pockets perfect for my stuff. I love that I bothered with piping on the inner pockets and mixed spots with cherries. It had its maiden voyage today and two chemist ladies complimented it and were shocked that I made it. And my new nail lady said she loved it! So let’s say hurrah for the handmade handbag! I’m itching to to know what YOU think so, leave me a comment here or on Facebook, because friends will always tell you about your handbag!

EDIT: I just made a second Betty Bowler & I updated how this one wore etc.