Metal Frame Bag
I decided to make a tutorial for metal frame bags to share on mysewingcircle.com, which is the sewing website I discovered the other day. I used to make these bags all the time, but since it's been a while I did make a few silly little rookie mistakes. It might have been because I was distracted by the tv on in the background too.
I made this bag for myself, so the mistakes don't really bother me, but if I had made it for someone else I would have taken it apart and fixed it. Also, I stitched this by hand because I was a little too lazy to dust off the old sewing machine and I have lots of free time these days.
I hope this pattern is easy to follow and that you have as much fun with it as I do.
What you're going to need:
*You will want several scraps of fabric, this is fun because you can use anything at all, and you only need a little bit. I've made these using fat quarters, fabric scraps, knitted sweaters, felted wool, and even plastic.
*Metal purse frame. These can be found anywhere. I've seen them at JoAnn Fabrics, Michaels, and Walmart. I prefer to buy them online on etsy.com, I have several favorite sellers I like to go back to. A frame will probably cost only a few dollars, but there are lovely designer ones which cost a lot more. Depending on what kind of project you are making, you will find something for anyone. I chose a simple frame for this project.
*Thread and Needles, or a sewing machine. The machine makes this super fast and easy.
*UHU glue works best, I've tried many different glues for fabric, and I always come back to UHU glue. I buy it on etsy.com but you can get it in some stores and other places online.
*I usually like to put a layer of fusable fleece between my inside and outside layers of my bags to give them a little more stability and puffiness. Today I wanted to keep it as simple as possible so I skipped this step.
*Paper and pen to make a pattern.
*Scissors
Step 1: Making the pattern
The first step is to make a pattern. This is simple and you have a ton of creative freedom here. You simply trace the shape of the top of the frame, marking where the hinge ends. Then swing the frame slightly outward making sure that the bend in the frame stays in the same place. If the frame's bend moves too much inside then your bag's corners will be too short to fit the frame, if the bend moves outside then the bag's corners will be too big to fit. Be sure to mark where the end of the hinge is, this is important for sewing the bag together.
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Now you have a pattern, time for the fun stuff
Step 2: Cutting out your fabric
First thing to do is to lay the pattern on top of the wrong side of your fabric and trace around it. Be sure to mark where the bag frame hinges end, these are your sewing marks.
To make this bag you will need two inside and two outside pieces. I also cut out a square to make a pocket on the inside of my bag. A pair of super sharp scissors makes cutting through all layers at the same time a piece of cake. Be sure when you are cutting NOT to cut on the line, that is your sewing line, cut at least 1/4 inch away from the line all the way around.
Now that everything is cut out you can do your embellishments now before the bag is sewn together. I chose to keep this bag simple, but in the past I have embroidered, beaded, appliqued, and added all sorts of other fun embellishments to my bags. For this bag I did choose to add a pocket inside, which I put on at this point. If you choose not to add a pocket to your purse, just skip this next step.
Step 3: The Pocket
I wanted my pocket to hold my passport because I cross the border often and need to be able to get at it easily, so I traced my passport, adding a little room, and made my pocket to this size.
Cut out two pieces of fabric and lay them right sides together on the table. Pin the corners and sew around, leaving a few inches open for turning.
Turn right sides out and stitch across the opening.
After making the pocket, place it onto the inside fabric and stitch around three sides. It's that easy. I just wish I had gotten out my iron before taking these photos, I usually iron at every step so that my stuff comes out looking as perfect as possible.
Step 4: Sewing up the lining
After the pocket is sewn on lay both lining pieces with right sides together and stitch from the bottom of one hinge mark to the bottom of the other. The top of the bag will be open.
*In my example I must have been distracted at this point because my bag is not right side together, therefore on the inside of my bag one side is right and one side is backward. It made me giggle that after all this time I could make that mistake, so I left it.
Sew the outside sections of the bag together in the same way as the inside. Right sides together and sew across the bottom from one frame hinge to the other. Turn the outside of the bag right side out and press the corners.
Step 5: Putting the bag together
The next step is to slide the outside of the bag into the inside of the bag, right sides should be together. Pin across the opening making sure that the hinge marks are lined up and the lines for the corners of the frame are lined up.
When you are sure that the lines are all matched up, stitch around the whole top, leaving an opening to turn the bag right side out. I usually will start on one side and sew around to the other, it is easier to close if the opening is on the top flat part of the bag.
Turn your bag so that the right sides are out and the liner lies flat inside the bag. A little manipulating and stretching will make the bag lay nice and flat. This is a good time to iron your bag again, so that it looks nice and neat when you are finished. I still just can't believe I sewed that fabric inside out.
Step 6: Attaching the frame
It works best to do one side, let it dry a while and then do the other. There is nothing worse than having the first side slide out of the frame while you are trying to deal with the other side. A little patience will go a long way!
Put an even amount of glue on the inside of the frame from one side to the other, do not fill the frame with glue, you don't want glue spilling out of the frame and onto your fabric while trying to press the fabric into the frame. I use a wooden orange stick or skewer to spread the glue evenly across the frame. Allow one minute for the glue to start to get tacky before sliding the bag into the frame. I find the center of the bag and the center of the frame and work it in from there. Make sure the corners are inserted into the frame securely.
Leave this to dry for at least ten minutes before trying to put the other side of the bag into the frame. If you don't wait for it to dry a while you will be sorry, trust me! After the glue has had some time to dry insert the other side of the bag into the frame in the same way. Still be very careful, the glue on the other side won't be dry yet so if you tug too much it will still come out of the frame and make a mess. The longer you wait the better.
Any glue on the metal frame will peel off easily as soon as it gets dry, but glue will not come off from the fabric, so protect your fabric more than your frame.
And you're finished! I hope this inspires you to get very creative and make a ton of lovely little bags. Get your kids involved too, this is so easy that with a little supervision very young kids can make their own lunch money purse, and they will feel so good about themselves for having made it.
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