Circular spring purses are the hot new thing for spring and perfect gifts for Easter, Mother’s Day – any holiday, really! Bonus: they’re pretty easy to make and totally budget-friendly.
Before we get to the craft though, let me give you some backstory.
The idea was actually inspired by all the straw totes I saw during my recent trip to Mexico City. I was obsessed with the circular shape, and realized that anyone could make these purse themselves (and on the cheap) by using straw placemats. When I returned home, I found the exact placemats needed for the project at Target for only $6. It was basically an Easter miracle.
This DIY is perfect for someone who has experience in hand sewing. Overall, the craft is pretty easy, but will take you about 2 hours to complete. Oh, and keep in mind, it would make a perfect Mother’s Day gift, too.
What you’ll need:
- Two straw chargers
- 35-inch-by-3-inch piece of 5/6-ounce leather
- Two 18-inch-by-1/2-inch leather strips
- Waxed cord
- 1/4 yard of fabric
- Fabric glue
- Needle
- Scissors
- Leather punch
- Ruler
- Pencil
STEP ONE:
With the leather punch on the smallest setting, create two holes at the end of each leather strap.
Using the leather cord, sew the strap onto the top of one charger, as if you’re sewing on a button.
Weave the thread through the holes at least three times for extra security, and then tie a knot tightly on one side.
Repeat with the other charger.
STEP TWO:
Place the chargers onto your fabric. Trace around them onto the fabric and then cut out the circles. Glue the material onto the inside of each charger, covering the knots from the handles. You also can use extra fabric to create a pocket on the inside of your bag if you’d like.
STEP THREE:
Measure marks about 1 inch apart on the long edge of each leather piece. These marks should be about 1/4 inch away from the edge of the leather. Once you have marked off these measurements on both the long sides of the leather, set the leather punch to the smallest setting and create holes where you’ve placed your pencil marks.
STEP FOUR:
Thread the needle and start sewing the first charger to the large piece of leather. Tie a knot at the end of the string and pierce the straw charger from the inside, moving the needle to the outside.
Bring the needle around the edge of the charger and push the needle through the first hole in the leather.
STEP FIVE:
Pierce the straw charger around the same area as where you began (near the knot) and return the needle to the front of the bag. Create a running stitch to move the needle in line with the next hole.
Your needle is now on the inside of the charger. Bring the needle to the outside of the purse by exiting through the second hole in the leather. Pierce the charger to bring the needle back to the inside of the purse, and then create a running stitch to move the needle to the next hole.
STEP SIX:
Repeat this process until you sew both chargers to the leather. Fill with chocolate, flowers and even a bottle of wine to give this fashionable, bag to someone special.
Share your DIY straw bag creations with us by tagging @HomeOfTheHolidays or #Holidays365.