DIY - How to make a leather purse?

1. PRINT AND TRACE THE PATTERN

Download and print the PDF pattern. You can also choose a purse already cut for sale on our site (at this point go directly to step 3: assembling the purse) .

Cut out the paper pattern, leaving approximately 1 cm of margin around the pieces. Then tape the pattern to the leather using masking tape.

2. DRILLING AND CUTTING THE PURSE

Make the holes in the purse using a mallet and a 4 mm diameter punch.

• For a 14.5 cm purse you need to make 20 holes spaced 2 cm apart.
• For a 20 cm purse you need to make 24 holes (see the pattern) .

Using a rotary cutter or a good pair of scissors: cut the purse out of the leather (for perfect rounding we invite you to use the rotary cutter).

*The ears of the purses have deliberately not been cut out in these 2 example photos but don't forget to do them 😉

3. ASSEMBLY OF THE LEATHER PURSE

The video below shows you 2 ways to assemble a leather purse!

STANDARD VERSION

• Take 1 meter of round leather lace (diameter 2 mm) and cut it into 2 pieces of 50 centimeters.
• Pass the lace starting at one ear and make a complete turn. Take out the lace and tie a knot.
• Proceed in the same way for the second lace, but this time start at the other ear then tie a knot.

The little extra: decorate the purse with a sliding loop, eyelets or a lace stopper. We also advise you to tint the edges of the leather of the purse to give it a more finished look.

YAW STOP VERSION

• Take 50 centimeters of round leather lace (diameter 2 mm).
• Pass the lace starting at one ear and make a complete turn. Pull out the lace.
• Thread each end of the lace through the lace stopper, then tie a knot.

PRACTICAL FOR ALL OCCASIONS

LEATHER PURSE: THE NAVY VERSION

Marine chose to add a 1 cm wide leather strap to her purses:

• Mark the sewing points with a punch all around the purse.
• Cut 2 small strips of leather 1 cm wide then assemble them with a rivet in the middle (the length will depend on the diameter of the purse).
• Sew the leather straps onto the leather purse and make a decorative stitch.

LEATHER PURSE: NICOLAS’ VERSION

A small leather purse made from 2 mm thick leather and a 4 mm thick vegetable tanned leather reinforcement. The purse was assembled with a 3 mm wide flat lace. Nicolas chose to close his purse with a snap button but it is entirely possible to close it with the leather lace.