How to Make Your Own Handbag or Purse from a Scarf

Imagine having a purse to match every outfit that you own. With this simple craft project, it's entirely possible! Granted, they won't be those multi-compartmental, complicated Coach imitation bags, but these simple purses that you can make in just minutes from a scarf are chic, cute and wonderfully simple-perfect for spring and summer. Use a smaller scarf to make a cute little bag for the bare necessities-wallet, credit cards, and car keys, or make a bigger version to hold beach accessories, wardrobe changes or shoes. As an avid tango dancer, I use these bags to transport my dance shoes to and from events with a bit of creative flair.

The Basic

I find that working with a larger scarf is easier for your first attempt (which should be very easy no matter what). Try one with 24" sides to start-it will give you a medium-sized bag.

Lay the scarf flat, with the side you want to be the outside of the bag facing downwards on a table or other flat work surface.

Take one corner of the scarf between your index finger and thumb, and use your other hand to slide down the scarf so that you have a tag of scarf about seven or eight inches long. Be sure that the scarf is gathered equally on each side of this tag.

Tie an overhand knot at the base of this section. (The end closer to the center of the scarf.)

Repeat this on the other three corners of the scarf to that you have four equally spaced knots with four, equal length tags-one off the end of each knot. You can loosen and adjust the knots as need be at this point in order to get them equally spaced.

Now, join two adjacent tags together to form a handle with an overhand knot. Depending on what you like, you can leave larger or smaller tags on the end of this knot to create a small bow.

Repeat this step for the remaining two tags, and you're all done!

Scarf bag with handles

A simple variation you that you might want to try is attaching the scarf bag to real purse handles. This offers increased practicality and structure to the bag. You might try going to a thrift store and looking for handles that match your scarf on an old purse. Simply detach the purse handles from old purse, and then tie the first four knots (from the directions above) to the handles of the purse rather than simple overhand knots. I have found that wooden circle handles work particularly well.

Adornments

You can also adorn your scarf purse in a countless varieties of ways-just use your imagination! One of my favorite methods is to find oversize wood beads at a craft store. Then I paint them to match my scarf (if necessary) and then slide these onto the corners of the scarf in place of the first four knots that you would normally tie to make a bag. Then you simply join the ends with the same old overhand knot to create the two handles!

Another fun idea is to layer scarves. I have had very good results layering sheer scarves with a solid (but complimentary) color for the inside layer. This adds to their durability and gives a multi-dimensional effect. Simply align the scarves before you begin tying the knots, and tie the knots with both scarves together.

Different sizes

24" scarves will give you a medium-sized bag that you could store everything you might normally carry in a purse. They are also the ideal size for carrying an extra pair of shoes or perhaps a change of clothes.

12-18" scarves are great for carrying the basics-wallet, phone, keys, etc. They're small and cute.

Super big scarves (24" plus) can function as tote bags for transporting essentials to the beach, shopping, etc.

One last tip

A great place to find unique, quirky, and inexpensive scarves is your local thrift or vintage store.

So go ahead, give this simple craft project a try and I'd love to hear about the results and compliments you get for your cute, new scarf bags!