How to Make a Pleated Handbag

This free pattern for pleated handbag is an easy sewing project perfect for teens, new sewers, and experienced seamstress who want to create a simple pleated purse. This pleated purse pattern is easy to follow, simple to make, and takes less than ½ a yard of fabric.

To Make this Free Pleated Pure Pattern You Will Need:

Fabric

Ruler

Pins

Scissors

Interfacing

Interior Fabric

Snap or Button

To get started you want to cut out 2 rectangles of your exterior fabric, interior fabric, and fusible interfacing to 10 inches tall and 14 inches wide.

You will also need 4 strips of exterior fabric and 2 pieces of fusible interfacing cut to 2 inches tall and 12 inches wide.

Finally, you will need one piece of fabric cu tot 22 inches long and 2 inches wide for the strap or handle. Cut out a matching piece of the interfacing and go ahead and iron it onto the back side of the handle fabric.

While you are at it iron the interfacing into each coordinating piece of exterior fabric.

Now, on to the body of this pleated purse tutorial. Take the exterior piece of bag fabric, the large pieces. Take one and fold it in half so it is 10 inches tall and 7 inches wide. Mark the center.

Measure one inch to left of center and make a /12 inch pleat. Repeat on the right one inch out.

Now, 2 inches out to the left and right of these pleat, make 2 more. Pin into place. Repeat on the other side of the bag bottom panel.

Repeat this on the inside panels of the bottom of the bag.

Lay all four pieces of the pleated handbag face up on the table. Take the four strips of 12 inch fabric and lay one across the top of each panel. Lien the top edge up and pin together. Sew this seam with a 3/8 inch seam allowance.

Now, take the outer two panels and place them face side together. Sew the sides and bottom together with a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Repeat on the interior panels, but leave a 6 inch opening in the bottom.

Now, turn the exterior bottom of the pleated bag pattern inside out. Punch out the two bottom corners.

Slip the liner panels around this piece of the pleated handbag pattern.

Now, make the needle. Take the strip of handed fabric. Fold is in half length wise and iron down. Fold the two rough edge sin and then iron again. Sew this seam shut. Sew a matching seam up the other side to give a matching appearance.

Now, insert the handle into the pleated purse pattern. Place on end on the left and right sides centering then in between the liner and exterior fabric and centering on the seam.

Pin in place. Sew this top seam shut.

Turn the bag inside out. Iron the top seam of the pleated purse pattern down. Sew this edge near the top seam to add detail and give your free pleated bag pattern a finshed detail.

A snap or button can be sewn in the free pleated handbag pattern if you wish.