Making the Body of the Handbag

• 1). Cut two 14-by-12-inch rectangles from your fabric, lining and interfacing. Cut four 4-by-4-inch squares from your fabric. Cut four 2-by-4-inch rectangles from your interfacing.
  
  
• 2). Line up the 14-by-12-inch interfacing rectangles, fusible side down, on the wrong side of the matching fabric rectangles. Iron the interfacing in place.
  
  
• 3). Fold the 4-by-4-inch squares in half, right side out. Iron along the fold so that you have a crease. Open up the center fold and fold the edges in towards the center crease. Iron edge folds. Place 2-by-4-inch interfacing in between the two outside folds fusible side up. Refold outside creases over the interfacing and iron into place. Refold on center crease so that you now have a 1-inch strip. Press one more time.
  
  
• 4). Sew along both edges of each of the 1-inch strips you just made. Use a 3/8 inch seam allowance.
  
  
• 5). Place an O-ring on each strip. Fold the strips in half and then pin two of them on each piece of fabric with rings hanging down. Place them on the right side of the fabric about 4 inches in from the edges at the top. Sew each strip in place as close to the edge.
  
  
• 6). Place the fabric pieces together right sides together, O-rings together at the top, and pin. Sew around the sides and bottom using a 3/8 inch seam allowance. Repeat for lining, except leave a 4 inch hole unstitched on the bottom side.
  
  
• 7). Flatten the corners on both the fabric and lining into triangles by matching the bottom seam to the side seam. Measure 2 inches down the seam from the point. Draw a perpendicular line across the seam at this point. Sew along the line to create a flat bottom for your bag.
  
  
• 8). Turn the fabric part of the bag right side out. Place it inside the lining so that right sides are together and the O-rings are between the two. Pin the top edge of the fabric to the top of the lining. Sew all the way around the top using a 3/8 inch seam allowance.
  
  
• 9). Pull the fabric part of the bag through the hole in the bottom of the lining. Put the lining inside the bag. Press the top of the bag so that the lining sits right. Top stitch around the top of the bag. Sew the hole in the lining closed.
  
  

Making and Adding the Straps

• 1). Cut two 44-by-4-inch pieces from your fabric. Cut two 2-by-44-inch pieces from your interfacing.
  
  
• 2). Fold the fabric in half lengthwise right side out. Press the crease. Open up fold. Fold the edges in towards the center crease and press. Open your folds and place the interfacing fusible side up between the two outside creases. Refold the edges into the center over the interfacing and iron in place.
  
  
• 3). Fold the top and bottom of the two straps down about a quarter inch. Refold on the center crease so that the top and bottom folds are hidden. Sew all the way around your straps. Use a 3/8 inch seam allowance.
  
  
• 4). Place the end of one of the straps through an O-ring. Fold up the end about 1 inch towards the inside of the bag. Pin in place and sew across with 3/8 inch seam allowance from the end. Place the other end of the strap through the O-ring on the same side of the bag and attach the same way. Repeat for other strap.