Be the coolest girl in school! Make a Book Purse from an old novel.
It's easy and fun....why not make them for a profit?
First, you'll need these materials to make your book purse.
A hardcover book (no paperbacks allowed)
About 1/2 yard of fabric for the lining
Sewing machine or needle and thread
Scissors
Utility knife
Craft glue
Store-bought [or handmade] purse handle
Colored markers
Polyurethane finish, Mod Podge, or watered-down white glue
OK, are you ready? Let's go!
If at any time these directions get a tad confusing, then just watch this video from Chris Gardner on making a
Book Purse. You can see exactly how it's done!
First, cut away the pages from the binding using your utility knife.
Then use a colored marker to fill in any spots where the color may have worn off.
Make sure the colored marker matches your book or compliments the color.
Now, stand the book vertically on a piece of paper and trace it's outline.
Make sure you leave it open as wide as you will want your final handbag to open.
It should be open in the shape of a 'V' with the binder facing you and the open part facing away from you.
After you are finished, you should have a triangle shape because you have traced all the way around the book.
Next, cut out this triange but add 1/2 inch around the perameter-
so the triangle you cut out is slightly bigger than your drawing.
Now, cut that triangle in half making 2 equal pieces. You should be cutting along the height.
Copy each half of the triangle onto the fabric twice, adding another half inch for seam
allowance along the height.
So now you should have four triangles, two of each shape.
Now, pin one of each of the triangles with right sides together, and sew along the height.
This should look like the larger triangle that you traced from the book.
Sewing a seam along the middle helps to
make the sides fold inside the handbag easier when closed.
Next, copy this larger triangle onto a new piece of fabric.
Pin the sides right sides together, and sew along all three sides, leaving a tiny opening at the bottom to invert.
Don't worry about sewing the opening, as it will be glued on the inside of the book.
Repeat steps 7-8to create a second triangular side panel.
Cut four 2x3” strips of fabric(or whatever size will fit into the slots of your handles),
fold along the length, and sew right sides together. Now invert them to create four 3” tabs.
Lay the book cover flat on the fabric, and cut out the shape, adding an inch on all sides.
Fold this extra inch over and iron to make a lining panel.
Now attach the handles by gluing the tabs to the cover.
Then, glue one side of the side panel onto the edges on one side of the book.
Dot that half of the book with glue, and glue one half of the lining panel to the side glued in step ten.
After the glue dries a bit, glue the other long side of the triangle end pieces to the other half of the book,
and cover with the lining panel.
Press down to secure the glue. This step requires a little patience, but you'll get it.
Add any embellishments or cool decorations, such as buttons, beads, tassles, bows, etc, if you want to give your bag a little additional unique flair.
Now it's time to finish it with a protective coat (either glue or polyurethane based).
Now, go show off your new recycled one of a kind Book Purse!
If you're still a little unsure of what you're doing, just watch this video with detailed instructions on how to make a Book Purse.
If you enjoyed making a Book Purse, take a look at more handbags you can make!
Here are some super easy directions for handbags you can create in no time!
