Okay, so I’ve been wanting a REALLY big leather purse for, like, forever. I carry everything but the kitchen sink, you know? So, I finally decided to just make one myself. It seemed… ambitious, but hey, why not?
Finding the Leather
First, I needed leather. A LOT of leather. I went down to this local shop, and it was overwhelming. So many colors, textures… I ended up grabbing a huge piece of this beautiful, thick, dark brown leather. It was a bit pricey, but I figured, go big or go home, right?
The “Pattern” (aka Winging It)
Next up: the pattern. I’m not gonna lie, I mostly winged this part. I looked at some pictures of extra-large purses online, kind of sketched out a general shape on some big paper, and hoped for the best. I basically cut out two giant rectangles for the front and back, and then some long strips for the sides and bottom. I’m pretty sure a professional would have cried, but it looked okay to me.
Cutting and Punching
Cutting the leather was… an experience. My regular scissors were NOT up to the task. I ended up using a heavy-duty rotary cutter, and even then, it took some serious muscle. Then came the punching. I used a leather punch to make holes all along the edges where I’d be stitching things together. My hands were definitely sore after this!
Stitching It All Together
Now for the fun part (and the most time-consuming): the stitching. I used this thick, waxed thread and two needles, doing a saddle stitch. I’d seen it in a video online, and it seemed sturdy. It took FOREVER. Seriously, I think I binged an entire TV series while stitching this thing. My fingers were pricked and poked, but slowly but surely, the purse started to take shape.
- First started the sides.
- Attached bottom part.
- Then worked around the whole.
Adding the Straps
For the straps, I cut out two long, wide strips of the same leather. I doubled them over for extra strength and stitched them securely to the top of the purse. I made them pretty long so I could wear the purse cross-body, which is how I like to carry big bags.
The Final Result!
Finally, after days of work, it was DONE! It’s HUGE, it’s definitely handmade-looking (meaning, not perfect), but I absolutely love it. It fits everything I could possibly need, and it feels so satisfying to know I made it myself. I even added a little leather tassel for extra flair. It’s not perfect but it’s MINE, and I’m so proud!
It is exactly what i wanted!
