Okay, so I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making a purse, and I finally did it! I decided to go with a “Warren Reed” style because, why not? It seemed like a fun challenge.
First off, I spent hours browsing online, looking for some inspiration and maybe a tutorial or two. I searched for deals on “Warren Reed bags” and “Warren Reed purses,” I mainly browsed on Poshmark and eBay. There are tons of styles and colors, which made it tough to choose. And some of them are expensive! I saw prices ranging from like $8 all the way up to $49. I even checked out some other brands like Coach, just to get an idea of what’s out there. Then I found lots of white color bags are sold at about $25.99. Oh man, let me tell you, those Coach bags are something else. Their leather creed thing is pretty neat, and the serial number is stamped right into it. Fancy!
Anyway, after much deliberation, I picked out a simple design and color. I opted for a white shoulder bag with several pockets and a zip/snap closure. Seemed practical and stylish.
Next, I gathered my materials. I already had some fabric lying around, and found some cheap zippers and snaps online. Now, I am not a professional sewer by any means. So the actual making of the purse was… an experience. I managed to sew most of the pieces together, more or less straight. I sewed it by hand because I didn’t want to buy a sewing machine, although I know some people use them. There were a few mishaps, and let’s just say my seams aren’t exactly perfect. But hey, it’s handmade, right? That’s part of the charm!
The pockets were a bit tricky. I wanted to make sure they were big enough to actually hold stuff, you know? After a few attempts, I finally got them to a size I liked. The zipper and snap closure was another hurdle. I messed up a couple of times, but finally got it to work.
The Result
In the end, it took me about a week to finish the whole thing, working on it here and there. And you know what? It actually turned out pretty decent! It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely functional, and I’m kind of proud of it. I can fit my phone, wallet, keys, and even a small notebook in there.
- It’s a white shoulder bag.
- It has several pockets.
- It’s got a zip/snap closure.
- It’s handmade (and it shows!).
I’ve been using it for a few days now, and it’s holding up well. I might even try making another one, maybe in a different color next time. Who knows, maybe I’ll even get good at it! If you’re thinking about trying to make your own purse, I say go for it! It’s a fun project, and it’s pretty satisfying to carry around something you made yourself.
