One of quickest way to accessorize an outfit is to add a handbag.  It can add that touch of glamour to something simple.  Hand-sewn beadwork is the way we embellish our dresses and accessories and we’re going to show you how to do this yourself

How to make a hand bag:

 First things first, pick your fabric - you can use almost anything. We chose a cadet blue taffeta. Keep in mind that if you have fabric that stretches, you’ll need to use interfacing to stabilize it first - this way it will be a lot easier to sew. We’re also adding a sterling silver chain shoulder strap.  You can do this or not at all and use the bag as a clutch. 

  In addition to the fabric, you’ll also need to use another piece of fabric to line your bag.  The liner will allow you to have clean edges – you won’t see any of your seams on the inside of your bag.  Use fabric that is fairly thin – you don’t want to add bulk to the bag. 

 In our example, we’re making a simple bag, when finished it will be 1½ inches wide and ¾ inches high. You’ll need to cut the fabric and lining so that enough sewing allowance has been included - we gave it a 3/8" seam allowance. To make this bag, cut a rectangle that is 2½ inches wide and 2¾ inches long (lining as well). 

In the example, we plan on covering the front flap with silver sequins and crystal beads. The easiest way to embellish is to use sequins and beads.  If you don’t know how to sew with sequins, here’s a quick lesson:  First, thread a beading needle with thread – we like to use nylon thread. Make a good knot and pass the needle through the fabric. Go through the hole of the sequin and then through the hole of a bead.  You should see that the bead rests on top of the sequin. Now pass the needle back through the hole of the sequin – skip the bead. Then you’ll go through the fabric. As you pull the needle through, the bead will stay on top of the sequin and keep it anchored to the fabric. Now you can go to the next spot you need to place a sequin.  In this case, you will position the needle right next to the first sequin and continue covering the area you want to decorate. That’s it.

 Next we decided to further accent the bag by adding a row of hand-sewn crystal seed bead fringe along the bottom. To do this, stitch through the edge of the fabric and pass through several beads – the number depends on how long you want the fringe to be. To make a single strand of the fringe, take the needle -- SKIPPING THE LAST BEAD and pass through the beads you’ve just strung – all the way back to the first bead you strung and through the fabric.   Now you’re ready to position the needle right next to the fringe you just created and make the next strand.

Adding a shoulder strap is very easy when you use chain.   Here, we went a step further by including decorative touches with Swarovski crystal rondelles and bi-cones.  These items have holes in their centers, so you will attach them just like sewing seed beads. Sew through the point where you would like to position one end of the strap.  Then,  we passed the needle through one bi-cone, then through a rondelle and finally, through a bi-cone.  Now, with the needle, go through the last link of the chain strap and go back through the bi-cone/rondelle/bi-cone group.  Go through the fabric at the point you first came through and secure the thread with a knot.  You'll repeat this at the other end of your chain.  Your bag now has a strap.

Adding a shoulder strap is very easy when you use chain.   Here, we went a step further by including decorative touches with Swarovski crystal rondelles and bi-cones.  These items have holes in their centers, so you will attach them just like sewing seed beads. Sew through the point where you would like to position one end of the strap.  Then,  we passed the needle through one bi-cone, then through a rondelle and finally, through a bi-cone.  Now, with the needle, go through the last link of the chain strap and go back through the bi-cone/rondelle/bi-cone group.  Go through the fabric at the point you first came through and secure the thread with a knot.  You'll repeat this at the other end of your chain.  Your bag now has a strap.