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How to Make a Dishcloth Handbag

How to Make a Dishcloth Handbag

How to Make a dishcloth handbag.  I bought these terrific flour sack dishcloths to make holiday applique dishcloths.  However, once I got them they inspired me to make other things.  I previously made a simple dishcloth apron but I thought a cute little dishcloth handbag would be the perfect project.  Making handbags is my favorite thing to sew. They are fun and functional.  Even though it is winter this is the perfect spring/summer handbag to make.  I honestly love how this bag came out.  This bag is a little more complicated than some of my other projects so I would categorize this as an intermediate sewing project.  But with a little patience you can get through this with no problem.

I used the dishcloths as my outer fabric and a nice decorator weight fabric for the lining but you could use quilting cotton.  I used leather handles to complete the look.  The dishcloths came from Amazon and the lining from Joann’s but you could head to Hobby Lobby or Fabric.com to get the perfect lining fabric for your project.  This post contains affiliate links that If you click on them and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

If you would like a vide tutorial of this project head over to YouTube and check out my video.  While you are there subscribe to my free YouTube channel.  

What You will Need: How to Make a Dishcloth Handbag

How to Make a Dishcloth handbag
What You Need Dishcloth Purse

Step 1: Cut your Fabrics

  • Dish Cloth Fabric 16″ w x 12″ h (Cut 2)
  • Lining Fabric 16″ w x 9.5″ h (Cut 2)
  • Facing 16″ w x 3.5″ h (Cut 2)
  • Zipper Flap 14″ x 2″ (Cut 4)
  • Interfacing 16″ w x 12″ h (Cut 2)
  • Interfacing 14″ x ” 2″ (Cut 4)

Step 2: Prepare your Fabrics

Add the interfacing to the Dish Cloths.  To do this place the glue side of the interfacing to the wrong side of the dishcloths and press.  The glue will fuse with the fabric and the two pieces will become one.  Once the two pieces become one, cut a square from the bottom corners of each of the outer pieces that measures 2″ x 2″.  Cut 2″ squares from the corners of the lining fabric as well.  

Cut the facings and the zipper flaps.  Interface the flaps.  

Step 2: Sew the zipper

Sew the zipper to the zipper flaps.  In this bag you have four zipper flaps. In order to sew the zipper to the flaps you will start by unzipping your separating zipper so that there are two sides.  Place one of the flaps right sides up on your work space.  Center half the zipper on the flap right side down on the flap.  Place another flap right side down on top of the zipper like a zipper sandwich.  Pin.  Stitch the zipper to the flap using a zipper foot along the zipper and on both sides.  Repeat for the other side of the zipper.  

How to make a dishcloth handbag
Place the zipper
How to make a dishcloth handbag
Make a Zipper sandwich
How to make a dishcloth handbag
Finished zipper

Step 3: Add the zipper to the lining

Center one half of the zipper flap right sides together on the lining.  Place the facing right sides down on the zipper flap.  Stitch all of the layers together using a 1/2″ seam allowance. Repeat for the other side of the lining. 

How to make a dishcloth purse
Place the zipper flap
How to make a dishcloth purse
Add the facing

Step 4: Sew the outer Bag

Place the two outer pieces right sides together.  Stitch the sides and the bottom using a 1/2″ seam allowance.  

Step 5: Box the Corners

Box the corners of the outer bag.  In order to do this you will pinch the side seam and the bottom seam together.  Stitch across the pinched bottom using a 1/2″ seam allowance,  This will create the boxed bottom.  Turn the outer bag right sides out.  

How to make a dishcloth purse
Box the corners
How to make a dishcloth purse
Finished outer bag

Step 6: Sew the lining

Sew the lining in the same way that you stitched the outer bag but this time you will leave an opening in the bottom for turning.  

Step 7: Box the lining bottom

Box the lining bottom in the same way that you boxed the bottom of the outer bag.

Step 8: Sew the lining to the outer bag

Insert the outer bag into the lining bag so that they are right sides together.  Stitch all the way around the top.  Turn the bag right sides out through the opening you left in the lining.  Push the lining into the outer bag.  Top stitch around the top pf the bag for a more professional finish.  

How to make a dishcloth purse
Place outer bag into inner bag
How to make a dishcloth purse
Turn the bag
How to make a dishcloth purse
Sewn outer bag

Step 9: Add the Handles

Sew the handles to the outside of the bag.  I have had these handles for many years and when I looked for them to provide the link I could no longer find them but you could use other standard leather purse handles for your bag.  

How to make a dishcloth purse
Dishcloth Purse
How to Make a dishcloth purse
Closed Zipper
How to make a dishcloth purse
Open zipper

 

I hope you enjoyed this project.  If you would like more sewing and crafting projects sign up for our newsletter and get your free eBook of 15 handbag patterns and tutorials. 

 

If you would like more dishcloth projects check out my simple dishcloth apron.  

 

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