How to Make a Zippered Wristlet Purse

How to Make a Zippered Wristlet Purse

I was specifically looking for a cute little zippered wristlet purse to share with you.  As you know handbags are my favorite thing to sew.  I came across this idea at Handmadia but there were no instructions and it was not lined so I decided to do a full tutorial with instructions and a lining.  I liked the fabric choice so I stuck with that but the rest is all mine.  This turned out to be a very simple sewing project.  Even the zipper is pretty easy to do as is the lining.  You could make this little bag out of any woven fabric you like and it will turn out beautifully. 

The fabric I used is actually a fleece that I interfaced with Pellon 808 for support.  I had this fabric in my stash and got it at JOANN Fabric & Craft Stores but you could head to Hobby Lobby or Fabric.com to get the perfect 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. 

What you will Need: How to Make a Zippered Wristlet Purse

How to make a zippered wrisltet purse
What You will Need Zippered Bag

Step 1: Cut your fabrics

Outer, Lining, and Interfacing

  • Front top 8 1/2″ by 3″
  • Front bottom 8 1/2″ by 6″
  • Back 8 1/2″ by 9″
  • Strap 13 1/2″ by 2″

Cut the leather scrap following the pattern piece.  

How to make a zippered wristlet purse
Cut Your Fabrics

Step 2: Fuse the Interfacing

Fuse the interfacing to the wrong side of the outer fabrics.  If you are unfamiliar with how to fuse interfacing simply follow the manufacturer’s instructions.  All you need is a hot iron to fuse the interfacing properly.  Using a Frixion heat erasable pen to mark the 1/4″ seam allowances on the wrong side of the outer fabric and the lining fabric. 

How to make a zippered wristlet purse
Fuse the Interfacing

Step 3: Add the leather

Cut out the leather or faux leather using the pattern piece.  Clip it to the top left corner of the 8 1/2″ x 3″ piece of outer fabric and stitch along the curved edge.  Use wonder clips for this because pins leave holes in the leather. If you do not have wonder clips you can get them from my Amazon shop here.  

How to make a zippered wristlet purse
Add the leather

Step 4: Add the Zipper

I used a 14″ zipper for my project that I shortened.  To add the zipper to the front of the bag start by placing the 8 1/2″ x 3″ piece face up on your work surface.  Place the zipper face down so that the fabric is centered on the zipper.  Also make sure that the zipper pull is to the right.  Place the lining piece right side down so that you have a zipper sandwich.  Stitch the zipper starting at the seam allowance line you drew and finishing at the seam allowance line on the other side.  Turn the outer fabric right side up and press.  Top stitch along the zipper teeth.  Repeat for the other side of the zipper using the 8 1/2″ x 6″  piece.  

How to make a zippered wristlet purse
Add the zipper to the top
How to make a zippered wristlet purse
Add the zipper to the bottom
How to make a zippered wristlet purse
Finished Zipper

Step 5: Stitch the outer pieces

Place the large outer piece face down on the outer zipper panel you just created. Pin the top outer pieces together. Just the outer pieces and stitch using a 1/4″ seam allowance.  Open the zipper about half way.  Stitch the outer sides and the bottom of the bag along the seam allowance you previously drew.  If the outer piece is a bit longer than the zipper piece just cut it off to make it even.  Remember to keep the lining out of the way during this step.  Stitch over the zipper. 

How to make a zippered wristlet purse
Add the large outer piece

Step 6: Stitch the Lining Pieces

Place the large lining piece right sides down on the lining panel you just created.  Stitch along the lining top using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Sew along the lining sides along the lines you previously drew. Stitch over the zipper.   When stitching the bottom leave an opening in the lining to turn the bag.  

Step 7: Box the Corners

Press the bottom seam to the side seam at the corners right sides together.  Measure down 1/2″ from the point that you created and stitch across the point.  Repeat for all for corners of the bag.  

How to make a zippered wristlet purse
Box the corners

Step 8: Turn the bag

Turn the bag through the opening you left in the lining and the open zipper.  Poke out the boxed corners.  Stitch the opening closed using ladder stitch.  If you are unfamiliar with ladder stitch check out this video.  

Step 9: Create the strap

Take the 13 1/2″ x 2″ piece of outer fabric and fold it in half lengthwise and press.  Open it up and fold the raw edges to the center and press again. Fold in half again and press.  Add the swivel clip.  Open the short edges and place them right sides together and stitch.  Fold the strap back together.  Top stitch along both sides of the strap and across the width if the strap near the swivel clip. The strap is complete.  

Step 10: Add the Grommet

Cut a small hole in the area where the leather patch is.  Insert the grommet and install following the manufacturers instructions.  Make sure that you place your grommet a little higher up than I did or you will have trouble clipping on the strap.  Also use a smaller grommet than I did so that it will fit more squarely in the leather patch.  Clip the swivel clip through the grommet.  You have now finished your zippered wristlet purse.  

How to make a zippered wristlet purse
Finished Bag

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If you would like more zippered pouches check out my zippered cat pouch or my Half moon zippered pouch

 

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