Liz makes a leather purse with fringe

I've been wanting a leather fringe purse ever since I visited the Free People store in Boulder, Colorado last week and saw the perfect bag ever. I'm sure it was ~$500. I'm not sure though because I didn't look at the price tag. Anyway, I've decided to try and make my own Free People inspired clothing and accessories and here's where I started.

Tyler had bought this hideous vest for some silly photography nonsense awhile back. I totally cut it up today for the purse.

I cut a rectangle out of the leather and a slightly smaller rectangle out of a cotton fabric. The leather is the purse base and the cotton fabric will be your purse lining.

I cut a scrap piece of leather and sewed it onto the lining as a pocket. The top stitch looks like it's sewn to the cotton fabric, but it's not. I had sewn it beforehand to make it look more finished.

Grab another piece of scrap leather as wide as the width of your purse base. I made mine have a little point in the middle. This is going to be your fringe.

Using a rotary cutter, a ruler and a cutting mat, make some fringe!

Sew the fringe onto the purse base. I sewed mine near the top of one of the sides.

Put the cotton on top of the leather. Make sure they're wrong sides together. Fold over the short sides and tape them. The tape acts as pins. Using pins in leather is a no-no! Now you will sew across where you just "pinned."

Now fold up the purse, leather sides together, and sew up the sides! Turn inside out.

Get some small D rings and some more scrap leather.

Attach the D rings to your bag using your sewing machine.

You can either make your own strap or get one from an old purse.

I think it turned out cute! What do you guys think?

Love, Liz