Has anyone made the handle from fabric or ribbon? If so how do you attach it? Did you add beads ect to it? Thanks
I"m working one one.

After I used all of my wire handles (with beads), I decided to make them with fabric handles. I can give you more precise measurements and photos later this evening, but I cut one piece of fabric on the fold, then pressed the cut edges in. I placed a piece of Pelon inside the handle and top stitched four times, the length of the handle. The finished width of the handle was about 1 1/4 inch wide. I lined my purses, so the handle was sewn inbetween the lining and the hat. My handle fabric matched the lining fabric.

I hope this helps you some.

since I'm kinda new to these boards--I looked up this purse you are talking about. It's so cute. If you can- would you please post a pic of one you've made. I can't wait for the Santa hats to come now.

Ladies, I'm sorry I didn't get photos posted today. I have some family business to take care of and I just got home. I will try my best to get some photos posted tomorrow.

I really like the fabric handles better than the beaded handles. I also added a bottle cap pin (with bells hanging from ribbon) and attached it to the white cuff. It was just the finishing touch it needed!

Will be looking forward to your instructions when you have time. Thanks

I was finally able to take some pictures. This is a shot of the purse with the fabric handles. I like this lime green fabric. The top portion of the hat with the pom pom hangs on the other side of the purse. I added the ribbon and bells (it's safety pinned on from underneath.

This is a shot of the inside pocket of the purse. (I really don't have gunk under my fingernails...must be shadow.)

This is a shot of the handle and the top stitching. The flash really washed out the color and I tried to adjust it without much luck. But, I hope it will at least give you an idea of what I did.

This is another one that I made. This gives you an idea of how the top of the hat hangs.

When everyone was making bottlecap jewelry before Christmas, I tried my hand at it and had a blast. This is a cap that I had left over. I hot glued the ribbon and a pin back to the back of it and attached it to the purse. the flash really washed out the color....the cap is actually lime green. Anyway, I thought it made a nice finishing touch to the pocketbook.

I posted instructions in this post. I sewed the fabric handles into the purse the same way I did the wire handles. After making both (wire handles and fabric handles), I really prefer the look of the fabric handles. I used a lightweight interfacing in the handle and probably should have used a heavier weight, but I used what I had on hand and I think it will be fine.

I still have more that I want to make. I'll try to take pix as I make the inside pocket to provide you with a tutorial.

These are really fun to make. If you have any questions, please ask and I'll try to help.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Carolinapig,

Thanks for sharing that info and the pic's. I bought as many hats as I could find after the holidays. I agree, the fabric handles are very cute, and the lining really adds a lot to the purse. Great job.

Carolina - thanks for the great pictures and ideas on the hats. I bought several after Christmas and they are still in the bag on my sewing machine. I hope to start on them soon and your ideas about the lining and the cloth handles is great. I too love the lime green handles! Several years ago I made a red placemat purse and a put lime green boa around it as decoration and everyone loved it.