Leather Handle Tote Bag

Saturday, May 26, 2018

This may shock you, but I did in fact do 3-D sewing!! (Spoiler alert: I survived! And the bag turned out great too!)


Leather handles, rivets, and a canvas Les Fleurs fabric by Rifle Paper Co. and Cotton + Steel make this a great tote bag for summer!


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Stephanie from Crosscut Sewing Co. sent me a leather handle tote bag kit for the purpose of this review. You can find the free tutorial/pattern for the bag on their website here. (It's no longer available). They have all the supplies you need on their website, so you can get it all from one place!


Leather handle tote bag kit from Crosscut Sewing Co.

For this bag, I chose the Peach Folk Birds print from the Les Fleurs collection by Rifle Paper Co. for Cotton + Steel for the exterior of the bag. For the interior, I used the Cotton + Steel Sprinkles print in Anna Blue. I also have several cuts of Cotton + Steel canvas from the Menagerie line, and I'm really considering using this pattern to turn them into bags too!


Leather handle tote bag kit from Crosscut Sewing Co.

I'll admit, I received the kit months ago. But I was really intimidated by it! First of all, it's 3-D sewing. But not only that, it had fusible fleece, Shape-Flex, leather handles, rivets, a magnetic closure, and a fusible Peltex bag bottom! NONE of which I had ever used before!


Leather handle tote bag tutorial/pattern by Crosscut Sewing Co.

I procrastinated long enough and decided to just jump in.

I focused on following the directions - only one step at a time - and it didn't take long at all before I was conquering fears!


Magnetic snap closure for tote bag

Of course I had the perfect color of Aurifl 50wt thread in my stash! I really don't have that much thread (contrary to what my husband thinks!), but I guess what I do have is a great selection! This one is #2215 Peach.


Aurifil thread, leather handles, rivets, and a canvas Les Fleurs fabric by Rifle Paper Co. and Cotton + Steel make this a great tote bag for summer!

The main part of the bag came together a bit like magic!


Leather handles, rivets, and a canvas Les Fleurs fabric by Rifle Paper Co. and Cotton + Steel make this a great tote bag for summer!

Then it was time for the handles. These aren't your typical sewing notions!


Leather handles, rivets, and a canvas Les Fleurs fabric by Rifle Paper Co. and Cotton + Steel make this a great tote bag for summer!

The pattern calls for an awl, but I couldn't find one in my husband's tools. He helped me pick a giant nail instead.


Installing rivets for leather handles on a tote bag

The rivets reminded me of plastic snaps. They come in two parts that fit together. Rivets just require a bit more force. (I used a block of wood and rubber mallet to install the rivets. If I make more bags, I will definitely buy an inexpensive rivet setter to prevent the rivets from getting flat spots or shifting when setting them.)


Installing rivets for the leather handles on a tote bag

The bag turned out really great! It looks professionally made with the rivets and leather handles!


Leather handles, rivets, and a canvas Les Fleurs fabric by Rifle Paper Co. and Cotton + Steel make this a great tote bag for summer!
Leather handles, rivets, and a canvas Les Fleurs fabric by Rifle Paper Co. and Cotton + Steel make this a great tote bag for summer!

For someone who had never used any of the needed supplies before and does not do hardly any 3-D sewing, I'd say it was a success!


Leather handles, rivets, and a canvas Les Fleurs fabric by Rifle Paper Co. and Cotton + Steel make this a great tote bag for summer!

I might even dare say - I'd do it again!

I had a scrap piece of the canvas left over that was just big enough to use for a key chain! Now I have a matching set!

Matching tote bag and key chain wristlet from Les Fleurs fabric canvas by Rifle Paper Co. and Cotton + Steel

Be sure to check out the black, chestnut, and tan leather handle kits Stephanie has at Crosscut Sewing Co. I think the chestnut handles would go with the other canvas prints I already have!


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3 comments:

  1. What a pretty bag! I have at least one bag kit with some of those intimidating additions, like the magnetic clasp. I know it will be fine when I decide to make it though, just taking my time. I like that leather handle. Thanks for the helpful review!

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  2. It's fantastic!! I've delved a bit into making bags recently, but because I hate collecting hardware, I find kits to be absolutely essential to give me the motivation. Yours turned out fabulous, and oh I love those rivets! I didn't know you could even do it without a press, so that's good to know.

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  3. Great bag! I love the polish the leather handles give it!

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