Home made bag/purse handle tutorial

Here is a nifty little idea I have been tossing about.

I have seen similar handles up for sale on the internet,

but knowing I had all the supplies on hand I decided to make my own handles.

The one thing I did not have on hand was 16 guage wire,

which would have been more flexible to work with and a better guage for some of the beads and findings I have on hand.

So I used coat hanger wire, but believe, me I would not use it again.

It does make for a strong handle though.

These are some of the materials needed for making your handles.

Pliers, wire cutter, wire, beads and findings.

Cut you wire to length

I read some where that the length of your finished handle should measure about 13 inches in length, allowing extra for turning ends in.

I have made mine a little longer here as I know I will need extra length to work off a nice finish, since the coat hanger wire is not so flexible.

Once again as my wire is not as flexible, I have used a sturdy circular object to shape my wire.

Now I have the shape I am happy with, I can prepare my beads.

Set out your beads in a colour scheme that you are happy with.

I have used some nice glass foil beads I bought some time ago on special.

I am going to space my beads with the only other thing I have on hand with a big enough opening, other wise I would have used some nice silver balls or similar.

After placing my beads on the wire, I bent over the end I was not working with, so my beads would not fall off. I needed to bring out the heavy duty pliers here, as it was hard to bend the other end around to form a nice circular close.

Here is the finished handle, both ends have been turned in and the excess wire has been cut off for a nice finish.

I may attach some half circle wire hoops to the ends of the handles, for attaching to a bag, or attach directly into the finished loops above.

Next thing I need to do is make the bag.

Crochet neck warmers

Here's some more neck warmers I've made to give away.

There is also an eye glass case.

More info on the neck warmer here.

Crochet Home Made Button Tutorial

Do you find that buttons can be expensive or you can't find a matching button?

Then try this simple idea.

Materials needed.

Plastic (I used the lid from an ice-cream container), shape to trace ( I used a button that was the size I needed for my project), marker/texta to trace with, preferably a thin tipped one, hole punch, scissors, yarn, hook and sewing needle.

Trace your shape

Using your thin tip marker, trace your shape then cut it out.

Mark holes for punching

These holes are used for sewing your button on.

Sewing View.

Colour your plastic button, optional

Depending on the yarn you use, the colour of the plastic may show through, so you may want to colour the plastic a colour similar to your yarn.

Now to crochet the cover for your new button

Using the magic ring technique (this forms a tighter close for the beginning ring)

6 sc into ring, (do not join rounds through-out)

2 sc into each sc around, (12 sc)

1 sc through back loops only in each sc around (12 sc)

1 sc through both loops around (12 sc)

Place plastic button into your crocheted work

sc 2 together around (6 sc)

Fasten off leaving long tail for sewing.

Beginning side

Finishing side

Thread tail for sewing

You sew the button on from either side up or down, it depends on the look you want.

When you are sewing on your new button, coming out from the top, you may need to weave under to get to the next hole, so as not to expose you sewing yarn.

These are some buttons I prepared earlier for a neck warmer I made

Now this is a simple button to make, it can be made smaller or larger by adding or subtracting the sc from your beginning ring and also by subtracting or adding more sc rows.
You may want to dress up your new button a little, by using your knowledge of crochet techniques.