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FREE APACHE HANDBAG INSTRUCTIONS

This Apache Handbag can be easily made in just one or two afternoons. If you have a fairly heavy duty sewing machine, you may prefer to sew the seams with that instead of by hand as the instructions illustrate. In this case, you will need a leather needle for your machine. Otherwise, supplies you will need to make this project are as follows: large piece of soft leather, some strong leather lacing for the neck strap, a large eye needle and some strong thread or sinew, a good pair of scissors, some large blank paper, and the decoration you plan to use. We are assuming you are attaching the conchos as shown. We are also assuming you are using our machine cut leather fringing.

STEP 1: Make a paper pattern to the dimensions you want for your handbag size (we recommend 10 ½” x 12 ½ “ adding another ½ inch if using a sewing machine.) Trace this twice onto a piece of leather being sure to go with the grain of the leather. If you are making your own fringe, then use the bottom of your pattern and make the smaller fringe piece about ½” narrower than your pattern and any length you want. Once all are traced onto leather, cut leather pieces with scissors.

STEP 2: You may skip this step if you are using our machine cut leather fringe. If you aren’t confident about cutting straight lines for your fringe, you may want to use our machine cut leather fringe. Cutting it yourself can be difficult, especially if you wish to add large hole beads to the fringing. To cut your own, you will need to cut your fringe at about 3/16”-1/4” intervals for the beads to stay where you put them (or smaller for smaller hole beads). You will need to measure and mark these intervals to insure it works out to be equal all the way across. Be sure to leave at least ½” at the top uncut for your seam area. Your interval marks MUST be at the very top of this seam area or the marks will show. You should cut your fringe at this point so you will be able to tuck it out of the way when assembling your handbag.

STEP 3: Sandwich the fringed piece of leather between the larger pieces of leather making sure the top of the fringe (seam area) comes flush with the bottom of the handbag (see Figure 1).

STEP 4: Sew the seams all the way around making sure you avoid the middle piece of leather except when you are at the bottom. Using the slip stitch, start sewing at one top corner making an "X" stitch for strength, and sew all the way around to the other top corner (see Figure 2).

STEP 5: Now turn your handbag right side out to prepare to add the metal conchos. Cut 2 slits 3/8” (1cm) long and 3/16” (5mm) apart going parallel with the bottom of the handbag. Be sure you place this 1st set of slits in the center approx 2 3/4” (7cm) up from the bottom of the handbag. Then cut 4 more sets of slits evenly spaced to form a "V" with each set of slits 1 3/16” (3cm) up and 1 3/16” ( 3cm) over from the set below it. (See figure 3).

STEP 6: Now to cut the lacing holes, you cut 12 slits (or holes) 5/8” (15mm) long on each side of the top of the handbag as shown in figure 3. Each hole should start about 3/4” (2cm) from the top edge of the handbag and be about 3/4” - 1” (2cm - 2.5cm) apart.

STEP 7: Cut 5 lengths 12 ½” (32cm) long from the 6mm lacing. If you are making your own lacing, cut pieces from the same leather as the handbag approx 3/8” wide (see figure 6). Use this to attach your conchos (as shown in figure 4) by running the 2 ends of the lacing through the slits from the back and through the concho. Then cut 2 slits in the lacing itself, each about 3/8” (1cm) long with the first one placed directly below the concho and the 2nd directly below that. Then run the upper lacing through these slits on the lower lacing to create a neat braided affect as shown.

STEP 8: Now, for your shoulder strap, cut the remaining 6mm leather lacing in half. If making your own lacing for this strap, you will have to reinforce the strength by doubling it and sewing that together, or use a different stronger leather for this purpose (see figure 6). Weave one length in and out of the holes you put along the top of the handbag. When you reach one end of the first side, pass the lacing through a concho (it is important you do use something here), then weave in and out of the holes on the other side. Repeat this with the other lacing piece you cut, except start from the other side of the handbag.

STEP 9: Tie the ends of each lacing piece so your handbag will hang from your shoulder just how you like it. Add any beads you want to the fringing since this really adds a lot to the finished project. You will use the conchos you placed at either end of your strap to open your handbag. NOTE: If you are making your own lacing as shown in figure 6, you should stretch out any curved portions and then trim off any lumps which show up as a result of this. When initially cutting, keep this in mind leaving more room when going around sharp corners so you have plenty of room to cut off these lumpy areas.

We truly hope you enjoy this free item and appreciate the work that has gone into bringing this to you absolutely free. There is one thing you need to be aware of, however. This is COPYRIGHTED material. This means that you CAN NOT reproduce this in any way whatsoever. This came to you for free, now enjoy it for what it was meant to be, a gift to you. Make as many as you wish to give as gifts to your friends and family. Thank you. Kathy O’Connell

Brought to you by Native Essence Crafts & Supplies