Leather Owl Bag

Twit-Twoo!!

Posted by Claire J

About

I had an impulse to make myself a Leather Owl Bag yesterday. I'd never used leather before to make anything, so i read up on it and made sure i bought leather needles for my sewing machine.
I made my own pattern for this bag, and i'll show you how i made my pattern here too.
Hope you enjoy the How-To!!

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You Will Need (10 things)

  • Paper
  • Thread
  • Wood
  • Fusible Interfacing
  • Leather Belt
  • multi-coloured Leather Scraps
  • Leather Needle
  • Button(s)
  • Leather
  • Magnetic Clasp

Steps (22 steps, 240 minutes)

  1. 1

    First of all you will need your paper to draw half of your owl shape. Cut it out then use this to flip over and draw your full owl shape (this makes sure both sides are even!) This is the pattern for the front of the bag.

  2. 2

    Using The pattern for the front of the bag, trace around then draw an half of the owl's face (this is what will be the flap to close the bag).

  3. 3

    Now you'll need to decide on the depth of the bag as you'll need to add this amount to the top of the owl shape.

  4. 4

    Fold the added-on bit in half horizontally, and trace the outline of the owl's face from underneath. Cut this out.

  5. 5

    Now fold the owl in half vertically and trace the shape of the Owls face on to the other half.

  6. 6

    Cut this out. It should look like this

  7. 7

    Use thses patterns to transfer on to the reverse side of your leather.

  8. 8

    and cut them out.

  9. 9

    Now using your paper, cut out feather shaped to use as a stencil. I made 2 different sizes.

  10. 10

    Using the stencils, cut out as many feathers as you wish in different colours

  11. 11

    start to sew them in to place (making sure you've changed the needle to the leather one).

  12. 12

    now see your bag taking shape!!

  13. 13

    At this point i measured around the piece with string to get the measurement for the strip that will form the depth of the bag.
    Cut out this length and for the width use the depth you decided on for the bag.
    Mine was 79cm x 3cm.

  14. 14

    Now, with right sides together, sew the strip to the front of your bag.

    Do the same for the back.

  15. 15

    Turn it the right way and check that it's sewn all around the edges.

  16. 16

    Now i used a belt as a strap, but use what you like. Sew it to the side of your bag.

  17. 17

    :)

  18. 18

    I noticed my bag wasn't holding it's shape very well, so i ironed on interfacing inside and used a piece of wood on the back to hold the shape better.

  19. 19

    Now i put the magnetic clasp on....

  20. 20

    And cut a beak out of the leather to cover it up.

  21. 21

    Finally it's time for the Owl's eyes, Cut a template out then use to cut out in leather. Add smaller Circles then buttons to finish the eyes off.
    Glue on to the flap of the bag.

    *EDIT* the glue doesn't hold to well, so sew to secure properly!

  22. 22

    FINITO!! You're done :)