Longhorn Leather Bag

Step 1

Steps:

1. Trace the purse templates for the front, back and sides, onto the suede for the purse lining.

Step 2

2. Cut out the longhorn leather bag pieces using a rotary cutter and cutting mat. Cut the zipper slit in the front lining.

Step 3

3. Punch rivet holes along the sides and bottom of the lining pieces with a leather hole punch and mallet.

Steps 4-5

4. Cut two pieces of fabric to size to make the inside pocket.

5. Fold under each piece of fabric 3/4-inch for the pocket. Machine-stitch the zipper between the two pieces of fabric along the folded edges.

Step 6

6. With wrong sides together, align the opening in the suede front lining with the zipper and stitch around the zipper.

Step 7

7. Fold the pocket fabric pieces right sides together with the zipper at the top. Fold back the suede lining so it doesn't catch in the pocket seams and stitch the three side seams of the pocket. Trim away the excess fabric beyond the seams.

Step 8

8. Longhorn Leather Bag Exterior:

• Using the purse templates for the front, back and sides, trace around them onto the leather cowhide for the outside of the purse.
• Punch the rivet holes along the sides and bottom using a leather hole punch and mallet.
• Cut the strap from black leather.
• Cut the strap attachment pieces from the cowhide to match the outside of the purse.

Step 9

9. Longhorn Leather Bag Decor:

• Apply the cow design to the front cowhide piece of the purse using the cow stencil.
• Mix white acrylic paint with red metallic powder and stencil the design onto the cowhide.
• Apply red metallic powder over the acrylic paint to darken the color.
• Apply red swirl designs and black dots around the stenciled image with a paintbrush.
• Outline the cow design with black paint.
• Stencil a cow on the back of the purse. Let dry.

Step 10

10. Apply crystal rivets throughout the design on the front.

Steps 11-12

11. Glue the top edges of the cowhide outside pieces to the suede lining pieces using white glue. Machine-stitch the top edges together where they were glued using a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

12. Place the corresponding suede lining and cowhide outside pieces with wrong sides together.

Step 13

13. Put the purse together using rivets pushed through the pre-punched holes attached with a rivet-setting machine. Leave the center holes along the sides open for the lacing process.

Step 14

14. Weave leather laces through the open holes in the sides of the longhorn bag and tie off with a bead and a knot.

Step 15

15. Add the side hardware rings for the shoulder strap using rivets and two short strips of matching cowhide for each ring. String the shoulder strap through each ring and secure it with two rivets on each side.

Step 16

16. Add the front flap and attach an o-ring at the bottom with two rivets. Attach a strip of cowhide painted red above the stenciled cow with a rivet on each side for the o-ring to pass through to keep the flap in place.

Web site: www.stacischubert.com