I am not much of a designer, but I have designed a few things when I couldn’t find just what I wanted in a ready-made pattern. I designed this little floral shoulder purse by using the body of an existing pattern and drawing the flap. I wish I could remember where the purse body pattern came from; I made this a few years ago when I was still selling on Etsy.

If you are new to creating your own patterns, you can use a basic bag pattern and then create your own touches. You might even take pattern pieces from different patterns and combine them. The important thing is to keep everything in proportion.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match pattern pieces. For example, you may love a pattern, but it doesn’t have any interior pockets;it is relatively easy to add a pocket by taking a pocket pattern piece from another pattern if you have a little sewing experience. Of course, you will need to use the lining pattern from the body design you are following, but you can measure the pocket and make the appropriate size opening in your lining. With a little practice you will be surprised at the handbag creations you come up with.