Handmade Purses Using Tyvek

A few months ago, I posted a recap on this blog about my experiences at a Lynda Monk workshop, where I learnt lots of exciting ways to use Tyvek in textiles. You can see all the samples I made that day here. It was a lot of fun and definitely inspired me to do more, but it took me a while to figure out what to do with what I’d learnt. I did use Tyvek paper as part of my decay project (you can read about the begins of that here) which I intend to update you on in the near(ish) future, but other than that I’ve got a bit stuck about how to incorporate it into what I do. Until I decided I wanted to make things like purses, phone cases etc. to expand my product line on Etsy and at craft fairs and this idea came to me!

I made the fabric for the purse using a layer of felt, painted Tyvek and iron on metallic film, which I fused together.

I used more felt to create the side panels which attached the main body of the purse together and allowed for a folded over lip. I found fixings online that I think are normally used in leatherwork, but made great clasps for my bags.

I love the finished results, especially because they can be made in so many different sizes and colours, and look so effective, but are comparatively simple to make.

I have added the few I have made so far onto Etsy.

Blue and light pink/peach clutch purse

Brown and orange clutch purse

Purple and pink clutch purse

Purple/lilac clutch purse

Red clutch purse

Teal clutch purse

I will hopefully have a new Etsy update, with all the other things I have been making in the last few months, in a week or two. In the meantime, I'll be updating my shop with them as I photograph and list them, so do check there if you want a preview!