HANDBAG // Pattern + Tutorial
♻️ Turn busted wardrobe items into a handbag you’ll actually use in just a few hours.
đź‘ś Finish with a new bag, new skills and a warm fuzzy feeling of positive impact.
đź’š Time is precious - Spend less time watching and more time making. Tutorial distilled to 30 minutes of fluff-free info-packed video and visual content.
Option to add Reverse Appliqué below
Choose options
♻️ Turn busted wardrobe items into a handbag you’ll actually use in just a few hours.
đź‘ś Finish with a new bag, new skills and a warm fuzzy feeling of positive impact.
đź’š Time is precious - Spend less time watching and more time making. Tutorial distilled to 30 minutes of fluff-free info-packed video and visual content.
Option to add Reverse Appliqué below
♻️ Turn busted wardrobe items into a handbag you’ll actually use in just a few hours.
đź‘ś Finish with a new bag, new skills and a warm fuzzy feeling of positive impact.
đź’š Time is precious - Spend less time watching and more time making. Tutorial distilled to 30 minutes of fluff-free info-packed video and visual content.
Option to add Reverse Appliqué below
HANDBAG // Pattern + Tutorial
Create your own handbag from trash in a few hours of accessible upcycling. Finish with a new bag, new skills and a warm fuzzy feeling knowing you made a positive impact.
đź’š Creating Impact with Your Own Two Hands
Whether you’re a first-time upcycler or a seasoned sewer, this tutorial walks you through a simple, visual step-by-step method to transform waste materials into your own functional, creative handbag.
♻️ Accessible Upcycling
If you're a time-poor creative who likes nice things but hates buying new stuff, this tutorial is designed for you. With a clear afternoon and a few cups of tea, you can start at lunch and wear your bag to dinner that night.Â
🔥 Key Learnings
Delivered in under 30 mins of info-packed video & visual content
- Choose the right materials. How to choose and prep materials for bag upcycling
- Bag components. Building straps & pockets plus options to add accessories to suit your carry needs
- Bag assembly. Simple & practical method to sew 2D patterns into 3D forms
- Quality finishes: These simple bag finishing techniques get you high quality finishes without the years of sewing experience
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Optional Add-On: Reverse Appliqué. Our favourite way to add new life to worn materials
🛠️ What You'll Need
If you can thread a machine, you can make this bag. No special tools, training or equipment needed, just a household sewing machine, some scissors and some overlooked material.
- Household sewing machine
- Basic sewing skills
- Fabric scraps or a pair busted pants
- An afternoon and a few cups of tea
♻️ Waste Material Options:
- Busted pants, jackets, denim jeans, suit blazers and pants
- Blankets, curtains, upholstery, busted couch leathers
- Industrial materials: Mesh banners (from temporary fencing & scaffolding)
- Bike tubes (check your machine can sew the rubber first)
- Outdoor car covers, camping gear, tents, tarps etc
♻️ Bonus Waste Material Cheat Sheet ♻️
Bonus Waste Materials Cheat Sheet: We’ve spent over a decade experimenting with weird and wonderful materials. Learn how to source, use and apply 20 epic waste materials with this downloadable material cheat sheet.
đź’š Sync with Your Schedule
Move through this tutorial at your own pace. Power through it in an afternoon, or take your time over a few relaxing evenings. If you get stuck or need feedback, Luke is contactable through the chat section in each lesson :)Â
đź‘ś Tutorial Breakdown
Intro (2–5 mins): Get the lay of the land
Module 1 (5–10 mins): Design, patterns, materials sourced
Module 2 (5–10 mins): External panels, straps, and closures
Module 3 (5–10 mins): Lining, pockets, internal structure
Module 4 (5–10 mins): Assembly time!
Module 5 (5 mins): Finishes & hardware options
Each module includes 30–90 mins of hands-on making time pending materials and design.Â
♻️ Fast fashion is slowing down, upcycling is speeding up.Â
Join over 1000 Into Carry upcyclers and take impact into your own hands today.
♻️ Handbag Tutorial Format
Work through the recorded and written lessons at your own pace, asking questions as you need and getting feedback in the community forum.
- Visual learning with diagrams, how-to process videos and step-by-step imagery
- Lifetime access to the course content.
- Written and pre-recorded lessons to work through at your own pace
- Lessons hosted on INTO online community platform and can be accessed on web or mobile browser.Â
🌎 Don't Upcycle in a Silo
Join over 1000 like-minded change-makers on INTO's community platform. All your upcycling tutorials will live on your profile so you can access them from anywhere, at any time, forever. Plus connect with other upcyclers to share feedback and kudos! 💚👜♻️
🚀 Facilitation
🚀 Option One // Self-Paced & Self-Guided. 
Move through course in your own time, asking questions and getting feedback in the community forum. Self-guided = $78 AUD.
🚀 Option Two // Self-paced & Expert Facilitated.

Move through the course in your own time with guidance from your assigned INTO expert. Expert guidance model includes everything offered in the self-guided facilitation plus x3 one-on-one calls scheduled at your convenience to work through each key milestone for your bag creation. Expert Guided Facilitation= $269 AUD.
From the community
This course was absolutely amazing!! I learned how to create my very first handbag pattern from start to finish. The course materials are very easy to follow.
Shirmira Hill
Handbag FAQ's
Just a domestic sewing machine, some scissors and if you would like a bag closure then the hardware you desire for that (more details on applicable hardware in the tutorial but any magnetic bag closure will do the job).
If you can thread a machine and sew a stitch, you can make this handbag. The process and skill level is entry level for basic designs with options to add complexity if you're a more experienced sewer :) If you hit any curveballs, Luke is always available to chat and help you move forwards 💚👜♻️
Good question! Once you've purchased the product on this page, you will be sent two emails, the first is an order confirmation (ignore that), the second email will have a unique link in it (if you can't find it, check spam for this email). That link takes you to INTO's online community where your tutorial will be. All future INTO learnings you buy will do to this same spot once you click their unique link. So you can keep them all in one spot! Feel free to email like with any questions at luke@intocarry.co :)
Click the message icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. Depending on the timezone, I'll respond ASAP to your inquiry! Sometimes straight away, sometimes a few hours later (if I'm asleep, sorry!). Otherwise email me at luke@intocarry.co
More Learning Options
