How to Find Cheap Purse Handles for DIY Projects

Whether you simply make handmade purses for your own use, sew handbags to give as gifts or make a wide variety of handcrafted bags and purses to sell online or at craft fairs, it is always helpful when you can save money on the materials you need to sew your unique creations. As anyone who makes DIY purses knows, one of the most expensive components in handmade handbags is a nice set of handles, which is absolutely necessary to finish off the bag and complete the look.

Shopping for purse handles at craft and sewing stores can be cost prohibitive; however, it is easier than you might think to find and buy cheap purse handles that are just as nice as any of the handbag handles you will find in specialty stores.

If you are constantly in search of cheap handles for your DIY projects, try the below tips for finding sturdy, attractive handbag handles that will help you keep your costs down without giving up quality.

Where to Find Cheap Purse Handles

1. Look for used purses wherever you can – particularly damaged ones. By taking apart worn, ripped or otherwise damaged purses and using the handles for your own creations, you are reusing materials that might otherwise end up in a landfill and will help you save money.
2. Look for cheap purses at thrift stores. Thrift stores always have lots of purses for sale, many of which may be stained or ripped, but will have handles that are in great condition. Purses in thrift stores often cost less than a set of handles at a craft store and you can use other pieces as well, such as closures and zippers.
3. Spend a weekend or two hitting up garage sales. Yard sales are a great place to find cheap purse handles that are attached to unwanted purses. As with thrift store finds, you can also reuse other parts of the bag to save even more money.
4. Bid on cheap handbag handles on eBay and other auction sites where you can find exceptional deals on handles and other materials. To save even more, look for used purses with good handles or sets of purse handles sold in lots.
5. Check out Craigslist and other local community listings for used purses or cheap purse handles for sale.
6. Hit up your local dollar store for cheap purses. I have found some pretty cute round handles this way, but be sure to somehow reuse all of the materials so that the rest of the bag doesn’t go to waste.

Get Creative to Save Money on Purse Handles

Get creative about what you use for purse handles. By thinking outside of the box, you can create unique handbags with straps and handles made from interesting objects. For example, thrift store neckties make excellent purse straps and dowels from your local home improvement or hardware store can be cut down to create straight purse handles.

Here are some other ideas for making handles out of somewhat random things:

• Neckties can be used for either a long shoulder strap or a pair of shorter handles.
• Belts make great shoulder straps.
• Extra fabric can be rolled into a long tube to be used as a handle.
• Bandanas can be rolled into handles as well.
• Sturdy chain necklaces can be used as straps for small bags.
• Chain (like from the hardware store) left over from DIY projects can also be used for purse straps.
• Rope can easily be used for straps and handles.
• Old or damaged scarves can be repurposed as purse straps.

Okay, your turn – what is your fave thing to use or reuse to make some cheap purse handles? Let us know in the comments below!

Free and Cheap Sewing Resources:

Here are some free ebooks I found related to sewing, organizing your craft room (or area) and making handbags.

Remember -- you don't have to have a Kindle to enjoy these ebooks, you can get the Kindle app for free for your smartphone or tablet and read them on whatever you have.

(Check out the two that show you how to make duct tape purses and other stuff!)

And, finally, here are some links to the cheapest print books I could find on Amazon that have to do with sewing purses. One of them has no-sew and low-sew patterns, so that one might be of particular interest to semi-crafty people who don't love sewing.