How to Make a Square Motif Purse Using a Rainbow Loom
One of my favorite YouTube channels is feelinspiffy. Ellen Carpenter combines her love for crochet with her design ideas, something I really appreciate as a fellow crocheter. The idea for this project came with the idea of making a bigger square to form a motif and using that motif to create a purse. Since I only have one loom, I had to join smaller pieces to make a bigger square.
This hub is a tutorial on how to make a Square Motif Purse using the Rainbow Loom. Since one of the components I used for the motif needs a straight pegged loom, this is only possible to make using looms with removable components.
Materials
- Rainbow Loom;
- Hook;
- 1 Button or Bead; and
- Approximately 780 Rubber Bands (plus or minus, depending on how you sew your pieces together).
How to Make a Square Motif
Step 1:
Make 8 Lacy Heart Charms from feelinspiffy's YouTube tutorial. Try using different colors for each heart to make a unique look. I made 4 pairs of hearts with different color schemes to make the front and back match. These hearts will serve as corners for the motif and will be sewn together in a later step. Here is a link to the video tutorial by Ellen Carpenter:
Step 2:
Next, make 2 Large Granny Squares by following feelinspiffy's YouTube tutorial on One Loom Large Granny Square Bracelet. Make sure you do 2 separate squares (one square at a time) since it will be used to fill the hole that the hearts make when joined together. Here is the video for the tutorial:
Once you've done these two steps, you'll end up with these components:
Step 3:
You now need to lay out the pieces so you can start sewing them together. Here is a photo on how the layout should look like:
Line up the pieces while sewing together. I allotted 3 bands for the sides where 2 hearts meet and 4 bands for where a heart and a square meet. I used Craft Life's technique for sewing by stretching 1 band over many stitches before attaching a new band. Here are some more photos for this process:
Step 4:
Sew the sides together, making sure that the wrong sides are still facing outward.
Once you finish sewing the sides, add a button by inserting broken rubber bands through the holes and tying knots on the inside of the bag to secure the button. I used 2 broken bands I found in the teal pack, instead of cutting 2 perfectly good rubber bands for this step. I hate throwing the broken bands out and figured this would be a good use for them.
Turn the bag inside out so the right sides are now facing outward and the seams are hidden inside. Here are some more photos for this step:
Step 5:
Add a button closure by working the single chain pattern on the other side of the bag. Make sure it is the right size to hold the button securely in place.
Add a strap by placing your hook on one side of the bag and pulling through 2 rubber bands and continuing to work double single chains until you reach your desired length. You have the option to make a short strap for a wristlet or a longer strap for a handbag. Attach the end of the chain to your desired location by working a slip knot that goes through both the first chain and the last chain. Tuck in all the loose ends and you are finally done! Here are some photos for this step:
I hope you have fun making this Square Motif Purse. Admittedly, it does take a long time for the project to finish, but the result is definitely worth it.
