Star Wars Chewbacca Inspired Purse

Sometimes a bag is all you need to add some fun to your outfit!

Chewbacca has been on my inspiration list for years now and this project was super exciting to bring to life. The faux fur and gems really make it pop. Its simple and a subtle nod to my favorite Wookie. Even if you don't know the inspiration, it's still fun to look at! Bonus, these gems really bling in the sun ;)

Disclaimer: No Wookies were harmed during the making of this bag.

For more fun projects be sure to check out my work here :)

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Step 1: Watch the Full Video Tutorial!

Watch the full video tutorial here! I go over all the steps of how I created this bag!

Step 2: Gather the Supplies

Everything I Used:

Tools:

• Sewing Machine ( I have a Husqvarna Emerald 116)
• Industrial Sewing Machine (I have a Juki LU-2810)
• Scissors
• Rotary Cutter
• Small Precision Scissors (These are my favorite)
• Ruler
• Zipper Foot for Sewing Machine
• Computer & Printer
• Ipad
• Fabric Weights (optional but helpful, I use metal bench blocks used for jewelry stamping)
• Pen & Pencil
• Binder Clips
• Iron
• Pins
• Sewing Needle

Materials:

• Brown Faux Fur
• Brown Faux Leather
• Copper Metallic Leather
• Lining Fabric ( I got my Porg & R2-D2 lining at Joann's, you can find the same kind here)
• Sew-On Gems (I used 18x25mm Crystal Hematite Gems, you can find the same kind here)
• Hair Tinsel (I used 40" strands, you can find the same kind here)
• 14" Brown Sport Zipper
• 9" Brown Lining Zipper
• Metallic Silver Gross Grain Ribbon ( I used Offray 3/8" metallic silver, you can find the same kind here)
• 1" Metal Purse Slider
• 2 - 1" Metal Lobster Swivel Purse Hooks
• 2- 3/4" Metal D-rings
• Matching Thread
• Interfacing (I used Pellon Decor-Bond Style#809, you can find the same kind here)
• Paper for Pattern

Step 3: Creating the Design & Pattern

Tools:

• Ipad
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors

Supplies

• Paper
• Gems for sizing reference

I was inspired by Chewbacca from Star wars and really wanted to make something using the design of the strap on his bag.

I started with a sketch and thought it would be really fun to incorporate gun metal gems into the design.

The pattern itself was pretty simple to design since the main focus was going to be the fabrics and gems. I started by deciding how big I wanted the bag to be, 14" x 9" was the perfect size for me. Then determined the size of the belt design on the front, making sure it was wide enough to fit 2 rows of gems. The width came out to 3 5/8" in total.

I designed this bag to be both a clutch and a crossbody bag. I wanted the belt to be loose so I could slide my hand through when wearing it as a clutch. I added about 2 inches to the length of the belt strap so it wouldn't be too tight or cause the bag to pucker in the center while wearing it.

Step 4: Faux Fur and Tinsel

Tools:

• Scissors
• Pen
• Needle

Supplies:

• Brown Faux Fur
• Hair Tinsel

I started by cutting the front and back of this bag out of brown faux fur fabric.

The faux fur was great as is but I really wanted it to sparkle so I thought I would try and figure out how to add a little bling to it.

I had seen people use hair tinsel in their hair and thought that this might work on the faux fur. I bought a variety pack of hair tinsel and used a dark holographic grey color and a metallic brown to give the bag some dimension.

To attach it, I took one strand of tinsel at a time and threaded the tinsel through a needle, tying a knot at the tip of the needle to secure it.

Then I started sewing pieces of holographic grey tinsel into the faux fur making each piece as long as the length of the fur.

I held the tinsel in place applying pressure with my finger on the right side of the fabric, then secured it by tying two knots on the backside. I was very careful not to pull too tightly because the ribbon is really fragile and if you pull too much it can start curling like a ribbon or break.

I continued this process until I felt like I had enough.

Then I added in the metallic brown color using the same process.

The end result was exactly what I was envisioning and added that perfect touch to the faux fur!

Step 5: Sewing the Belt

Tools:

• Sewing Machine
• Industrial Sewing Machine
• Iron
• Scissors
• Binder Clips
• Ruler
• Pen

Supplies:

• Brown Faux Leather
• Copper Metallic Leather
• Interfacing
• Gems for sizing reference
• Matching Thread

I used two colors of fabric to create the belt. The bottom is a brown faux leather and the top is a metallic copper leather. I really liked the way these two fabrics looked together and they added a lot of sturdiness to the strap.

I started with the bottom brown piece which I designed so the sides would fold into the middle.

This thickened the belt to help hold the weight of the gems and also made the edges seamless so it looks really clean.

I added a strip of interfacing down the center for additional support, and ironed it onto the wrong side of the fabric.

Next I measured the center and drew a line down the middle to mark it.

I used this line as a guide when I folded the edges in, and secured is them in place using binder clips.

Then I sewed an edge stitch 1/8" from both sides of center seam, with the seam side facing up.

The faux leather I used had some stretch to it so one trick I use while sewing fabric like this is to use a ruler to hold the fabric in place.This keeps my fabric from moving around and getting warped or distorted. I just make sure that the ruler is out of the way of the needle so it doesn't get hit while sewing and that its under the presser foot so it stays in place the whole time.

Then I added a 1/8" edge stitch to both outer sides.

The next step was to prep the top metallic copper piece.

I started by adding a strip of interfacing to this piece as well. I trimmed off about 1/8" from all the edges so once sewn the interfacing wouldn't show through.

Next I added stitching to keep the sew-on gems in place and add extra detail to the design.

I measured the sides and gave myself enough space so the gems would not get hit by my machine while sewing which for me was just over a 1/4".

Then I measured the width of the gems and added two rows of stitching to the center.

Step 6: Attaching the Sew-On Gems to the Belt

Tools:

• Pliers
• Needle
• Scissors
• Computer & Printer

Supplies:

• Copper Metallic Leather Strap (with stitching guides)
• Gem Spacing Guide Printout
• Sew-On Gems
• Matching Thread

Before I started sewing on the gems, I made a guide to keep them spaced evenly. I tried measuring this with a ruler first but it was easier to create a template in Adobe illustrator.

I measured the entire distance for my gem placement and used this measurement for my Illustrator guide. I added 12 lines for my gems and used the auto space function so they were evenly spaced apart. Then I printed this out to use as a guide.

To sew each gem I used a needle and thread.

The leather piece was pretty thick so I used pliers to pull the needle through the leather. This was a lot easier on my fingers.

I tied 4 knots on the back side of the leather for each gem, alternating from one side to the other so it was tightly secured.

As I sewed each gem I kept checking my guide to keep everything in place.

I continued this until all 24 gems were sewn on.

Step 7: Attaching the Top Belt Strap

Tools:

• Industrial Sewing Machine
• Binder clips
• Scissors

Supplies:

• Bottom Brown Belt Strap Base
• Top Copper Belt Strap with Gems Attached
• Matching Thread

I waited to sew on the top copper strap until after I sewed the gems so that the stitching would be hidden.

To attach this piece I centered it on top of the brown base, covering the side with the center seam, and secured it using binder clips.

This way the back of the belt strap was seamless.

I used my industrial sewing machine to sew this piece since it was so thick and attached the copper piece with a 1/8" edge stitch on both sides.

Once finished, the strap felt great and had enough support to hold the gems.

Step 8: Making the Adjustable Crossbody & Side Tabs

Tools:

• Sewing Machine
• Scissors
• Rotary Cutter
• Fabric Weights
• Ruler

Supplies:

• Brown Faux Leather
• Silver Metallic Gross Grain Ribbon
• Metal D-Rings
• Matching Thread

I used brown faux leather for the crossbody strap and side tabs.

I cut a 2" x 75" strip for the strap. And two 1/2" x 2" pieces for the tabs.

To sew them, I folded in the edges of the wrong side of the fabric to the middle and added a 1/8" edge stitch to both outer sides.

Next I added a 3/8" wide metallic silver gross grain ribbon down the middle to hide the center seam.

I sewed it in place with a 1/8" edge stitch on both outer sides of the ribbon.

For the side tabs, I added a 3/4" d-ring to the center and with the ribbon sides together, folded the edges and stitched the bottom closed.

Step 9: Attaching the Crossbody Strap Hardware

Tools:

• Sewing Machine
• Binder Clips
• Scissors

Supplies:

• Crossbody Strap
• Side Tabs
• 2 Metal Lobster Swivel Purse Hooks
• 1" Metal Purse Slider
• Matching Thread

Next was to add the slider and swivel hooks to the crossbody strap.

I started by threading my strap through the metal slider and adding one swivel hook.

I secured one end of the strap by folding the edge under 1" so it had a clean finish, and secured it in place with a box stitch and an "x" through the middle.

To finish the other end, I slid the second swivel hook on and folded the end over 2 times to hide all the edges.

I used a binder clip to keep it in place.

Then sewed a box and "x" stitch to secure it.

Step 10: Prepping the Lining & Inner Zipper Pocket

Tools:

• Scissors
• Small Precission Scissors
• Iron
• Sewing Machine
• Pen
• Zipper Foot

Supplies:

• Lining Fabric
• Interfacing
• 9" Zipper
• Matching Thread

I found a really fun Porg & R2-D2 print fabric at Joann's that I used for my lining.

I started by cutting 2 lining pieces, 1 pocket bag, and interfacing for each piece.

Then I ironed on the interfacing to the wrong side of each fabric piece.

I drew a 9" x 1/2" box for my 9" zipper on the wrong side of the pocket bag, 1" below the top edge, centered in the middle of the piece.

I centered the pocket bag 1 1/8"" from the top of one lining piece with right sides together and pinned them in place.

I sewed them together directly on the box outline.

Once sewn, I drew a line down the center of the box, with diagonal lines to the corners about 1/2" out.

Then I used small precision scissors to cut the lines I just drew, getting as close to the corners as possible so the edges would be nice and crisp.

I turned the pocket bag through the opening, so now the wrong sides we're together.

I ironed the edges of the opening for a clean finish.

With my lining facing up, I added my zipper to the opening and pinned it in place.

I used a zipper foot and sewed as close the the edge as possible to attach it.

To finish the pocket bag, I turned the piece over with the wrong side facing up. I folded the pocket bag in half and pinned the edges in place.

Then sewed the bag closed with a 3/8" stitch.

Step 11: Add Interfacing to the Faux Fur

Tools:

• Iron
• Scissors

Supplies:

• Faux Fur Front & Back Pieces
• Interfacing

The faux fur was pretty flimsy and I really wanted the bag to have a sturdy feel. Especially with the weight of the strap and gems on the front. So I added interfacing to the front and back pieces of the faux fur.

I cut 2 pieces the same size as the front and back and ironed them on the the wrong side of the fabric.

While ironing I was extra careful around the sides to avoid melting the faux fur.

Step 12: Attaching the Belt & Side Tabs

Tools

• Industrial Sewing Machine
• Binder Clips
• Scissors

Supplies:

• Front Faux Fur Piece
• Completed Belt Strap
• Completed Side Tabs
• Bag Label
• Matching Thread

To finish the front, I added the belt and held it in place with binder clips.

Then sewed along the edge of both sides using my industrial sewing machine.

Next I binder clipped the side tabs and a label in place, then sewed them on.

Step 13: Sewing the Top Zipper

Tools:

• Sewing Machine
• Binder Clips
• Zipper Foot
• Scissors

Supplies:

• Front & Back Pieces
• Front & Back Lining
• 14" Brown Sport Zipper
• Matching Thread

I used a brown sport zipper for the main top opening. Since this is a faux fur bag, I wanted a heavier zipper to support it.

I sandwiched one side of the zipper in-between my lining piece with the pocket bag and my front faux fur piece and binder clipped it in place.

Then used a zipper foot to sew them together.

I repeated this for the opposite side of the zipper, adding my second lining and faux fur pieces.

Step 14: Sewing the Bag Together

Tools:

• Industrial Sewing Machine
• Sewing Machine
• Iron
• Binder Clips
• Scissors

Supplies:

• Unfinished Bag with Zipper Attached
• Matching Thread

At this point the bag was almost done!

I started by binder clipping the faux fur pieces with the right sides together.

Then sewed the outer edge with a 3/8" stitch using my industrial sewing machine.

Next I binder clipped the lining pieces with the right sides together and left most of the bottom open so I had room to pull the bag through.

Then sewed the outer edge with a 3/8" stitch, making sure to leave the bottom open.

Then I pulled the bag through the opening so all the right sides were facing out.

To finish it, I folded the edge of the bottom opening of the lining 3/8" in and ironed it.

I used binder clips to keep it in place and sewed a 1/8" stitch across the entire bottom edge.

Then pushed the lining back into the purse.

And that's it!

Step 15: Wear & Enjoy!

The very last step, wear and enjoy!

This bag turned out better than I imagined and it's so fun to wear! I took it with me watch to the new Star Wars movie The Rise of Skywalker and on a trip to check out Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland, it was perfect!

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial, thank you so much for checking it out!

For more fun projects be sure to check out my work here:

Instagram: @sentfrommars

Facebook: SentFromMars

Twitter: @tweetedfrommars