Okay, so, I got this idea the other day to remake a PRADA Cahier bag. I’ve always loved the design, but I wanted to try my hand at making my own version. Here’s how it went.
First off, I gathered all the materials. I already had some leather scraps from previous projects, which was a good start. I picked out a nice, thick piece for the main body of the bag and some thinner, more flexible pieces for the details. I also needed some metal hardware – buckles, rings, and a clasp. I found some suitable ones in my craft supplies box, but I might replace them with better ones later. For the lining, I decided to use a piece of silk fabric I had lying around. It’s got a cool pattern that I think will look great inside the bag.
Next, I started working on the pattern. I didn’t have an actual PRADA Cahier bag to copy from, so I spent some time looking at pictures online. I sketched out the basic shapes and made some adjustments to fit my leather pieces. I cut out the pattern pieces from some old cardboard, which took a bit of trial and error, but I managed to get it right in the end.
Once I had the pattern ready, I moved on to cutting the leather. This was a bit tricky, as I wanted to make sure all the pieces were the right size and shape. I carefully traced the pattern pieces onto the leather and cut them out with a sharp utility knife. I made sure to cut slowly and steadily to avoid any mistakes.
- Cut the main body pieces.
- Cut the side and bottom panels.
- Cut the flap and the strap.
With all the leather pieces cut out, I began to assemble the bag. I started by sewing the side and bottom panels to the main body. I used a heavy-duty needle and some strong thread for this. It was slow going, as I had to hand-stitch everything, but I took my time and made sure each stitch was secure. I used a saddle stitch for most of it, because I like the way it looks and it’s really strong.
After that, I attached the flap and the strap. I reinforced the areas where the strap connects to the bag with some extra stitching to make sure it’s strong enough to hold the weight of the bag. Then I added the metal hardware. I riveted the buckles and rings in place, and I sewed on the clasp. It was a bit fiddly, but I managed to get it all attached securely.
The Final Touches
Finally, I sewed in the silk lining. This was the most satisfying part, as it really brought the whole bag together. I hand-stitched the lining to the inside of the bag, making sure it was nice and neat. After I finished the lining, I gave the whole bag a good once-over, trimming any loose threads and checking that everything was secure.
And there you have it, my homemade PRADA Cahier bag! It’s not perfect, but I’m really proud of how it turned out. It was a fun and challenging project, and I learned a lot along the way. I’m already thinking about what kind of bag I want to make next. Maybe something with some marbled polymer clay accents? Who knows! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little rundown of my crafting adventure. Catch you later!
Click to consult