Make an evening bag from a sequinned bandeau top 752

 


Sequinned top label Top Shop. Zip-up cosmetics bag to place inside or sew or safety pin inside. Wide ribbon to create a gusset. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Upcycling Small Sequinned Tops

I keep seeing lovely sequinned tops which are too small for me. I don't need a top which is too small. But I do need an evening bag. I envisage turning one of the sequinned tops into a small, smart evening bag to take on holiday. 

Are Small Bags Practical?

Is a small bag useful? During the day, or out in the city in the evening, I like a big bag to carry home possible purchases.

However, you might want a small bag, if you are just popping down to the hotel's restaurant for a quick coffee, or cocktail, or happy hour in an all day club lounge.

Straps Supplied

Not only do I have the fabric for the bag, already sewn up the sides and seamed across the top. A sequinned top with spaghetti straps often already has potential cross body straps, already sewn securely on one side of the potential bag's top.

Seams Supplied

If I took a piece of fabric and cut it to shape, and sewed on sequins, I would have to sew up the side seams and both sides of the open top. But by adapting a garment, I only have to sew the base of the bag which is created by simply sewing together the lower hems. 

If you want a gusset, you can create one by inserting a horizontal wide ribbon. Double it for extra strength. 

This saves me time. And effort. I am more likely to finish the project. 

It gives a neater effect than I could achieve by hand sewing. I have a sewing machine, but I do not use it. 

In any case, sewing fabric covered with sequins is tricky, risking sharp edges of broken sequins, bits on the sewing table and floor, and risk to the sewing machine needle. A ready-made bag shape almost finished is ideal.

Add A Zip

To create security against items falling out, you could add a zip. 

More quickly and simply add a central ribbon at the top on each side to tie a bow. Or sew in a zip up cosmetics bag, which you can buy cheaply.

Decorate With Sewn On Sequins

If the back of the garment is plain, you can leave it like that. You might prefer a plain bag with a patterned dress. Or a reversible bag giving a second look.

If you want to decorate one side, or botg, you can arrange a line of large sequins along the edges like a frame. And or a triangle of three in each corner. Or just the top two corners if you are short of sequins.

Add one large sequin in the centre, or encircle it with contrasting oval seqins like a flower with petals.

See update on Interfacing a home-made handbag. on Tuesday April 21st 2026.


Useful Websites

St Luke's shops
Top Shop

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