For months, I carried my camera in my purse wrapped in t-shirt bags. They’re great for groceries and miscellaneous items, but not the best protection for my most prized possession!
I searched for months for a decent looking DSLR camera bag. I was looking for a bag that didn’t look like a camera bag, but rather a purse. That way I could just carry one bag. Carrying two bags at the same time (a purse and a camera bag) is really awkward. I’ve been asked about it before in public…awkward.
I finished making this bag a couple months ago, but somehow put off writing this blog post! Since I’m still up in the air, I figured it would be the perfect time to show you how I’ve been carrying around my camera.
I found a few gorgeous camera bags online that I repeatedly gawked at over and over again. There was only one problem, they were $160-$200.
Sure, I could afford one (barely), but I knew there was a cheaper way to make one myself. You know, a way that wouldn’t cost more than two months worth of groceries. Inspiration came from this post.
I bought materials from the craft store and a purse from Marshalls. I wanted a purse that was wide and had a couple pockets so I would be able to fit a lens or two along with my point and shoot camera, my cell phone, my wallet, etc.
I also got 1 yard of fabric, sew-on velcro, 1 yard of quilt fluff, and a 1″ thick piece of foam.
Our sewing machine has been broken for over a decade, so I actually hand sewed the inserts for my bag. All I have to say is…
OUCH.
It’s doable, but if you have a sewing machine by all means, USE IT!
I lined the sides and bottom of the bag using the green foam and the quilt filling. I covered the inserts with the fabric, like a sealed up pillowcase.
I also made divider pads with velcro ears that I can rearrange based on what’s inside my bag.
For the most part, I put my camera in the middle section. I use one side for an extra lens and the other side for my wallet and cell phone.
The bag took me awhile to make only because I had to sew it by hand…and I could only stand to do that for ~30 min. a day. Had I used a sewing machine, this project would have been completed in a couple hours.
Now I can carry my camera in something stylish and protective. No more camera stuffed inside my t-shirt bag, stuffed inside my purse along with 50 billion random things.
All for less than $40.
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Tell me: Have you made any crafts lately? If you own a DSLR, what do you carry it in?
{ 69 comments… read them below or add one }
You are so crafty! I love it!!
That’s fantastic! A nice way to camouflage a camera bag.
I might have to do that for my next camera bag. 
Wow- you are a genius! I love how the print matches your blog colors!
Haha I didn’t even realize that! I only noticed that it doesn’t match my camera strap : /
Super impressed, Allie! I had never even thought of repurposing a purchased purse!
That’s such a great idea! I need to learn to sew…
genius!!! so impressed!
Can I just say that your camera bag purse mishmash is absolutely GORGEOUS, I wish I were still a wizard with sewing needles but unforch that skill will need to be regained. Good job girl!
Allie you’re my hero. I think you’re on to something serous here
ooh I really like it!
I am super impressed!!! wicked good job!!
This is genius Allie.. I absolutely love it!!
What a fun craft – I love this!
Ohmygoodness! You are a GENIUS girl! If I carry my camera around, I usually just put it in my purse, but I’m always SO scared about scratching it up! I don’t know the first thing about sewing and a sewing machine is as foreign to me as a control panel on a spaceship, but I HAVE to make this! I love the pattern of fabric you went with too! It matches your blog!
This is awesome! My grandma made me a similar thing, but she made me a ‘pouch’ so I can dump my camera in it and use it with any of my bags
If I had sewing skills I’d TOTALLY give your idea a go 
Cool! Too bad I am a guy
I carry my DSLR in a camera bag. LOL.
It’s so pretty! I hope your flight goes well. I know from experience that 15 hour flights are hell!
What and awesome project, very crafty! I have a boring camera bag for mine, but would love something like this.
very impressed!
so crafty! sooo cute!
what an awesome project!! looks beautiful…i love the fabric AND the purse
Creative! I break through my purses so quickly that I’d probably need to re-make these over and over again, though!
Yeah I got a pretty cheap purse and I’m regretting that decision now!
One word: Genius!
When I finally save up enough money for a n SLR I am definitely making that bag!
This is the CUTEST bag! I love how creative you are.
SUPER cute!
That is absolutely ingenius – you’re officially my hero.
AHH genius idea!
Dude this is awesome!
I carry two bags – a purse and a camera bag which is a pain. Sometimes I stick my license and phone in the camera bag and ditch the purse, but it doesn’t fit well and I still don’t have a place for my keys.
Martha Stewart would be proud!
It looks great!
The most crafty I ever get is making collages and inspiration boards. Other than that, I’m hopeless.
So cute!
That is awesome! I want to make one.
You did an AMAZING job on your camera bag!! It looks expensive and high-end to me, but it’s so neat that you actually made it. Awesome idea and perfect execution!
This is awesome!! I have a camera bag..but it’s the big boxy kind. Definitely not stylish enough to carry around.
Wow! You’re so talented! I need to make a bag like this… but hand sewing? Hmm maybe not! You should go into the camera bag business!
Could you get any more creative?! That’s awesome!!!! Hope your flight is going well!!!!
Thanks for sharing this. I’ve been looking at camera bags over the last month because I’d really like to buy one to protect my new camera, but damn they are expensive! I just can’t do that! But, I have seen some inserts (like the one you made) that will slip right down into another bag. I was nervous they might not work, but after seeing this I will probably order one. Because to be honest my sewing skills are lacking and I don’t have a machine.
OMG you”re so genius! I need to do this just for my purse. It gets cluttered fast. :/
Wow, what an awesome camera purse!
Oooh, I love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing! =)
That is AWESOME- I love it!! I remember seeing those camera bags when you tweeted them awhile back, but I forgot the name of them. I still haven’t asked my parents for a birthday present yet, so I don’t know if I should try to be crafty and go your route or keep searching for a ready-made one!
I have sewed many things by hand so I am super impressed that you did this all without a machine! It looks beautiful!
I have a point and shoot, so I keep it in its slim little case in my purse. Super easy!
Bookmarking this. Such a brilliant idea!
Seriously such a great idea!!!
That is such a great idea, and it looks so much nicer than a typical camera bag! Nice job on getting crafty
Bookmarked, THANK YOU!
That is very impressive! I would never think of something that crafty!
I totally love that DSLR handbag. You should sell some on etsy
I made a similar one when I went to Europe and was scared about pickpocketers stealing my stuff if I was looking overly touristy wielding a DSLR. I made a padded pouch which just slips over the camera and I can shove it into any handbag that I use at the time (providing that I have a big enough bag). Your bag is probably more secure though… hope you enjoy HK & the CNY celebrations 
and all the best with your grandma. (just realised my last line may sound insensitive in the context of it all…sorry
– its like 2am here :S)
I definitely didn’t read it like that…no worries! I looked into selling on etsy but I read something about the entire thing having to be handmade? Not sure though. If so, I don’t know if I’m capable of sewing a purse!
I LOVE that bag. I just want to buy the supplies and have you make me one!
That’s awesome! My BF bought me a really nice camera bag for Xmas, but I think I just might try this for a more stylish one when I’m walking around town. The other one is really good for hiking, biking, etc though.
You amaze me!!! You could sell these and I will be your first customer!!
Great Job! Very creative! And wow. I cannot believe you sewed that by hand. You had to be super focused
You are brilliant. That is all.
Hi, I was looking for just something like this for my videocamera and the rest of my belongins. It is a great idea and I will try this. Don´t worry, I will show you the result, and I will use two old neoprene swimming suits of my child that I didn´t want to throw away… and now I will use them!
Thank you for sharing this with everybody.
SOL
What a marvelous idea. I have been tempted to buy a kelly moore boho bag for my daughter for graduation, but this is so much more affordable and still looks great.
I love the idea of making your own camera-bag-purse! I have been the quest to find the perfect camera bag, but have failed miserably. I am making this stat! Thanks for the idea!
SO CLEVER & resourceful – beautiful too!
Thanks for this post! I was searching for cute, feminine camera bags today, and went into sticker shock. I couldn’t bring myself to pay $160 and shipping for something that I might not like when it arrived.
I used a couple DIY blog suggestions, but mostly yours as a reference while making my own camera purse today.
Your whole blog is great. Awesome photos!
Thank you! I know what you mean…the bags on the market are $$$$. Your bag looks fabulous.
This is awesome!!! & a lot more simple than all these patterns I keep finding. This seems like something I can handle, finally!
This is amazing! I too have been drooling over a $160 bag – and for a stay at home mom who just used my DSLR on my kids, that is totally unreasonable! However, I am quite crafty so I am totally going to try this!!!
This is great—I was just looking online and have only been able to find super expensive bags. I might have to try this!
Wow, that is really nice!!!! I got a pretty nice camera bag for my DSLR, of course it looks like … a camera bag. Now, I just need to figure out how to actually use this nifty camera – I’ve only had it about a year and a half……….. lol
Just found this post and am going to make my own this weekend! Brilliant idea!
This is the BEST IDEA EVER!!! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for posting this great idea. I’ve been doing the same camera-inside-something-soft-inside-my-purse thing. Seems like I’m just asking for trouble.
See I knew it could be done – now I just have to figure out for a backpack with wheels so it will accommodate the laptop too. With the new rules for carry on and luggage I need to combine camera bag and laptop case.
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