Tie-dye messenger bag - with a twist(y lock)

A seamstress walks into a charity shop - and lo and behold, discovers a beautiful denim tie-dye skirt in a size large (more fabric that way), thinks, hmmm, I already have a top that would go perfectly with that...

And so begins the tale of another creation.  I was right.  The skirt DID match the top.  So I decided to make a small messenger bag from the blue and purple combination.

I'm really happy with the result, too!

I added a side pocket for pens and other bits and bobs.

It's the first time I've used twist locks on a bag - I've now perfected cutting out the hole so that the fabric doesn't show!

This was the original tie-dye skirt and the matching top:



You can see why I paired them now, can't you?

It has a zip fastening and a pocket underneath the flap for all those receipts that tend to accumulate:

If I were to make this one again I would add some padding to the strap as the top I used was very floaty.  I did top-stitch it though to give it some extra strength. 

This was the first time I have added an internal zipped pocket.  I learned something here too - make sure when adding the pocket lining that you sew it onto the back with wrong sides together!

Another view:

The internal seams were bound with fabric from the top.  It was so light and airy that it was really easy to work with when making binding.  Something I'll remember for next time!

So all in all, a very satisfying project!

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William Morris Messenger bag

You really can't beat curtain fabric for making bags with.  Not only is it substantial, but it also comes in such a fabulous range of prints - and this William Morris print is no exception!

On looking through my fabric stash, I realised I already had the perfect fabric to go with it - a beautifully coloured preloved sheet!

There is a magnetic snap on the tab underneath the decorative buckle.

An internal pocket was added for that all important mobile/cell phone/pen!  I centred the pocket on a flower.

And added a label.

 

I was really pleased with the result.

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Stripy shorts bag - a quick how to

I do love stripy things!

One pair of shorts and some tinkering later, and another bag has arrived!

 

 

First, cut off the legs at crotch level parallel to the waistband (that way it won't be wonky!)  Then sew them up.  If you shape the corners of the bag, make sure you don't cut into the pockets.

 

With the remainder of the cut-off section, make two handles and add them to the inside of the waistband.

 

 

 

Then, make a lining with a pocket in it add a magnetic snap fastening.  Turn the top of the lining down and sew it in place.

I originally added a piping cord tie to go through the belt loops, but that made it look like a pair of old pyjamas!  So I made a tie from the same polka dot fabric as the interior and inserted it through the loops instead.

This is the reason why you don't want to cut into the pockets - because they are still functional!  You can just see a pen in this pocket.

Perfect for meeting friends for lunch!

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Rosey rosey

It's amazing what you can find through local Facebook selling groups.  I originally bought a different preloved dress to this but was asked if I would like this one too.

Oh yes please!!!

When I got it home I realised that it wasn't shop bought and that somebody had made it with love - which made it even more special in my eyes.  Think of the history of the dress.  Where it's been.  Which little girl twirled around in it.  Love it! 

As it seemed very weddingy I decided to make a clutch bag from it, incorporating the rose decoration too.  If I can find a way to use up the little bits and bobs which make something unique, I will.

I also added a strap.

As there wasn't quite enough fabric to line it as well, I used some preloved sheet for the interior.  I think it goes rather splendidly, don't you?

It was topped off with a matching baby blue zip and - ta-dah! - ready for its first outing!

 

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Roses, roses, roses

Many moons ago I discovered a preloved rose print skirt which I just knew would come in really handy.

In the meantime my daughter decided she wanted to wear it for a year or so.  Which was fine.  I'm patient.  I knew I would get it back at some point!

So the time arrived.  My daughter returned the skirt.

She had already seen the clutch bag I made the other day and wanted something similar to take with her to the wedding tomorrow.

Ta dah!

I added a strap to this one.

 

And lined it with yet more skirt.  There wasn't a lot left over after I'd finished with it!

It's also padded and perfect for that little box of confetti and a lipgloss.

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Going to a wedding...

I'm going to a wedding next Saturday - talk about excited!!

I sorted out my dress many moons ago.  And my shoes.  But there was something missing...

...a bag!

I thought, I know, I'll have a look around this weekend and see what I can find in the shops.

And then it dawned on me.  What a doofus!  I can MAKE a clutch bag to carry my confetti/tissues/camera/keys...

But what to make it out of?  *Rifles through red fabric stash dramatically*

Aha!  Got it!  A preloved burgundy velvet scarf would look particularly wonderful.

So I cut and interfaced and padded and zipped and sewed my little heart out.  And this is the end result:

 

I lined it with red polka dot fabric.  I find that a girl can never have enough polka dots in her life!

So I'm even more excited about the wedding now!

And I also have a prom dress that I am considering making a similar clutch bag out of. 

I do so love it when you can keep your memories alive with fabric :)

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Miaow bag from faux fur coat!

One day I had an thought.

What if I used some fur fabric to make a bag?

And what if that bag could be a, well, cat?

Would that work, do you think?

So I had a go cutting up a child's faux fur coat for the fabric.

The bag has felt features and a webbing handle.  Perfect for little hands.

I figured out the ears as I went along.

And I thought I would give the mouth more definition by sewing lines in the fur - you can just make it out below:

The interior is lined with felt.

I think next time I might add a magnetic snap in there too.

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The evolution of a backpack

I've taken up cycling - I love the feeling of freedom with the wind in my hair...

But I wanted to be able to wear a t-shirt and trackie bottoms and also carry my phone/keys/spanner/anything else I might need with me.  The little pocket that I added to my trackies wasn't up to the job.  So another solution was in order...

I spotted a redundant backpack in my wardrobe.  But it was a bit, um, plain. 

Ever conscious of safety (well, ok, sometimes!) I thought it might be a good idea to add some reflective material to the backpack so that at least I would be visible in the gloomy autumnal mornings.

Then I remembered that I had a school jacket of my daughter's that no longer fit - and that had little reflectors on it.  So I cut them off and added them to the backpack.

As it looked like a face, I scoured my oddments box and came across some of the wool that I had felted and cut that up to add to the picture a little.

Before I decided on the final placing for the felt I had a play to see what would look best.

Eyebrows and pupils?  It didn't feel quite right.

So how about a moustache and pupils?  It is Movember after all.

Nope.  That didn't feel quite right either.

So the moustache went and I moved the pupils.  It was starting to feel right.

Maybe catlike?

So I added whiskers...

But they were a bit on the long side so I gave them a trim.

At last - I was happy!

This is what it looked like after my first excursion through the muddy lanes.

But people could still see me!

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How to make felt

Felt - you just buy it in, don't you?  Surely it's far too difficult to make??

Well, that's what I thought until I read about a way to make it.  Here's how:

- make sure you have 100% wool fabric (or jumper or beanie hat)

- put it in the washing machine at its highest setting

- let the washing machine do all the hard work!

That's it!!!!

So I had to have a go and see if it really was that easy.

I had some preloved woollen tweed so experimented with that.  Here's a before picture. 

And here's what it looked like when it came out.  Unsurprisingly it had shrunk and seemed to be extra thick felt.

I put both together because I was gobsmacked at the difference between the two!

If you have a look at a picture of the cut end of the felt, you can still see the original tweed weave.

 

So when you have your felt, you can make anything you choose in the knowledge that it won't unravel and you don't have to hem it.  Perfect!

I am always excited about discovering a new method!  I'll put '100% wool' on my charity shop shopping list now!

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Felt bag - the creative process in action

I discovered a great way to make your own felt recently which I'll share in a future post.

I wanted to make a bag out of the felt I'd made.  The original idea was to make a completely vertical bag with a handle at the top.  But it was a little bit plain for my liking.

Because I didn't have a set idea of what the bag would look like, I thought I'd share the process that I went through to make the final bag.

So I tapered the sides and shaped the top.  But it looked too deep for me.

I added a lining of not-made-by-me contrasting felt which helped to strengthen the handles.

And then I thought, well, it's a bit plain, why not add a felt flower to the bag?

It was supposed to be a corsage that you could unpin and use separately.  But because the felt I'd made was so bloomin' thick, it just flopped and there was no way I would want to wear it like that on my coat!

 

I added a Sew Selena label, but because of the chunky felt it wouldn't stay straight so I removed it.  I had shortened the bag by that point though - it seems so much more proportionate now.

And then I wondered what the 'corsage' would look like on the front of the bag - not bad.  But not quite right.

But would it be better if it was on the side of the bag?  This didn't look quite right to me.

But when I added it to the other side I was happy.  That was it!

A close up picture of the extra-thick felted tweed - you can just see the original tweed in the middle of the felt.

It even has a straight label!



I'm happy now!

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