Sunday 25 August 2013

Fab Fabric Upcycling

Well it was a rotten wet day yesterday. The Free Festival in Colchester that I chickened out of going to because of the weather seems to have been a success. So I spent the day sewing.

An upcycled bag made from denim jeans, vintage table cloth, woven silk remnants and inside a 1950's woven table cloth.

Stamp onto the vintage table linen, iron after 5 minutes to heat set. Stazon will fade when washed at 30c. But you are not going to wash a bag very often!
Cardboard templates for squares. Make yours to suit the fabric or size of item you want to make.
Cut out the denim or other base fabric

 

Arrange stamped fabric on the denim. Then whizz away on your sewing machine. Have fun trying out all those stitches you never use or do some free motion embroidery.
Looks fab! Here I have added a band of striped woven silk and embroidered on that too.
A 1960's inspired patch. Here I have satin stitched around the edge and cut the excess fabric away.
Do you love the wee ducks?
Same stamps different embroidery.
All the squares joined using the woven silk fabric. I've added some orange top stitching as reminder of the jeans.
Inside the jeans pockets were just right for keys or a mobile. Straps are made from the denim jeans and the woven silk. I made the straps long enough to fit comfortably over your shoulder, but short enough so the bag does not drag on the floor.
Some doilies got added as the colour was a good match.
The finished bag. I used medium weight iron on interfacing on the lining. This has made the bag really strong.
Ideal for tins and bottles on your supermarket shop or heavy books if you are at college.
 Lots of info on line on how to make the bag and so on. Hope you get some good ideas from this mini tutorial.

Molly and I have been having some adventures. We got separated on a walk over an unfamiliar field. We both arrived home exhausted. She had gone to the neighbours to tell them I was lost! Then yesterday Molly started digging up the carpet near the front door. A bird had died and was wedged under the door edge outside. She is not impressed with my sniffing ability.

Now its sunny so off I go to mow the lawn which looks like a meadow.

20 comments:

  1. What a great bag. Bet you had loads of fun making that and what a good idea trying out different stitches that maybe don't get used so often.

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  2. I really like all the different details included in the this bag. It sounds as if you have had a lot of fun making this very practical bag.

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  3. great use of recycling with the denim - can't see any ducks anywhere though! and I have got my glasses on!!

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  4. I love this bag! How creative. The inside "pockets" are so cute. Wow, I wish I could make one for myself....

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  5. What a gorgeous bag - it was so lovely to see how you made everything that eventually turned into the bag. Beautiful work. Hope you have a good week.

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  6. I love the idea of stamping on fabric. I really must try it sometime. What a lovely useful bag.

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  7. What a great bag! I love all of your detailing x

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  8. Love the idea of using the jeans pockets on the inside of the bag :)

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  9. I'm loving your Paisley Patterns and the bag reveal just brought it all together. Some lovely Paisley designs in Craft Mag this month. Cx

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  10. Lovely bag, I love the different patterns and patches, and the overall look of the bag too.

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  11. They look fab, its so inventive.
    In a Pickle

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  12. Love the bags.....Clever, clever you...Another genuine creation.....xx

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  13. I love the lining and the addition of the doilies x

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  14. Yes love the bag too especially the jean inside pockets FAB x

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  15. I love all the different patterns you've used to create the bag and the pockets inside are genius.
    Ali x

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  16. What a stunning bag. I just love all the different textures. I would never have though of using a jeans pocket in the lining. Brilliant idea xx

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  17. Wow, wow, wow - amazing bag! Have a great week, Jo x

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  18. Thanks for leaving a comment at The Three Muses and congratulations on your lovely blog. I love watching the process of someone's art from beginning to end. Great work!

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  19. Great bag! Very hippy looking and lovely! :)

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  20. I am so impressed by people who create art by using fabric. Fabric is totally tactile, and a perfect medium for creating.

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Your comments are all read and appreciated. Hope you will forgive me if I miss commenting on your comment, I will be busy doing art :-) x Joan