I found a once-favorite wool skirt in my closet and decided it should be my next crafty sacrifice. It was satin-lined, houndstooth wool, a stylish skirt I intended to wear again some day. In my heart I knew my hips would never cooperate, so I turned my skirt into a stylish handbag instead. That’s called upcycling, turning something old into something new.
With a sewing machine and about an hour’s effort, even the most un-crafty lady can transform a beloved skirt into a me-designed bag. Trim it your way and you’ll have big crafty fun. When you’re done, you might even want to do what I did: make a clutch from a Chinese placemat or a little purse from an African fabric remnant. You don’t have to get multicultural crafty like me. Use the skirt, placemat or fabric of your choice; and you’ll still end up with three pretty purses just like mine.
Handbag from a skirt
Materials
1 skirt Thread Trim of your choice
Make your bag
Cut off the top 15 inches of your skirt. Leave the waistband and zipper for trim. Turn inside out. Double stitch a 1/2 inch seam across the bottom. Stitch across the inside bottom corners to give your bag bottom a square look.
Finish your bag
Create a decorative flap by cutting and sewing a triangle of lined skirt fabric.
One triangle side should be the same width as the top of your purse. Turn the piece right side out, iron seams and sew right side to right side to the top back of your purse, To make a strap, cut and sew a long strip of fabric into a tube. Iron the seam, turn right side out, then iron again. Sew your strap ends to the inside sides of your bag. See below for easy purse trim ideas.
Colorful little purse
Materials
Colorful fabric remnant Lining fabric 3 feet of satin cord
Make your little purse
Cut fabric and lining into 15 and 1/2 by 5 and1/2 inch pieces For a pointed flap, fold fabric/lining in half and trim the top 4 inches into a point. Sew right sides of lining and fabric together with a 1/2 inch seam. Leave a 3 inch opening. Iron seams and turn right side out through opening, then iron again. Lay finished piece right side up Mark 4 inches from the top with straight pins. Fold the bottom up to the 4 inch marks. Sew together with a1/4 inch seam Turn right side out. Stitch satin cord strap to top of inside seams
Placemat Clutch
Materials
1 place-mat: If your place-mat is lined, you won’t need lining fabric 1 piece of lining fabric cut to place-mat size. 1 piece of thin quilt batting, cut each side 1/2 inch narrower than place-mats
Make your clutch
Cut lining and batting Sew top 2 sides of place-mat and lining together with right sides facing each other. Iron seams and trim corners Turn right side out Slip batting layer inside. If it doesn’t fit, trim a little more from each side Stitch the open edge of place-mat/lining piece together. Measure 4 inches from the top and sew a row of stitches across the place-mat to hold the batting in place. Lay place-mat piece right side up Fold the bottom edge up and pin into place at your stitched line. Sew sides of the purse with a 1/4 inch seam. Turn right side out and iron. For a fuller clutch, stitch across the bottom corners before turning your purse right side out. Add a Velcro strip to the flap for easy closing. For a sturdier clutch, slip a piece of flexible plastic inside except for the flap. (Try cutting up a plastic file envelope.)
Now that you’ve finished your purses, personalize your designs. Use some of the simple trim ideas below or think up a few of your own.Grommets/eyelets: A kit costs about four dollars at a fabric store. Add grommets at the waist band and use split rings to hang your purse straps. Add a colorful red tassel. Make a fabric bow or flower. Add colorful buttons, snaps or ribbon. Add metal findings from an old purse or fabric store.
Source: My personal craft projects