Upcycled handbag hardware

I do love to make sewn handbags. I have made tote bags, little pouches and messenger bags..... It is a lot of fun to make something so useful.

One of the main parts of the bag is the handle.   In the past I've usually sewn the handles out of fabric, although sometimes I purchase leather handles to add to the bag.   One thing that I've often wanted to try is to recycle handles from a discarded bag onto a new one.

A few weeks ago, I was in the Goodwill store and came across a whole bunch of bags that were priced between four and $10.  

these five bags cost $26.00 all together with the tax.  

I immediately set about the deconstruction.  

These three that I took apart are not leather, but vinyl,   They have a lot of great detailing, and there are alos some good magnetic clasps in there.

A person can learn a lot by observing how a commercial bag is assembled!

After this take-apart phase must come the "thinking about" phase, which can take a while.

In my case, it co-incided with a "sewing with Tim Holtz fabris" phase, and an "english paperpiecing hexagons" phase....

these hexagons are bigger than ones I've used before, two inches on each side, so as to show off the amazing fabrics,

After a while, my path became more clear.  

I decided to use the hanles and bottom section from this black bag,

I sewed the hexagons together into a horizontal section three hexies tall, (by machine)

then, I appliqued them to a rectangle of cotton/linen that I had on hand.   the rectangle is about 16" tall and 40" long.  (it was longer than needed so that I could fine tune the length later as I was sewing it all together to fit the base.)

Next, I backed it with a rectangle of foam interfacing, my favorite is by Annie's Soft and Stable.  I did some very simple quilting 

quilting was mostly straight lines and curves from corner to corner,

To attach the bottom, I ended up stitching it by hand, using the holes that were already punched.  however vinyl is a lot softer than leather I think and so it isn't hard to make new holes when you want to. 

It was a pretty simple totebag construction, no pockets or any complicated stuff.

I sewed the handles on by hand as well.

it has a very simple lining, which was cut extra tall so that I just folded it down over the top edge of the bag to finish the edge.

It is a pretty good size!

the handles are spaced a wee bit wider apart than I'd like, but I didnt want to cover up the butterfly on the fabric,

it should work well for all sort of carrying!

As you may have noticed, I have several more rescued bags to use.   so, now I am back to the "thinking about" phase!

Simple Unlined Totebag Tutorial

This is a simple bag that is perfect made out of a cotton linen blend. The fabric is just heavy enough for the bag to be light, yet sturdy enough to use for books.  If you made it in a quilting cotton, it would be good to use as a reuseable shopping bag.

 This is a picture of the bag turned inside out:

 

To make the bag, you will need the following amounts: the fabrics can all be different, or they can be all the same fabric

.5m      Outer bag: cut one rectangle 18" x 34"
.1m      Facing for upper edge of bag, : cut one rectangle 3" x 34"
.15m    Handles, 1 rectangle, 5" x 42"

Step One: prepare the handles— both handles are made from one long strip, which is cut in half after it is stitched.Press the long 5" x 42" rectangle in half lengthwise, with right sides facing out.  Then press each raw edge toward the center pressed line.  You will end up with a long piece that is 4 thicknesses, and has the right side of the fabrics facing out. Stitch close to each side of  the folded edges and then again 1/4" from the first line of stitching.  Cut the long piece into two equal lengths,

 Step Two: Make the body of the bag.  Fold the large rectangle in half, right sides together and stitch around two of the raw edge sides, backstitching at the top edge:

 Zig-zag the raw edges to prevent future fraying while using the bag.               

 Mark a 2-1/2" square on each lower corner of the bag, measuring from the seam line, as shown on the diagram:    Cut away the squares on the marked lines.  

this show the corner that has a side seam:

this shows the corner where the side is folded fabric, which you would measure the 2-1/2" from, since the fold takes the place of the seam, 

Sew the “boxed bottom” corners of the bag— turn the cut edges so that the bottom seam meets up with the side seam of the bag, and then sew along the raw edges.  Zig zag this edge.

Turn the unit right sides out,

 Step Three: Prepare the upper facing

Press under 1/4" or ½" on one long edge of the 3" x 34" rectangle.  Fold in half and sew the short side seam.  Press open the seam,  

 Pin the facing to the top edge of the body of the tote, right sides together, and lining up the side seam.  

Place the unit flat and insert the  straps in between right sides of fabric on each side about two to  three  inches from the side edge.  Make sure that each end is pulled through the same distance so that the straps will match in length.  I like to pull about an inch through, this will help make the handles sturdier. 

Sew around the top edge of the tote, using a ½" seam.

Turn the facing to the inside of the bag and press, Now the handles will be right sides up.

Top-stitch close to the top edge, and then again about ½" away from the first line of topstitching.  This will help anchor the handles.  Stitch around the pressed edge at the bottom of the facing as well. 

Press the whole bag, making creases on each edge that you want to emphasize.

 I like to add a line of stitching along the bottom side edges close to the fold to give the bag a bit more shaping. 

.... Three bags were sewn in the course of writing this tutorial....

Once you have sewn a bag or two. it isn't hard to see how you can sew many variations on it.  You could experiment by

varying the size, just keep the width of the facing and the bag equal,  (34" in the bag above)

-- making the handle longer

-- sew the body of the bag from a combination of fabrics, 

-- make a little pocket to insert in between the lower edge of the facing and the body of the bag.  It will be sewn in when you topstitch the lower edge of the facing,

..... 

A simple bag, enlarged

Last week I made a tote bag from a pattern in Yoko Saito's book, and blogged about it , here

 I liked the shape of it, but wanted to make it larger, so I sized it up a bit,

 

 This shows both bags,

This  time I used an orphan quilt block appliqued on the front panel.  It is an antique block that I bought in a whole stack of blocks a couple of years ago.  

I like the bag, but I might make one even a bit larger.  This one used the full 42" width of the fabric for the black patterned piece in the picture above, so I guess I'll need to piece it for a bigger one. 

Trying new Products

My newly sewn bag!

I find it difficult to try new products.  I'm not sure why this is.  Sometimes I see a new notion or technique in a book or magazine, or a demonstration by someone selling the product, and I am impressed.  Immediately I think it's great and have all sorts of ideas on how I can use it.  Sometimes Often, I buy the product and take it home, but then I let it sit there unused. 

So today, I decided that I would just wade right in and try out one of those products: "Soft and Stable".  It is a foam- type of interfacing that you use instead of batting or stabilizer in totes or handbags.
 And it is hard to try new things.  Even if you have low expectations. 

I like to make hand-bags, but I find that only about one in four that I make turns out to be one that I reach for to really use.  Not sure why this is.  I've been wanting to make one that has a lot of applique flowers on it using Japanese "taupe" fabrics. 

 This seemed to be overwhelming at this point. (Not least because the instructions are in Japanese)

Then, I browsed through my collection of hand-bag patterns and books to find something that looked not too hard.  It's been a little while since I made a lined bag, and it suddenly seemed very complicated, combined with the idea of using a different type of interfacing.
 I found one called the X-Bag that seemed do-able, and cut out the pieces for the outside and  such, but the construction technique seemed a bit confusing to me at this point.

So I put all this stuff into a rolled up ball where I can't see it right now.

Ultimately, I decided to go very simple and just use one fabric for the outside, and one for the inside, and to not do any piecing, or any embellishments, or pockets or anything else.  I just wanted to see how this stuff worked-- is it easy to cut? to sew? to iron? to turn inside out? whatever else came up.

So, I simplified the Japanese handbag pattern and made a cut-out pattern.

Then it wasn't too hard, but I still had a few decisions to make concerning the seam joins and how to put the lining into it. 

I ended up sewing the outer fabric down onto the "Soft and Stable" foam, by quilting some vertical lines.  Then I sewed the side seams, pressed them open, and sewed the cylindrical body of the bag to the oval base.
I sewed a lining and slipped it into the bag, wrong sides together, and then just put a binding made of a cloth ribbon around the raw edges of the openings.  (I hope that made sense, if not, just don't read it,--in the ultimate scheme of things, it doesn't really matter how it was constructed)

So, I persevered.  I just don't like trying new things.  But in this case, I'm glad I did, because it actually worked really nicely. 
Usually the bags I make with batting in them end up all slumped over if I don't hang them up by the handles.  This one stands up nice and firmly!! It is soft and pliable, and the foam was really easy to work with. I like it better than tim-tex. 
I'm glad that I just did a simple version.  Maybe I will try it again and put on a pocket.  Or perhaps I will try it by quilting all 3 layers together first and then just zig-zagging the seams instead of sewing a separate lining.  I also wonder how it might behave with a "boxed" corner construction. 

A note on the weather:  This is very strange: the weather report on-line says it is -18 degrees, but there is melted water running off of our roof, and the outside thermostat says -3 degrees.  Hmmm.

My new totebag

Yesterday was a great day! the weather was beautiful, and I was able to stay at home and do a bit of sewing!
Some time ago I had got this pattern to try out.  It is called Streetcar Bags by Indygo Junction.  I liked the substantial look of it for autumn and winter.  

 I had somehow acquired some pieces of a thick grey wool that I really liked.  It looked like someone had started to make a jacket.  Because it wasn't a solid piece of yardage meant that I had to piece some together to get a chunk large enough to use for the front and back body of the bag, but I sort of like the extra seams.

 At one point I thought this section looked like a cool bathing suit from the '40s

 It was a bit daunting for me to follow someone else's pattern, but I just took it step by step, and it made sense.  I also followed my mantra, "It isn't hard, it just takes some time".   The hardest parts were to actually figure out what pattern pieces I needed to cut out, and the turning inside out of the handle. 

 After about 2-1/2 hours I was finished!

 I liked the look of the two buttons on the flap that was shown on the pattern photo, but ultimately decided to go with a felted flower/button combo.  The bag is fastened with a magnetic snap.  I didn't put in a flat reinforced bottom as instructed by the pattern, but I might still do that.  I am pretty happy with it.  I think I might make another one, since I have a lining cut out from a different fabric.  I had been planning to use that until I decided on the purple flower, and they really weren't compatible, so I had to choose some other fabric for the lining. 

 And, I continue to weave threads into my crocheted mesh.  I made a test piece and felted it to see what different yarns and combinations would look like.  I photocopied it before I washed it and made notes on what each thread section was.  Also I was able to measure the shrinkage.  It was interesting to discover that it didn't shrink much horizontally, but the vertical shrinkage was nearly 20 percent!  So right now my piece is quite long looking for it's width.

 There are a lot of strings to weave through!  I will do a few a day until it's done.