Sewing: Bags & Pouches from recycled dress & trousers

What can you make with the shirt off your husbands back, a dress and an old pair of pink cargo pants?

Handy little pouches and a hobo bag. I kid you not! The fabric used to make these items was recycled from a Laura Ashley dress and a pair of pink trouser type thingies! The red lining in the pouches is from one of Mr CBs shirts (it was never actually on his back, he never wore it at all)!!!

The little pouches are pretty nifty. They are a lovely size for holding small projects or toiletries, makeup, and even a potted plant! I place a small bag of dried lavender from the garden in one and hang it on the desk near the window where I'm working. Ahhhhhhh.....

I also made this hobo bag (top right) using the same floral dress and the pink fabric. I'm very pleased with the lovely 'dusky' shades in these two fabrics. I wish I had more.... :(

The bright tote bag (left) is made from a big piece of fabric I recently purchased off e-bay for a couple of quid. It looks like it might have been a duvet cover in a previous life but I'm not 100% sure.

Anyway, it made a nice roomy tote for Little Miss CB to take on her hols to Spain. I added a lime green panel on either side of the bag and lined it with some bright yellow fabric from my stash (yes I do have a fabric stash!)

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Sewing: Needle Roll (refashioned/recycled)

This is a needle roll I made for Paula over on the Crafty Threads n'Yarn Forum. She very kindly sent me some lovely things a few weeks ago, including this pretty butterfly print fabric.

The needle roll is for Paula's DPNs, and I think it will hold quite a few pairs! Apologies for the poor photo quality, but yet again, the Digital camera is on holiday in Spain with Mr CB & Little Miss CB. Honestly, that camera spends more time travelling than I do!

The fabrics used include some purple cotton that I recycled from a pair of pyjamas, and the small check is recycled from a NEXT skirt. These items were hardly worn, if at all, so I don't feel too bad about using the fabric to make things for other people.

Next on my sewing list is a 'Namaste' type knitting bag (with one hand tied behind my back, hopping on one leg). Lol! Seriously though, I'm going to incorporate the needle roll storage with a bucket bag. Watch this space! :)

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Sewing: Refashioning & Reconstruction of sorts

I've taken to refashioning and reconstructing stuff lately. Someting caught my eye over on craftster and I thought "I could do that". I've got a lot of clothes (that are too small for me) and other goodies lying around that need to be attended to. So the plan of action at the moment is:

1) if it's a WIP (be it knitting, sewing, etc..) either finish it or rip it back & recycle and reuse the materials, OR 2) if it's a FO that's not being used, I'll reconstruct or refashion it into something wearable or an accessory.

So here are some photos to show you what I've been up to.

1) This cream blouse was refashioned from a well worn dress. I didn't get a photo beforehand but I can tell you that it was the same style as the black and beige polka dot dress pictured left.

2) This brown and pink pinstripe skirt used to be two pairs of trousers. I inserted a plain brown panel at the center front and back. This was two pairs of poly/cotton trousers made into a skirt. I think some pink lining would go nice (Tee hee hee).

3) The Nintendo DS case (top of post) was reconstructed from a felted bag. Some of you may remember this bag from the Bag Me KAL last September. It was my first attempt at tapestry crochet and I found the flower chart on the internet. The bag has never been used so out came the scissors. The back piece was large enough to fold in half to make a case for he holder. I simply stitched up the sides and inserted a zip on the top.

Keep watching for other felted projects which are in the process of being deconstructed and then morphing into something new and useful. Nothing is safe!!!

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