This month’s ScrapHappy is very much a work in progress. Once I got used to the new/old sewing machine, I gave some thought to what I would like to make and the answer (as you have seen here and here) was bags. As a complete beginner with bags, I started off by buying a couple of kits, but now those are finished, I want to progress on to using up some of my old fabric, much of it left over from long-completed projects. However, I was also interested in working with charity shop finds. When I was trawling Aberystwyth, unsuccessfully as it turned out, for old handbags to cannibalise, I came across a very large vinyl-coated cotton tablecloth and thought that it might be a cheap and useful source of waterproof fabric. A bit of research later and I settled on using some of it to make a satchel (designed specifically with this sort of fabric in mind). However, I wanted this to be a scrappy project, so I found a nightdress that I made but hated and had only worn a couple of times, to use for the lining and some left-overs from my gardening apron for the strap and handle. Not only that, but I also found some very tatty, but salvageable interfacing to use, as well as part of a fleece blanket that my mum gave me after she had used some of it to make soft toys, but then decided that it wasn’t ideal.
So, all the main bits and bobs are scraps (or scrapped!):
Old tablecloth (hearts), old nighty (spots), fleece blanket scraps (cream) and scraps left over from my gardening apron (dark)
I have had to buy some hardware, but I don’t mind a few new things in such a scrappy project:
the new bits
So, now it’s all cut out, I’m ready to sew… wish me luck!
-oOo-
I’ve been inspired to write this (and future) ScrapHappy posts by Kate, who provides links to other (mostly sewing) ScrapHappy bloggers at Tall Tales from Chiconia on the fifteenth of every month… do check them out.
The Snail of Happiness 
katechiconi
/ February 15, 2019You’ll be happy to know that the nightie fabric lives on Down Under in not only the Worldwide Friends quilt, but also a wide variety of scrappy items. I still have a few fragments in my Very Small Scraps box… 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2019Oh yes, I’d forgotten that some went to you too. I’m so please that, when a garment doesn’t work out, there’s still use to be made of it.
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Nice Piece of Work
/ February 15, 2019Looking forward to seeing the satchel 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2019I have now finished the strap… sounds like such a little thing, but it seems to be taking me much longer than it should. Ah well, I do seem to have found the joy in sewing again.
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Going Batty in Wales
/ February 15, 2019I made my daughter a bag using that sort of material – tricky because of not wanting to get holes where they should not be but it was a success and she uses it a lot. Double sided sticky tape was a big help. Good luck – I will look forward to the pictures.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2019I’m using clips rather than pins to avoid additional holes, but it is making me think very carefully before sewing.
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KerryCan
/ February 15, 2019Wow–lots of scrappiness here! I’ll look forward to seeing the outcome!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2019I’m a slow sewer, but I hope to get it finished soon.
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Patricia Collins
/ February 15, 2019Should we call ourselves ‘stitchers’ to avoid the confusion with all things Bazelgette?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2019I think I’ve seen ‘sewist’ somewhere
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ourrubbishblog
/ February 15, 2019Very timely post, on my list of projects for this weekend is a handbag made from bits of leftover fabrics and hardware salvaged from old bags that were buried a long time ago. Partly dreading, partly excited about it. Good luck!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2019That sounds like a great project.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2019and do write a bog post about it!
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nanacathy2
/ February 15, 2019So now I know what you will be sewing this weekend. Can’t wait to see as I have a huge yen for a satchel.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2019If it works ok I’ll share a link to the pattern. Actually, in one of my books I have a pattern for a real, classic satchel which looks very complicated, this one is a bit simpler.
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wybrow1966
/ February 15, 2019Your other bags have been brilliant – so looking forward to seeing this progress.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 15, 2019It’s slow but I have now completed a bit of it!
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arlingwoman
/ February 16, 2019I await the bag. With a bit of time off, I’m going to go into my own scrap bag to see what I can do…
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Joanne S
/ February 18, 2019Great reuse of items! Can’t wait to see the completed bag. Nightie and all. 🙂
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quietwatercraft
/ February 21, 2019That’s very scrap happy! I trust it all turned out well and you’ve got a lovely new bag now
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 21, 2019I was hoping to finish it today, but the weather was so nice, I went out instead!
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