I simply can’t wait until next month to share my completed February ScrapHappy project with you. I used a pattern from etsy called the Carina Satchel and, apart from a few places where I scratched my head a bit, it all went quite smoothly. I took Kate‘s advice and used a denim/jeans needle and didn’t break a single one – thank you for that tip. In addition, I worked almost entirely using the walking foot on my sewing machine, which coped well with multiple layers and ‘sticky’ vinyl.
In the end I used a few new things: the hardware (a magnetic clasp, two D-rings, a slider and two swivel clips), some waistband interfacing (to make sure the strap was nice and tidy) and a small amount of ready-made piping (which I could have made myself, but decided to buy). Working with vinyl meant that the bag mostly couldn’t be pinned, because pins leave holes in the plastic, so I used the sewing clips that I’d bought specifically to use for bag-making. Of course these are going to be used time and again. All the fabric and most of the interfacing as well as the fleece, which helps to give structure, were scraps.
And here it is completed:
Now, I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t look at that and think ‘scrap’. I’m now on the look out for other old vinyl tablecloths, although I have lots more of that one to play with still.
The Snail of Happiness 
Wild Daffodil
/ February 25, 2019Amazing!!! They look so professional. Very impressive.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 25, 2019It was a bit of a fiddle in places, but I think I’ve got my head around the pattern now, so future bags should be much quicker and easier to make.
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Shirley
/ February 25, 2019It looks great. Well done 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 25, 2019I am very pleased with it.
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katechiconi
/ February 25, 2019Oh great! I’m glad the needles worked. The bag is great, and the red spot lining is perfect. I should think it’s waterproof too, a good thing in the Welsh climate 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 25, 2019Yes it’s mostly waterproof, although the seams might leak a bit – I’m thinking that a bit of fray-stop along them inside would have prevented that. Too late now it is all sewn up, but worth considering in future.
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katechiconi
/ February 25, 2019If there are visible stitches, you can rub a candle along the seams to wax them, which will help.
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nanacathy2
/ February 25, 2019Very very impressive- I would pay good money for one.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 25, 2019I am toying with the idea of making some to sell.
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Laurie Graves
/ February 25, 2019Really nice!
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katythenightowl
/ February 25, 2019It’s wonderful – and I have to admire you for the patience it must have taken, too 🙂
I, too, think these are something you could sell 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 25, 2019It really felt like learning something new… but now I understand how the structure works I feel much more confident.
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katythenightowl
/ February 25, 2019Yes, that’s always half the battle, isn’t it? Lol
It amazes me the things I used to be afraid to try – until I actually did them 🙂
Mind you – working with vinyl? I defo think you’re brave there – unless the clip things you used are extra strong holding? Lol
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gaiainaction
/ February 25, 2019Lovely to recycle and re-use things, and make them look like new or whatever articles you make from them look like new. Wonderful work!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 25, 2019Thank you. Actually, I’m surprised how well it came out. If I had been choosing new fabric, I wouldn’t have gone for beige hearts, but that was the only waterproof tablecloth in any of the charity shops I visited and it’s rather nice with the contrasting lining.
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gaiainaction
/ February 27, 2019Like you I love to find things in charity shops that I can then remake, so satisfying!
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thecontentedcrafter
/ February 25, 2019I’m on the make more and sell them bandwagon too. It’s ingenious! ❤
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 25, 2019I have a trip to Reading planned soon… I may have to visit some charity shops whilst I’m there to see if I can find any more unwanted tablecloths. To be honest, the subdued hearts design would not have been my first choice if I’d had one, although I think I came to like it more in contrast with the red spotty lining.
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iamsimplyhooked
/ February 25, 2019Wow! I have always been scared of working with vinyl – you have done well!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 25, 2019I think it would have been impossible without a walking foot on my sewing machine because the vinyl would have been too sticky to sew easily. I’m certainly going to use it again – after all, I have plenty of the tablecloth left.
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wybrow1966
/ February 25, 2019It looks great and waterproof to boot!
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quietwatercraft
/ February 26, 2019It’s amazing!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ February 26, 2019I’m really pleased with how it came out… plus I learned a lot about making a bag and working with vinyl.
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quietwatercraft
/ February 26, 2019I would be too, it looks like a Cath Kidston bought bag
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insearchofitall
/ March 10, 2019I have a teflon foot for my machine to sew on vinyl but there are many ways to get the job done and you did a good job of this. I like the bag and Kate is very good at helping.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 15, 2019I nearly bough a Teflon foot for this purpose, but then I decided to give the walking foot a try first – I’m glad I did, as it saved me quite a few pennies!
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