Tag Archives: upcycling

Upcycled Tool Pouch 004

A weekend project I set myself, to make use of the small pieces of fabric generated from making aprons in the range, reducing textile waste and creating something genuinely useful. This is a canvas tool bag with a little pocket and a drawstring closure that pulls up tightly to form a loop, so you can slip it over your wrist or hang it up on a hook. There’s a surprising amount of room in there for pens, pencils, brushes, pottery tools, carving tools up to 20cm long. My daughter’s first observation was that it would make a good phone bag! As tool bags go I think it’s rather cute!

Upcycled Patchwork Bag 003

I can’t bear to throw fabric away, even scraps, knowing all the processes that went into making it and the thought of adding more textile waste to landfill. Making something useful from odd shape scraps of fabric is a challenge. I often get very narrow strips of fabric leftover after cutting out apron – here I’ve been experimenting with joining those strips of fabric to make a good size bag. More work needed to incorporate an internal pocket and an interesting strap.

Eco bags

There are now 3 bags in my “Follow The Thread’ shops. All three are large capacity and made from 100% cotton, using fabrics left over from apron making or fabric samples given to me that would otherwise have been thrown away.

Beige/navy/cream woven stripe shoulder bag, fully lined, large outside pocket (stripes matched), inside pocket, 100% cotton. One-of-a-kind. Folksy – Etsy

Taupe/dusky red cotton canvas shopping bag, extra large, metal swivel hook for keys etc, folds up fairly small for storage, 100% cotton. Limited edition x2. Folksy – Etsy

Navy/yellow/white Hawaiian print, quick dry fabric, extra large size, large pocket inside, D-ring for attaching keys etc. One-of-a-kind. Folksy – Etsy

New & vintage linen top…

I found this printed linen square (I think it’s a 60’/70’s napkin) at ‘Hilly Fields Midsummer Fayre’ (Brockley, London) a couple of years ago.

I wanted to use it, but keep it in one piece – so decided to make a feature of it on a square top. Pink wouldn’t normally be my first choice of colour, but, not having access to fabric shops in lockdown, means using up what I have. I tacked then machine stitched the print square on to the pink linen following the inner circles of the design, so the top wouldn’t ‘bag’ when it was worn.

The front of the top was now a bit heavy! To balance it, I stitched a linen square to the back piece of the top and made an embroidered design using a detail from the front print. Luckily I have a little collection of embroidery threads – I used a chain stitch.