I saw this ugly sweater and thought of you:: a scrappy satchel how-to

Wednesday, January 27, 2010





I think I actually said something like that to a friend of mine when I bought this sweater at a thrift store last summer.  Not that she, in a million years of time traveling back to the '80's, would ever wear this sweater.  I just thought it would make a perfect winter satchel.  And that she would like it.


Do you see why I thought of her? (yes, I'm talking about you, Jenna.)

Think you can find a scrappy sweater for a satchel while it's still winter? That's Step 1.

Step 2:  Cut out the front and back of sweater to the same dimensions as your want your bag, plus an inch seam allowance in each direction.  Cut a liner fabric the same width and four inches longer on the height (this allows for the top liner to be folded over for the top edge of finished bag).

Step 3: Sew sides and bottom of sweater fabric  with right sides together. Sew sides and bottom of liner fabric wrong sides together.

While sweater fabric is still inside out, trim extra sweater fabric around edges and corners to take away the bulkiness.                  
                               


Step 4:  Turn sweater fabric right-side out.  Leave the liner fabric seam-side out and place inside sweater pouch.

***Just a free tip from Pajama Mama here, at this point, I usually drop something of some weight in the bag, like my scissors, or a small toy.  I hate it when the liner slides up when I'm not paying attention and ends up a few inches shorter than the outer bag.  Hate it.  What?  You always pay attention?  pppphhhh.

Step 5:  Fold the liner over twice. (the photo below is folded only once)

                                 

Step 6:  Stitch along the bottom of fold around the entire bag.

                                

Step 7:  You're so close!  Now just salvage any extra sweater fabric that you can for the strap.  I cut up one side, across the top, and back down the other side.  My dimensions were something like 5 inches by  a million inches.  Really. I didn't measure.  I did sling it over my shoulder to see if it was close to what I wanted.  Capiche?  Good.

***Another PJ tip: Consider cotton or canvas webbing for the strap if your sweater fabric is super stretchy.  I can just imagine Jenna carrying a boat-load of diapers and wipes in her sweater satchel and finding it below her knees.  Really helpful, Satchel.  Thanks.

Stitch down one edge of scrap strap fabric, with wrong-sides together.  Turn out to right-side until you get arthritis.  Then take a break and finish later.

Step 8, or 25, depending on what you consider a "step": Attach strap however you like.  Inside, outside, whatever.  Can you tell why I don't do tutorials?  I get burned out on the typing of the steps.  Anywhoo, I tucked in the unfinished edges of the strap and stitched a rectangle around the top, sides and bottom where the strap and bag meet.






Not perfect, but not bad for under an hour including the photo-shoot.

Photobucket
I'm linking this post to Kimba'sDIY Day & Kim's Get Your Craft On-check them out!

20 Creative People Had This To Say:

Unknown said...

Love this!!! I have been looking for a way to make my "own" bag, in a creative yet fun way!! Awesome!!

Braley Mama said...

That is so cool. I must admit that I liked the sweater:)

Katie & Tim said...

WHOA!! You ARE keeping yourself busy! You should go into business! This is cute! :)

southerninspiration said...

Oh, I like that much better as a bag!! How creative and fun is THAT??? Great job!

suzanne

Kristina said...

How cute is that...love it & super easy :)!

rebecca @ older and wisor said...

Adorable purse/satchel/butt wipe carrier, but seriously? That title cracked me up.

Unknown said...

So cool!!!!!!!!!! You are so creative... I am happy u r finding ways to pass the time. Today was the longest day ever. I'll be enduring the next few alongside you.

Jenilee said...

I love it! I love the colors and I especially love how you could spot that kind of cuteness out of a really ugly sweater! :) :)

care said...

WOW! Impressive!

librarysherry said...

I am doing this! Love it. I knew there was a reason for saving all those sweaters that don't fit.

Ruth said...

I absolutely love it. Not the ugly sweater of course but that great little bag. Super!!

Ruth

Jenna said...

I love it!! And I love that ugly sweaters make you think of me! Really, really well done, Kristen.

Patty said...

I love this! I wanted to do something similar with a sweater that is cute but too small for me, except I don't sew and have no idea how to turn it into a purse. So thanks for showing how to do it! When I'm ready to figure out how my mom's sewing machine works, I know what to make.

Hattie said...

very cute and artsy! making something like this had been on my to-do list for awhile, but I haven't run across the right ugly sweater yet. This one turned out great :-)

Tami (Pixeltrash) said...

That's one ugly sweater, but as a bag it is totally fun. I just made a bag with a sweater too! You should come by my blog and see it. It isn't as artsy as yours, but I love it none-the-less!

Cheryl G. said...

I LOVE it! Maybe even I can make one!
Thanks for sharing!

Simply Sara said...

That's awesome!
I think I'll go find myself an ugly sweater, the next time I'm at the thrift store.
Thanks so much for sharing!

Stacie@HobbitDoor said...

I like it--thanks for putting together the tutorial!

Tammy Robbins said...

I love that! What a great idea!

Hilal said...

woowww
wonderfull