After a work meeting, going to Joann’s for supplies, paying rent, renewing our Sam’s membership and dropping off supplies to the clinic it was time to enjoy my afternoon of vacation time I needed to use or lose.  Of course, I seem to have to play a couple of computer games and then kick myself into gear to accomplish something.  So here is the continuation and completion of my re-cycled sweater into a bag.  A total of 4 hours were put into it today, and done.

After getting the corduroy bottom and sweater top all sewn together with piping as the trim in-between, it was time to get some antique gold purse feet put onto it.   I was hoping this would help with the wear and tear on the bottom of the bag, as I keep my purse on the floor by my feet at work.

In the interior of the bag, you can kind of see that I cut a piece of plastic canvas the size of the rectangular bottom and placed at the very bottom.  This way the ‘feet’ had something extra to grab onto when I attached them to the bag.

Next I worked at getting the pockets sewn up and into the bag.  I was hoping that I had made the pocket second from the right big enough to hold my HUGE sunglasses case, but I didn’t calculate that one quite right.  It will make a great place to put my pens and longer lipsticks, though.  The pockets on the left side will be great for business cards, cell phone and short lipsticks.

After sewing all the side and bottom seams on the satin lining, it was time to make sure it all FIT!  I count myself lucky that all the measurements were right on and it fit like a glove.

SEE!!!!!!!!!  :)  Success!!!!

Now came the critical time, and that was securing the outside and the lining together – and GOOD!  I pinned the line where I knew I wanted my top band to eventually be attached and sewed along that line.  Then I sewed an inch away from that line to make a good cutting line got getting rid of excess fabrics.  This also will make the band at the top more sturdy and thick.  I didn’t think flimsy would be the right route for this design.

Now came a tricky part.  That was to get the black piping sewn as CLOSELY to the original sewing line and then place the first piece of the banding on.

It’s looking pretty sturdy so far, isn’t it!

This is just a bonus photo.  I was VERY happy with how things were turning out.  Even though I knew it was going to be dinner time soon (my hubby is the chef) I just couldn’t stop and felt the NEED to take this project to the end this evening.

Before one can put the final strip of banding on, those dog-gone handles have to be put just in the right spot.  So I just cut 4 pieces of 2-1/2″ X 4″ corduroy and treated them like belt loops.  Of course the handles had to be placed in the loops before I could attach them to the bag itself.

Things were getting pretty thick!

After sewing the handle tabs on, making sure they were REALLY on there good, it was time to put the back part of the top border on.  As you can see, I decided to use a hefty magnet for closure just in the middle.  I rummaged around in the trash can thinking I had some iron on interfacing that would have been just the right size to put behind the fabric for extra strength.  As you can see, I found it!  :)  These magnets take almost super human strength to pry the tabs back on ‘em.  But they aren’t going anywhere now!

Not a great photo, but this is the completed bag.  I folded back the 2nd piece of the band, folded the edge under about a 1/4″ inch and hand sewed with teenie tiny stitches all the way around the inside to keep it tacked down in place.  That part took nearly a half hour – SO many little stitches!!

The before shot – BEFORE I get all my crud and crap put into it to see if it’s going to work for me.

Looks good in this pic!  And I really like how the handles always flop to the sides when you open the bag.  Nothing worse than fighting handles and whatnot when you need something fast.

And it worked!  It honestly worked!  I fit everything in there I need, just waiting for me to let go of my cell phone long enough to put in the right pocket there.

It’s sturdy but soft, and very utilitarian.

When I completed this project I ran upstairs to show my husband and the first words out of his mouth were, “Are you going to keep this one, or sell it?”  I never really keep what I make, but you have to remember that this was made from one of my all-time favorite sweaters.  This little number is staying with ME!  And I also showed him that with the kangaroo pocket on the front, now he has a place to put his sunglasses when we go shopping and they won’t get scratched.

And I completed something!