I recently entered a competition run by Tahmoor Community Links as part of their International Womens Day celebrations to turn 'trash' into a fashion item.
There were two categories you could enter one was "Old School" - creating a fashion item from 'traditional' dressmaking materials using reused, rescued and or/recycled items, and the other was "Everything but the kitchen sink" - creating a fashion item using any reused, rescued or recycled item you can get your hands on. The item could be anything from clothing, jewellery, accessories, shoes or any item you could wear. As part of your entry you also had to make a Journal to show where you got the items and the production process.
There was one winner in each category and one winner for peoples choice.
I scored Peoples Choice and 1st in "everything but the kitchen sink" (Yay me!)
Here is my competition entry...
I was very excited when I saw the pamphlet for this competition.
I am an avid Vinnies shopper for craft supplies of old/used fabric/zippers and the like so this was right up my alley.
I enjoy sewing but have don't have a lot of experience at it (although if you saw my fabric collection you would think otherwise ;) and thought this would be a fantastic challenge for me to help me with my sewing skills.
My intention was to make a hand bag but it has turned into more of a tote/beach bag than a hand bag.
All without the aid of a pattern!
These are the materials I have used for the bag
All the items in the first picture were purchased from the Vinnies store in Tahmoor. The second picture is a bag of bits’n’pieces purchased from Vinnies in Picton.
I decided I wanted to use the top square of the large basket for the base of my bag (the basket was partially broken anyway). And the ceramic handle pieces as part of my bag. So I dismantled the basket.
I then measured the square and proceeded to cut out my all my fabric pieces to the size required which was 22cm each side (plus seam allowance), I didn't measure the height of the bag at this time as I was undecided of the size at this point in time. I cut two pieces for the outside of the bag and one piece for the bottom. I also cut a long strip to cover the square from with.
After cutting out my pieces I used my sewing machine to sew the outside pieces together and also sew the long strip to the bottom of the now one outside piece.
I then pinned this to the frame and commenced hand stitching it to the frame.
After attaching the outside of the bag to the frame I then proceeded to sew my inner pieces of lining together and also attach the lining base. I also added two other hems so that it had four corners and not just two as i wanted the inside of the bag square.
I then hand stitched the inner lining to the fabric on the frame.
It was at this point I decided that my bag needed a zippered pocket on the inside. So I cut out a bag out of lining fabric, used the machine to sew it together and attach the zipper.
I then got a recycled zipper which had been removed from something else (out of my Vinnies goodie bag) and measured the length needed ( 17cm) and hand stitched the inner bag to the hole in the lining.
After completing the zippered pocket and feeling quite pleased with my handiwork it was at this point that I realised the giant mistake that I had made.
I was so excited about adding the pocket I didn't pay attention to where I was attaching it and had placed it on the inside side of the bag and not the back like intended.
So out came the stitch un-pickers to remove the inner lining from the fabric on the frame, turn the lining and then re hand stitch the lining to the frame again.
Oh the joys of being a newbie and not following a pattern ;)
After this small (1.5 extra hours) blunder I then turned the bag in the right way.
I then decided on the height of the bag (33cm) and cut off the excess fabric, pinned my hem.
For the handles I cut 6 pieces of fabric 45cm long at 2.5cm wide and sewed them into long strips and turned them in the right way. I then sewed the ends of 3 together and plaited them sewing the other end shut when completed. I did the same thing for the other 3 strips I made.
I cleaned the recycled handles off the basket and placed a plaited handle through each one. I then tied knots at the ends of the ceramic handles to secure them in place and pinned these between the lining and outside of my bag.
Then using my sewing machine I sewed the lining to the outer bag at the same time as sewing the handles in place.
Resulting in this funky green bag :)
I had a lot of fun participating in this project. Ive never made anything more difficult than an apron before and decided a handbag was a good challenge –especially without a pattern!
It challenged me both skill wise and personally as this is not something I thought I would have achieved or even attempted anytime soon without this competition.
I do sell items at craft markets (usually crocheted or simple craft items) and thanks to this competition I now have something else I can try my hand at and hopefully do well at.
Thank you for this opportunity.
Oh and my Certificates of course....
I believe they will be running the same competition for International Womens Day next year so get your thinking caps on and be ready to enter ladies!!!
