Monday, October 11, 2010

Recycling…

Taking an object and changing it to something else can be fun – sometimes frustrating – seeing a finished item in your head and then making it come to life can lead to a major accomplishment or a headache.  However, I do enjoy the challenge, perhaps learn something as I go along, if it works I am pleased – then if not I figure there is something else down the road for a project.

 

Have you heard about taking wool – washing it in hot water – this process makes it shrink! The finished fabric is a lot like felt – but not as dense. In the back of one of the closets was an old – really old – red wool coat. The moths had visited it in a couple of places so it was not in good enough condition to give to the “Coats for Kids” ministry at church. I was wanting to make a new tote/bag for carrying the news paper, magazine, snack, etc to the beauty shop. With this in mind I proceeded to cut the coat apart, tear out the lining, throw it in the washing machine with hot water. Added soap and fabric softener – when cycles were completed in to the dryer it went for just a short period of time. What started out as a full size coat was now a small piece of fabric.

 

Here is the full picture of the tote.

100_4614The color looks pink – but believe me it is a true bright red.  I did the embroidery work in black. No, I did not do the embroidery work by hand – used the embroidery machine.

 

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I tried several times to get a picture of this embroidery – but this was the best I could get.

100_4616 This is on the other side. Each of these embroidered pieces are actually on another piece of fabric and then sewn on to the bag to create a pocket.100_4617 For the lining I stole this bandana print from my quilting fabric stash.

100_4633I have been seeing these rolled flowers on several of the blogs – so wanted to try my hand at making one. It turned out pleasing to my standards – do decided to attach it to the bag – on top of the flower that was just a outline of the flower and leaves.

 

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I used hook and loop tape on the inside for closing it.

 

Credit  must be given to my sweet husband for cutting me a piece of real thin wood that I used in the bottom.

 

Probably the tote is longer than most people would want – but for me  - this is the way I wanted it.

 

Recycled a moth eaten coat into a one-of—kind tote.  Fun project and learned some things as I went along.

 

Have a great week – fall time is here. We are enjoying the cool nights and warm days.

 

 

Amelia

7 comments:

Kristie said...

That turned out very nice. You are so creative.
Kristie

Hazel said...

Lovely ,isn't recycling fun .The embroidery and rose was a nice touch to finish the bag .I'm impressed .

Three Birds Inspired said...

Congrats on your first flower - and doing such a good job of recycling!!

Amanda said...

What a brilliant project. I'd love to have a go at quilting but don't have any woolen objects to play with, apart from a couple of cashmere jumpers and I'm still wearing those. I'll have to look out in the charity shop for something.

Michelle said...

And a wonderful job it turned out to be!

Val said...

Wow. I am so impressed. I love it!

LKPheartsfood said...

I never knew you could do that with wool--you are so creative and clever! The bag is super cute, too.