Is it wrong to tell you that my favorite purse bag isn't even one that I made? I bought this panda bag for 99 cents many years ago. I love this bag. It's lightweight, holds a ton, made of quick dry nylon and rolls up tiny. It even has 2 little straps on the bottom with a snap closure. Score!
Yesterday I was at Ikea with hubby. He hates Ikea. He can only handle sitting in the food area drinking coffee while I wander around trying to find finials for Little Man's curtain rods. Anyway, I was about to check out when I stumbled upon the "as is" section. There was a whole cart of these shower curtains for $2.99. They felt like the same material as the bag above. Score!
I purchased 2 of them and did some experimenting yesterday afternoon. First I cut off the top (where the holes for the rings are) and the bottom hem. I serged both pieces to make handles.
Then, cut up the rest of the fabric to make 8 bags. The measurements are pretty close to right on. I got eight 18x35 inch pieces out of the curtain.
Voila!
Then, because they are slippery and won't stay rolled up on their own, I attached a hair binder on the bottom of each bag.
Works perfectly.
Look how happy they are in my purse…
Off to make the rest of these bags. I'm seeing a freebie in the future! Teresa
Was the fabric tough to sew since it is slippery material? Talk about a HUGE score in the cost of the fabric and getting 8 bags! Nice work! :) I have also heard to check the thrift stores for sheets, etc. for inexpensive fabrics. I haven't done that yet since my fabric stash is rather extensive! :)
ReplyDeleteThat is so very cool Teresa! I love the way you think!
ReplyDeletePatricia--
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit slippery but not difficult to sew at all. Yes, I agree on the cost of getting such a huge piece of material. Brings it down to 37 cents a bag!
Thanks Tami!
ReplyDeletethis panda bag is adorable. how cool that you can make these bags out of shower curtains. I never thought of that. I love the tie on the bottom to roll it. nice job. Poor guy has to endure Ikea, LOL
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea to repurpose those shower curtains!!! Love your panda bag as well :o)
ReplyDeletecwayons(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeletewhat I love (besides finding a good sale and having an inspired idea)is that fabric! So light and joyful. Colors always get to me- in a good way :)sue2earth(at)msn(dot)com
Thanks Terry and Sue for the nice comments. This is NOT a freebie though. Just thinking that this would be a good idea for a freebie in the FUTURE :)
ReplyDeleteThat hair binder on the bottom is brilliant! I have to admit that I, too, have one of these bags that rolls up so small to keep in my purse. I love always having a bag with me.
ReplyDeleteThanks MissesStitches. Honestly, I don't know what I would do without my bags with me all the time. They come in so handy for so many things!
ReplyDelete