Yesterday in our sewing group we made a really simple, beautiful and usable shopping bag. This quick and easy project was very welcome after our previous projects filled with pleats, zippers, piping, hems and darts. For the outside material I used Ripple by Brandon Mably (for Rowan). The inside material is just a simple floral that I bought decades ago and has been taking up space in the material cupboard.
It’s a semi-lined (only the handles and about a 1/4 of the way into the bag) and big enough to fit lots of spesa (groceries).
Off to the market I go!
I was thinking of trying to transform this shopper into a flowy summery shirt (I’ll call it the Shopper Shirt….everyone will want one!). Wish me luck and let me know if you have any advice to actually make it work!
Jillian In Italy 
I was thinking it looks like it would be easy to convert (un-cycle) a tank top shirt into a bag that looks like yours. I think I might try that. 🙂
I meant (up-cycle)
Hey…after up-cycle your tank into a bag you can “un-cycle” it back to a tank. I love it! But seriously, I like the idea of making one thing into something with a whole new purpose. I’ll be rummaging in my closet for an old tank now…
hey, I made one of these bags a while back and everyone told me I had done the handles wrong. They said I should have sewn the two ends together on the same side. Anyway, glad to see I did do it right after all. And the up/down cycled t-shirt is described in one of my books, would love to try it too. On another note, have you ever used elastic thread to do shirring? (shirring? is that German? Smocking is what I mean). Love, P
I’ve always wanted to try shirring/smocking. But I have no idea how it works. Please teach me!
well, I think I am going to go give it a whirl this afternoon. I bought an elastic thread and am going to hand wind my bobbin with it. Then, I am going to sew lines on an old t-shirt of Alexis’ to make a cute girly T for Nellie. WIsh me luck!