Friday, May 30, 2014

Tea Towel Bag


Do you remember the beautiful tea towel I won from Robin?  I love it, it is so sturdy and colorful.  But I have to admit I just could not think about wiping my dirty hands on this beautiful piece of fabric.  It was too beautiful to put in a drawer, and I knew if I hung it out side my dishwasher where my other towels go, everyone in my family would mess it up with their dirty hands.  I had an idea and here it is.


A Tea Towel Bag.   The seams were already finished, all I had to do was fold the towel in half, sew up the seams, and make a corner seam to make the bottom square. I sewed in a piece of plastic canvas on the bottom to keep the bottom flat.


You can barely see the edge of the plastic canvas in the photo above. 


I went to my favorite Joann's Fabrics and Crafts for the straps and orange button.  I crocheted a little flap and sewed on the button and the straps, and there you have it.  In a little over a nap time (I now measure everything according to nap time), I have a new bag and I love it.  It is fun and original, no one else is going to have this.  It is more of a messenger bag, with one strap sewn to the back side of the side seam and the other to the front of the side seam.  It should lie nicely across your body this way, however it does not make for balanced picture taking at my early morning photo shoot.

The yarn for the flap was doubled, two different colors of orange straight from my stash.  

I am sure this has probably been done a thousand times before, but I have not seen another one.  What do you think?  It was easy peasy, if I can do it so can you!

Have a great weekend.

39 comments:

Karen said...

I love it! It looks so cute with the outfit on your 'model.'

Lillie and Moss said...

What a wonderful, clever idea!! I love it too!!
xx Shari

Claudia said...

What a great idea! I have some tea towels that I never use for just that reason. Don would have them dirty and greasy in no time.

xo
Claudia

Anonymous said...

Very creative! The perfect messenger bag for a Florida-girl!

kristieinbc said...

That's brilliant! And now you don't have to worry about dirty hands ruining it. Well done!

Amy at love made my home said...

Fantastic Meredith!! It was far too nice to use for drying dishes and is much nicer for your new bag!! It will be great for toting all that stuff that a Mom needs hey! You really are so clever! xx

kathy b said...

adorable. You are so very creative Mere!!!

Pammy Sue said...

Totally cute and so Floridian! That's a really neat idea and beautiful fabric. I wouldn't want to use it to wipe dirty hands on either.

Stins said...

That's such a good use of a pretty fabric....
You made such a pretty bag from it!
Love the morninglight in your pictures too :)
Love from Mirjam.

Acorn to Oak said...

I would have had a hard time using it for a towel too. It's so cute and colorful! Great idea to use it for a bag. I love when seams are already done. Makes the project easy, quick, and fun. Being able to use things you already have is always so rewarding too....like the button, the yarn, etc. I love color orange lately! And, with the blue it just pops! So eye catching, happy, and cute! Congrats on your adorable bag. Enjoy!

linda said...

What a great idea Meredith it's lovely. :)

Teresa Kasner said...

You are so clever and creative! I am a bag-a-holic, so that is right up my alley. I can see yours full of yarn and a project in action. I am up early and heading off soon for the re-dedication of the Benson Bridge at the falls. Why do they have to do stuff like this in the morning? LOL! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Unknown said...

Love it! So nice and colorful!

Debbie said...

What a clever idea! I love it!

Eileen said...

Aren't you so clever! I love it! I don't blame you at all. I wouldn't want to wipe my dirty hands on that beautiful fabric either. Have a great weekend!:)

kathyinozarks said...

I totally love it!! you are just so creative with the design

Una said...

What a great idea. If it has been done before, I've never seen it!! That button blends in perfectly.

Jennifer Hays said...

Aren't you clever?! It came out really well. Very cute.

yarn and pencil said...

It's a lovely bag.
xx

cockney blonde said...

What a brilliant idea. Love the orange flap and button. Fab, x

CJ said...

Brilliant, a clever idea, especially the lovely crocheted flap, and beautifully executed. A good way to make sure your tea towel doesn't end up all worn and grubby. Long may naptime last! I hope you guys have a good weekend. CJ xx

Judy S. said...

Very clever! I can sure see why you didn't want to use it for dishes, way too pretty. Some folks are making quilts with tea towels, so that's on my agenda with a towel from my sister's trip to Australia, but who knows when that will happen. You at least finished your cute bag!

Caffeine Girl said...

Well, I have never seen a tea towel used this way, and I think it is brilliant. I often see gorgeous tea towels but can't imagine actually using one as a towel. Maybe now I'll buy one occasionally!

Deb said...

love the colours in the tea towel and turning it into a messenger bag was brilliant. it looks fabulous.
have a wonderful weekend Meredith xo

Paula said...

So cute! I make little bags out of placemats - same idea, only no button closure or flap. They are perfect for a book or magazine or to take mail to the post office!

My Garden Diaries said...

That is just beautiful and brilliant friend! I LOVE IT!!! And I agree...that fabric was way to pretty to just wipe your hands on! A wonderful weekend to you! Nicole xo

* said...

Absolutely genius! Love the fabric of the tea towel, I can see why it has to be more than a towel and the bag is such an inspired idea. Love the crocheted top, that orange is gorgeous....clever you!

Jo said...

That is an eye popping bag. well done You. Jo x

Rose Red said...

Yay! I am so glad you made it into a bag, definitely too nice to use as a tea towel. It looks great.

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Wow Meredith I love it! That is perfect and a super idea! xoRobin

Claire said...

Definitely thinking outside the square Meredith....great idea, it looks wonderful, love the colours......xx

Grammy Braxton said...

How creative. I would never have thought to do that and now you have a new bag. Love it!

Hugs,
Sharon

Unknown said...

What a great idea, it really is a lovely fabric!

Suzan said...

Meredith-
You are a genius!! So creative!! Who wouldn't want a bag of oranges with a knitted top!!!! Seems to also make for an awesome laptop carrier. Love it!

Unknown said...

You are so incredibly clever and crafty Meredith! I LOVE this bag, and what a wonderful way to keep a special gift. It is beautiful! Chrissie x

Joy said...

Ah this is brilliant Meredith, and so summery bright: well done, enjoy it! My teatowel has tape measures all over it and I'm really looking forward to doing something lovely with it for it also is much too good to use in the kitchen! Have a great week, hugs to you, Joy xo

Gracie Saylor said...

One can never have too many bags. I am certain of that. Thanks for sharing your "how to" make it, as well, Meredith. I think I can...I think I can...I think I can :) xx

Jill at emeraldcottage said...

I. Just. Love. It.
:)
Jillxo

Tammy said...

Awesome and so creative! Hugs, Tammy