Creativity is fun. If you try to create things out of discarded items and give them an entirely new look then it certainly becomes something you can take pride in. Making a beach bag out of discarded or old place mats can be one of those creative and fun things which can give you immense satisfaction for creating something out of nothing. This beach bag is easy to make and looks great on the beach on a sunny day with all other colorful beach accessories.
Complexity Level
Moderately Easy
Time Taken
1 hour
Resources Required:
1. Two round place mats
2. Sewing machine
3. Felt in red, green, blue colors
4. Small cup or glass (for making felt circles)
5. Scissors
6. Chalk or fabric marker
7. Long ribbon, belt or necktie for strap or ready made purse straps
Steps
1. Make a design
Take different colored felts. With the help of glass or cup make circles on them. You can make three-four circles on the felts and cut them with the help of scissors. If you want, you can use stencils but those designs are quite complicated and it may get difficult for you to stitch them on the place mat on later stages. Then arrange the felts on the place mat as per the design shown in the picture. If you want, you can make the design on both the place mats.
2. Stitch the design
Once you are ready with the felts, start sewing them on the bag. You can either use machine or can hand stitch them.
3. Join the placemats to form the bag
Once you have attached the felt pieces on place mats, it’s time to join them in order to make a lovely beach bag. Now, either you can keep the opening for the bag a narrow one or broad enough to shovel your hand in and take out knick knacks. Place the two mats on each other with their right side out. Now keeping a distance of about ¼ inches stitch all around the place mats.
4, Fold the flaps
Now fold in the flaps of the opening of your beach bag. If the color inside is vibrant and you would like to show it then fold it inside out.
5. Add a strap
Now attach a strap to each side of the opening of the purse. You can get creative here and can make straps from either ribbons, jute straps, braided colorful threads or anything that appeals you as a potential bag strap.
Quick Tips
1. If you wish, you can attach two flaps in place so that your beach bag becomes top flat instead of round one.
2. You can also paste one of those ready made patches available in the crafts store on your bag for giving it a funky look.
Frequently Asked Question
Q. I don’t know how to machine stitch the bag but still I want to make one. Any solution?
A. Even if you don’t know to use machine, you can make one and flaunt on the beach. For that you will need some extra resources. Like for attaching the felts on the place mats you will need iron-on-paper, available on crafts store. You can iron the paper on felt and it will get attached to the bag without sewing. In the same way, you can either hand stitch the place mats together or can take your stuff to a seamstress, who will do the job for you.
Things to watch out for
Always use a chalk when you mark your designs on the bag. The chalk will fade away and you will not get any unwanted color on your bag to spoil its look.
