Happy Thursday! Today I am here with something of a departure for me. Sewing. Not on paper. Nope. This time I've actually used fabric!
For a long while (all year) I have needed a new peg bag. I've been using an empty biscuit tin which, frankly, wasn't really upto the job I was asking it to do. I had also, for a long while, had a set of three pretty cotton tea towels I bought from Home Bargains (something like £3 for three) with the express intention of creating something with them. So today was the day to gather myself together and get the thing made.
I'm not much good at sewing, following patterns and the like, so a foolproof design and instructions were a must. I did a bit of Googling and decided upon the instructions at this website for a really easy to make peg bag.
And, just for the fun of it (and so you can see that I really am not good at sewing and not just saying that) here are the photos that show the simple steps involved.
Lay tea towel face up and turn over the top about 4" (or whatever depth required to accommodate your hanger). The only wooden hangers I had were those with the trouser hanger bit on them, so I delved into one of the kid's wardrobes and found a plastic one with a narrower design. I also did without tailor's chalk (used a laundry pen) or the tape measure (I'm more of an 'ish' girl when it comes to measurements).
Mark the shape of the hanger for your sewing line.
Sew each edge of the folded section upto to the middle, leaving 1/4 inch gap unsewn at the middle for the hanger to be poked through later. (Remember, if you use your sewing machine a lot for sewing on paper, like I do, change to a new needle before starting.)
Fold up the bottom section of the tea towel so it overlaps the top section by about 1/2 inch. Sew up both edges just beyond the point where the top section is sewn on either side.
Cut away the excess fabric and create a notch for the hanger to go through (I used pinking shears as these help prevent fraying.
Turn inside out, add your hanger and fill with pegs. And hope for some more good drying days! Mine is here pictured with the other two tea towels that came in the set. Aren't they so pretty? I've have a bit of a trawl back through the posts here at It's a Creative World and bookmarked a couple of projects I may attempt next.
If you use a plainer fabric, you could always pretty it up by adding flowers, ribbons and buttons, but I thought this fabric was gorgeous enough without anything else added to it. They would also make really great gifts (especially for anyone setting up home) and craft fair items too.
xxx's
Suzanne
Cute peg bag and love the fabric.
Posted by: Mandy | September 16, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Fab peg bag, lovely bright fabric too
Anne x
Posted by: Anne | September 16, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Fab bag. (and just love the material - don't spose it would run to a skirt...)
xx
Posted by: Eleanor | September 16, 2010 at 04:00 PM
Brilliant idea, I will be making one when the one dd made me bites the dust.
Debbie x
Posted by: Debbie Roberts | September 17, 2010 at 07:17 AM