Everything Old is New Again – Eco-Friendly Recycling Projects

By DeDee Birdsall

Do you have a free afternoon and want to create something both truly unique and “green”? Crafting has never been easier and more fun when your finished project is a purse or a funky bracelet made from unlikely materials like placemats and vintage watches. Check out the Salvation Army thrift stores, Deseret Industries, Goodwill Industries and Opportunity Village for unique supplies. Garage sales, Craig’s List and eBay are also good choices.

Placemat Purses, Clutches and Totes

Placemats are the perfect medium for creating purses because they’re no fuss–no patterns, no cutting, no lining. With a few simple folds, a little sewing and some snappy trim, anyone can create purses big and small, chic and adorable or sporty and elegant.  Be sure to use quilting thread and a size 90 or 100 jeans needle for best results.

Small Purse

Perfect for an afternoon shopping spree, these tiny totes are easy to carry and big enough to hold everything you need.

 

Supplies:

One placemat

Purse handles

Silk satin ribbon (1 yard of 1-inch ribbon) to attach handles

A strip of plastic canvas or mesh

 

Technique:

• Lay placemat flat, front side down.
• Measure placement of ribbons using purse handles as a guide.  Pin and stitch two 10 to 11-inch pieces of ribbon per short side approximately ¼-inch from the placemat’s edge, so half of ribbon is on inside of the bag and half on outside. Repeat for other side.
• Fold placemat in half, right side in, and pin sides together.  Stitch 5/8-inch side seams, stopping about 1 ½ inches from the bottom.
• After stitching sides and bottom, you will now have the basic purse pouch. To form the square bottom, using your side seam as your guide, pull sides of purse out to form a triangle on the bottom corner of each side. Lay flat.  Measure 1 ½ inches up from the tip of the triangle towards the center of the purse. Mark a chalk line from this point towards the side and bottom seams, forming an enclosed triangle.  Stitch along the chock line. Repeat for other side. Visit http://sasw.blogspot.com/2007/06/recycled-placemat-purse.html for visual instruction if needed.
• Then turn purse right side out and fold under corner flaps to stabilize and form the square bottom.   
• Add top edge embellishments with matching quilting thread.
• Tie on purse handles using the ribbon sewn to the top of the bag.
• Cut plastic canvas and place inside to stabilize bottom.

Standard Tote

No matter if you’re carrying your laptop, using it as a beach bag, a standard purse or a diaper bag, this tote handles it all.

Supplies:

Two placemats

Embellishments like beaded fringe trim (approx. 1 ½ yards of each)

Matching canvas or nylon strapping (1 ½ yards of each)

A strip of plastic canvas or mesh

Technique:

 

• Cut canvas strapping into two 27-inch pieces.  Zigzag stitch over raw edges to control fraying.
• To attach straps to each placemat, lay one placemat right side down on work surface with longer edge at the top. Pin each end of one strap to the inside top of the placemat 4 1⁄2 inches from each side, with the ends 1 1⁄4 inches from the top edge (about 8 inches between straps). Sew each end in place by stitching a small square over it. Add second strap to other placemat, making sure both sides match.
• Pin right sides together. Stitch 5/8 inch side seams (backstitch top opening), stopping 2 ½ inches from the bottom.
• Stitch bottom of purse, stopping 1 ½ inches from each end and backstitch.
• Form squared bottom corners as noted in small purse technique; measure up 2 ½ inches from point. 
• Turn bag right side out.  Fold corner points towards purse bottom.
• Add top edge embellishments with matching quilting thread.
• Cut plastic canvas and place inside to stabilize bottom.

 

Clutch

The classic clutch makes a great addition to any outfit and adds a touch of class! When selecting a placemat, keep in mind that sturdier placemats provide purse body.  When choosing the placemat, fold the placemat as you would to complete the project.  If it holds its shape while folded, it will provide the proper strength and look. Consider faux leather and vinyl too.

Supplies:

Sturdy placemat

Embellishments (approximately ½ yard of each)

Rosette pins

Purse magnet

Technique:

• Fold placemat twice, leaving 4 ½ inches at the top for purse flap. Draw pencil or chalk line on inside to mark flap fold. 
• Fold up bottom to meet flap mark.  Pin sides.
• Sew sides of purse to flap mark (backstitch top). 
• To add purse magnet to the inside of the flap, make center mark on the inside of flap approximately 1 ½ inches from top edge. Poke magnet through the fabric on inside of the flap.  Repeat to place the other side of the magnet on front of clutch, under the flap.  When closed, the magnet will adhere to keep flap in place. 
• Embellish right side of flap with trim, ribbon or beads (covering magnet components) by sewing or affixing the trim with sturdy fabric glue.    

 

Never Enough Time Watch Bracelets

A quirky one-of-a-kind bracelet with a variety of vintage or new watch faces is a great addition to your jewelry collection. Whether functional or just plain pretty, the watch bracelet is a simple project for a beginning crafter.  Vintage watch bracelets retail for upwards of $100 but you can complete this project in under $30.  It’s simply recycled to rewear!

Find a selection of new watch faces online at www.ewatchwholesale.com and www.thevirtualtouch.com ranging from $3.99 to $5.99 per watch.  Thrift store watches can be purchased for as little as $1 each. Mix and match vintage watch faces in gold and silver, shape and size, but make sure that they all have either straight bar or single loop band connections in order for the bracelet to keep consistent form. Standard bracelets measure approximately seven inches in length.

 

Supplies:

4 to 5 watch faces

Jump rings

Jewelry pliers

Lobster clasp

Bead or charm embellishments

Technique:

 

• Lay out four to five different watch faces in the order you like.
• Using jewelry pliers, attach a silver open jump ring to each ring on each side of the watch face. (If using watch faces with a bar on either side, use 5-6 jumps per side.)  Close jump ring.
• Connect all watches.
• At ends, attach a jump ring and one end of the lobster clasp.  Repeat for other side.
• Add charms or beads to the end of the bracelet using additional jump rings.
• Set the time and go–or let time stand still!

 

Easy, inexpensive and fun to piece together, each of these projects is a great way to add quirk and interest to your accessory collection. So grab your placemats, dig out Grandma’s jewelry box or head to the local flee market and craft store and let your creativity flourish.

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