Shopping bag

Mr Starling and I are trying to be as conscientious about recycling as we can - and I'm trying to see how few plastic bags I can collect when we go out shopping. I have a very useful but tatty old co-op cotton bag that I stuff into my handbag when we leave the flat, but I've been wanting to upgrade for a while. 

This linen skirt escaped the charity shop pile by a whisker, and I'm glad I kept it, as the individual panels I unpicked were the perfect size for the sides of my bag. I wanted to do a design that was simple and fun, and yes, I am afraid that I seem incapable of making anything that doesn't at some point involve a rose or a bird. I've also been dying to try out fabric transfers too.



And below is the final result, which I'm pretty happy with :) The handles were made from ribbons from my never-ending wedding ribbon bag, and I backed them with fabric from the skirt, as the one thing I hate is thin straps that cut into your hand when you're carrying heavy shopping home on the bus. I had a brief craving to sew sequins onto each polka dot and had to lie down until the urge passed. 

I'm looking forward to taking it out for a spin. It's pretty robust as I sewed everything twice (and broke 2 needles sewing the straps to the bag. I'm getting too used to the snapping sound when the tip of the needle loses its battle with recalcitrant layers of fabric), but I'll be interested to see how the transfer survives being crumpled up into my handbag next time I go shopping.