Pullover to purse

By Spotlight

Don’t throw away those old knits yet... consider throwing them in a hot wash & starting anew with the results. You’ve got nothing to lose.

Final Result

Materials

• old knitted woollen jumper
• handbag handles
• 2m each x 3 different trims
• washing machine
• sewing machine
• scissors
• darning needle & wool (optional)

Step 1

Wash the jumper in a top loading washing machine with hot water and soap powder and a pair of jeans or something to agitate the jumper a little more during the wash.

Hang it out to dry. The jumper will have shrunk and the fibres will have matted together.

Step 2

Cut the jumper to size to match the size of the handles.

To create a pocket along the top edge of both sides for the rod of the handle sew on the machine using zigzag stitch.

Sew the seams closed, leaving approximately 6cm open at the top of the side seams so the bag can open easily.

If the felted jumper is too thick to sew on the machine, hand stitch together using a darning needle and wool.

Step 3

Slide the rods through the top pockets and attach the handles.

Or alternatively as we have done create your own handles/strap by tying the trims to the rods.

Note

Are we crazy?
How many of us have old school jumpers of our own or our children’s stashed away, taking up space? How about reincarnating them into a fun tote or bag that holds both memories and bits’n’bobs?