Make a tea towel tote

You’ll need

• Printed tea towel (raid the cupboard or pick one up at your local op shop for $1 or $2)
• Man’s tie (ask the man of the house, or visit the op shop)

Tools required

• Pins
• Matching thread
• Measuring tape
• Fabric scissors
• Sewing machine*

(*If you don’t have a sewing machine but want to have a go, look out for the Sew Love Tea Do mobile sewing school. They bring the machines and up-cycling workshops to you: www.sewloveteado.com.)

Step-by-step guide

Step 1

Fold your tea towel (good sides together) and your tie in half.

Step 2

Cut the tie in two at the halfway point. Now you have your two handles.

Step 3

Close your bag by pinning the two sides together.

Step 4

Now sew down both sides. Reverse stitch at the start and finish to make sure it won’t unravel.

Step 5

Create a square bottom to your bag so it will hold more. First, tease out one of the bottom corners so it makes a triangle with the seam running through the centre, then sew across 4cm from the tip. Repeat on the other side.

Step 6

Turn your bag inside out so the good side is on the exterior. The bag should now have a nice wide base.

Step 7

Pin your tie handles to the bag with each end about a third of the way across the top edge. Where you have cut the tie there will be a raw edge; simply tuck this under and your topstitching will cover it.

Step 8

Flip your bag over and pin the second handle to match on the other side.

Step 9

Topstitch your handles down to secure them in place. This will give a nice design feature and added strength. Sew the handles to your bag in a figure-of-eight pattern around the edges of the tie end forming a box. Sew the pointed end of the tie in a house shape – you’re all done!

Clever crafty variations

• Use placemats – join two placemats by sewing across the bottom as well as the sides to close the bag.
• Use a pillowcase – sew across about a quarter of the way down from the open end. This closes the pillowcase and creates a bonus pocket too!
• Additions – add your own doilies, pretty hankies or napkins, buttons or embroidery to the outside.