Third transformed canvas bag

Here is the recipe for a fab bag. First you need a plain canvas bag, undo all the stitching, take the handles off and unpick the side seams. Makes it easier to work on.

Then you need some colourful aluminium drinks cans. You cut the cans open and cut twentyfive squares, carefully picking out the best bits of the design. I use a cardboard template so each one is exactly the same size. Then you punch holes around the edges, equally spaced, a paper punch will do the job. Next you crochet around the edges through the holes. One more to finish and they are ready.

Then you stitch all the squares onto the front of the bag. Work out where you are going to put them first, move them around untill it looks right.

I chose red wool, and used matching red velvet for the lining, and handles. I covered the original canvas handles to reinforce them.

Nipped the corners on the inside to give it a flatish bottom.

Tow rows of machine stitching around the top edge, using the original needle holes as a guide.

Before I stitched the bag together I added a pink bead in between the squares.

And here are the twentyfive squares. The back of the bag is left plain.

Here is the finished article. It is too nice to be a shopping bag, and probably not big enough. I'm not sure if it can be washed because I don't know if the red colour of the velvet would bleed into the white canvas. It might make it pink. Probably best to try and keep it clean.

Now I must think of another idea for the next one :o)