Homemade Tatter Bags

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-1407 -- More Projects »
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Recycle an old sweater into a trendy tatter bag. See the simple steps below to find out how.
Art teacher Lea Anderson explains how to make a tatter bag out of a shrunken sweater.

  • If you don't already have a shrunken sweater, the first thing you will have to do is boil an old sweater to shrink it. If the sweater is wool, boiling will produce a material called felting. If the sweater is cotton, boiling will make the fibers shrink close together.
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Figure A
  • Lay the sweater out flat and use sharp scissors to cut off the sleeves (figure A). Then cut up the sides and across the shoulders.

  • Cut up the middle of the front section of the sweater, or cut wherever it best suits the design of your tatter bag.

  • Cut the sweater into a long rectangle that will determine the length.

  • Lay the rectangle on a half yard of the fabric of choice. This will be the inside lining. Cut it the same size as the rectangle.

  • Sew the liner's top edge under.
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    Figure B
  • Pin the two right sides--lining and sweater--together (figure B) and then sew along the sides and the bottom.

  • The bottom edge of the sweater will be used for the flap of the purse, so therefore the top will become the bottom of the purse.

  • Leave the flap open so that you can turn it right side out.
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    Figure C
  • Next, sew decorative, creative stitching across the flap to add character to the purse (figure C).

  • Sew on a large button (antique buttons are especially nice for this project) and add a loop made with the yarn. Make sure the loop is large enough for the button to fit through.
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    Figure D
  • The strap is made by cutting the sleeve into wide sections between four and five feet long (figure D). Sew it together and then sew onto the top part of the purse.

  • Tie the two ends of the strap together to finish off the strap.
    • Also in this Episode
    TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-1407
    •Homemade Tatter Bags
    •Egg Carton Uses
    •Cream Wafers
    •Tip of the Day