How to turn old clothes into a stylish handbag

Do you long for an original handbag that will not only be stylish, but also ecological and cheap? Then try recycling an old T-shirt, or as in my case, an old dress! In this article, I will show you how to use the simple locker hooking technique to make a designer handbag from unwanted clothes according to your own ideas. All you need is a little imagination, skill and a few basic tools. Start creating and you will never want to wear boring serial handbags again!

♻ Turning old clothes into a stylish handbag using the Locker Hooking technique is a creative way to recycle, or rather upcycle, while creating something amazing and functional. Here's how to do it:

Material preparation

First, prepare an old T-shirt or dress that you want to use. Clothes should be washed and dry. If necessary, iron them as well to have a smooth, crease-free fabric.

Cutting fabric

✂ Then cut or cut the T-shirt into long strips approximately 1.5-2.5 cm wide. The width of the stripe will depend on the strength and stiffness of the material and the size of canvas you want to use. The finer the material and the larger the mesh of canvas, the wider the stripes you should cut. You can cut the strips in a spiral from the bottom edge to the shoulders to get the longest pieces of fabric. If you cut or cut the stripes straight, you can then sew 🪡 them together, or connect 🪢 them.

Preparing the base for the handbag

As a base for your handbag, you can use canvas size 1.5 or size 2. The size of the cut parts will depend on the size of the handbag you want to create. Don't forget to add 4 squares on each side to create :)

Pattern adaptation to the number of fabric stripes

👕👗 If you recycle more T-shirts or other fabrics you have at home, create the same patterns on the front and back at the same time. Loop a part of the pattern on the front piece and then the same part on the back piece (if you want the bag to be the same on both sides).

💡 When looping handbags, for example, with wool or fabrics that you have bought and can buy again, you can loop the entire front and then the back first. However, if you are looping from recycled materials, loop both parts at the same time in individual parts of the pattern. This will prevent a situation where you run out of stripes from a recycled T-shirt and you will run out of these, for example, a specific color or material, for the second part.

Selection and use of handles

Handles for handbags are a topic that I should devote a separate article to... and I 🙂 really will do it. It is a specific, not only functional, but also design element that acts as a dominant feature of the handbag. You can either make the handles from other strips of fabric, cut a long piece of canvas and also loop the handles, or you can use ready-made handles from various materials such as metal, resin, textiles, wood, etc. In my opinion, the use of ready-made handles is the simplest and most practical option. But the decision is up to you 👍 .

Completion

Once you have finished looping all the parts of the handbag, you can proceed to the final adjustments. Hide excess strips of fabric and locking yarns. Then connect all the pieces of the handbag together with the stitch stitch. Sew on the handles as well. If you want a lining in your handbag, sew it to your liking. I like lots and lots of pockets for my little things that I need 😇 in my handbag. Sew the lining to the upper edge of the handbag with the back stitch. If you want, also sew magnetic fasteners into the lining to keep the handbag closed.

Decorating

You can also sew a number of ornaments, filigrees, beads, minerals on the handbag or hang various tags or tassels on the handles. It is also possible to tie a piece of fabric or a scarf on the handles, which will further complement your outfit.

Locker Hooking allows you to experiment with different techniques and materials. Don't be afraid to experiment with fabric colors, patterns, and textures. By creating a stylish handbag from a recycled T-shirt, you not only save the environment, but also get a unique fashion accessory that also attracts attention 💟.

If you don't know what to do, check out my tutorials or videos, or write to me on FCB or WhatsApp. 🙂