Wool Sweater Makeover

Handbag made from wool sweater.

Cute as a sweater, but oh so much better as a bag.

I spent a lot of time sewing embroidery floss in all the grooves. 

I love the bright colors with the cream wool.

I whip stitched in a canvas lining to give it more body. 

I cut open one sleeve and used it for the bottom.The other one was used for the handles.

I love me some sari silk flowers.

My favorite source for sari silk. http://store.darngoodyarn.com/

Every now and then you finish a project that leaves a big fat smile on your face. Well this is one of those times for me. I found this great wool sweater last December at the thrift store my brother and his family own. Ya you heard me, I have a thrift store in my family. Lucky me, I just wish we lived in the same town so we could hangout and work with them more often. Every time we go for a visit, we take them a bunch of our stuff, and I always find a few treasures that I can't live without. Well this sweater was my favorite find from the last visit. Any second hand wool sweater is a joy to behold to most mixed media or quilt artists. But this one was better than most because of it's unique bell shape. As soon as I got it out of the dryer, I knew it was destined to be a handbag. I simply cut the sleeves off and turned the body of the sweater into the bag. I hand stitched embroidery floss in all of the grooves of the wool. This was the longest part of the project.  I used one sleeve for the bottom and the other for the two handles. Next I whip stitched in a canvas lining. The cherry on top of the cake came when I sewed on the handmade sari silk flowers. I make and sell them as pins, but this is one of those times when more is better, so I put every last one I had around the top of the bag. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.  What is your favorite thrift store find?