8 ways to use old unwanted bags

Any thing has its expiration date, including a woman's handbag. Even if it is made of durable material (leather, leatherette) and is not very worn out, it may go out of fashion. There is no need to throw away a worn-out accessory. You can find a use for it by breathing new life.

Accessory Upgrade

You don't have to throw away your old bag, but just update it a little. True, creating a new accessory will take a little time. The transformation of the product consists of several stages:

• Stage – cleaning the accessory. This process depends on the material. Wipe leather or leatherette with a damp cloth, removing dust, and wash with a weakly concentrated soap solution. Grease stains are removed with chalk. Sprinkle the stain with crushed chalk and leave it for a day. Gloss is added to the product using glycerin. Wipe the surface with a cotton pad soaked in the substance. The varnished product is simply cleaned with a damp cloth. To process suede, use a shoe brush, and the pellets are cut off with a stationery knife. Then dilute ammonia in water in a ratio of 1:4, soak a cotton swab in the solution, and wipe the surface.
• Stage – replacement of the internal lining. The old lining must be cut off and a new one cut from pre-prepared fabric based on its sample. You can simply cut out two elements, sew them on the sides, or add a bottom and sides. To do this, you will need to additionally cut out one piece for the bottom of the bag, two for the sides. Connect all the parts together. You can sew on a couple of pockets for small items.The finished lining is attached to the product.
• Stage - replacing the handle. Typically, the handles wear out the fastest. You can build an original handle by wrapping the wire with a beautiful cord that matches the color of the product. For a textile product, you can weave a handle from strips by choosing the appropriate material. For a classic accessory, a simple handle made from a piece of leatherette or leather is suitable.

You can make your bag completely unrecognizable by repainting it with a special paint designed for leather. Beads, rhinestones, beads, chains, and brooches are sewn onto a fabric product. The main thing is not to overdo it when decorating an accessory.

Rebirth of an accessory

An old bag can be converted into a new one. A voluminous item is suitable for making a clutch.

First of all, the lining is removed. Further actions depend on the imagination of the hostess.

You can sew a stitch on both sides, starting from the center of the product, going down. To do this, instead of a regular thread, a special thin elastic band is used to gather the surface of the bag into folds. Then a new lining is sewn inside, cutting it to the shape and size of the new product. The finished butterfly bag is decorated with various accessories.

Another way to build a new bag. The old product is ripped into pieces, and parts of the new accessory are cut out of them. Tracing paper is applied to the front and back walls, on which horizontal and vertical lines are drawn. The machine stitching will run along these lines. After this, the tracing paper is removed, all the details are sewn together, sewing in the lining and zipper. At the last stage, a handle in the form of a chain is attached. It turns out a new quilted bag.

Unusual flower pot

A bag made of any material can be converted into a hanging flower pot.This is done easily and quickly.

The first thing that breaks is the lightning. Then you need to replace the fabric lining with plastic film or oilcloth. The bag is filled with soil in which the flowers are planted.

If the handles are strong and can withstand the weight of the earth, you can hang the pot on them. If the handles are very frayed, they are replaced with strong ropes.

A bulk bag made of leather or leatherette can be used as an original flowerpot. To do this you need to cut thin strips. Braids are made from leather strips, the ends of which are connected to each other. A pot of flowers is inserted into a wicker flowerpot and hung on a hook.

Car first aid kit

You can use an old bag to make a first aid kit for your car. This is done as follows:

1. If the product is decorated with accessories, all accessories are removed.
2. A zipper is sewn on. If there is a zipper, its functionality is checked, and if it breaks, it is replaced with a new one.
3. A rectangle or square is cut out of thick cardboard (depending on the shape of the bag) to strengthen the bottom and walls.
4. The lining is slightly trimmed, a piece of cardboard is inserted inside, and the holes are sewn together.

This first aid kit is especially convenient because it has several compartments. You can place dressings and tablets separately.

Case

A case for glasses, a phone, or a tablet can be made from an old bag. Soft thick fabric will protect your glasses or phone from damage. To do this, cut out two parts and sew them together. For decoration, rhinestones, beads, and stripes from the remaining scraps are used. A lanyard is inserted into the case for your phone or glasses.

The voluminous product can be used as a laptop case.To make it stronger, cardboard or plastic is inserted under the lining. For the fastener, material from handles is used, from which a small strap is made. On the one hand, the strap is sewn to the case, and on the other, it is secured with a button.

Bracelet

One of the essential attributes of a fashionable look is a stylish bracelet. Despite the variety of these accessories, it is not always possible to choose the right one. You can make a similar decoration from an old bag.

Most women prefer leatherette products. It is a soft material and comfortable to work with. To make a bracelet you will need some tools and additional decorative elements:

• scissors;
• ruler;
• pencil or pen;
• leather glue;
• awl;
• a piece of fabric;
• fasteners: snaps, buttons, chains;
• beads, beads

If the bag is voluminous, then three bracelets can be made from it at once: a wicker decoration; ruffled accessory and bracelet with flowers.

Wicker accessory

Weaving a braid is not at all difficult. You can simply cut three narrow strips from the elements of the bag, weave them into a braid, fix the ends and attach a clasp.

There is another way, for which you will additionally need a thin colored cord:

1. A piece of leather is cut from the bag to the size of the wrist.
2. The workpiece, before reaching the end, is cut into three strips of equal width.
3. A hole for a loop is made at one end of the workpiece, and a button will be located at the other end.
4. The colored lace is cut into two parts, the length of which is greater than the workpiece.
5. Both laces are threaded through the hole and tied with a knot, forming a buttonhole.
6. The braid is made of three leather parts and two parts of lace.
7. The other end of the bracelet is wrapped with a cord and tied in a knot.
8. Sew on a button.

Beads, seed beads and any other decorative elements can be sewn across the entire surface of the bracelet.

Corrugated bracelet

For such a bracelet you will need an additional elastic band. The work is performed in the following order:

1. The bag is ripped into separate elements, removing the lining.
2. On a piece of leather, draw and cut out a rectangle 8-10 cm wide, twice the length of the wrist.
3. A line is drawn in the center of the strip with a pencil, on which holes are punched with an awl through equal sections.
4. An elastic band is pulled through the holes.
5. Pull the ends of the elastic band together by tying them into a knot.

There are two ways to decorate a bracelet. By threading the elastic through the leather, you can simultaneously string beads onto it. There is another option: cut a 3-4 cm wide strip from a piece of leather along the length of the accessory already assembled into a frill and sew it to the bracelet. A clasp is attached to the edges of the bracelet.

Decoration with flowers

A strip is cut out of the bag, the length of which is equal to the circumference of the wrist. The width of the band should be twice the required width of the bracelet. The strip must be folded in half so that the seam is in the middle. The seams are sewn in the center and along the edges of the strip. Then they move on to making flowers. You can make three different flower options:

1. Cut out 10 petals, sewing 2 together. The petals are turned inside out and strung on a thread, tightening it so that the petals are connected in a circle. A large bead is placed in the center of the flower.
2. Rosette. A strip of leather is cut out of the bag, rolled, and the base is sewn together.
3. Cut a strip of leather and fold it in half. A strong thread is tied along the edge of the strip and pulled together, folding the strip.

All flowers are sewn or glued to the base of the bracelet.The voids are filled with beads and beads. The bracelet is fastened with a button, which is punched at the ends of the accessory.

Organizer for storing small items

By altering an old bag, you can get an organizer for storing tools, cosmetics or school supplies. An accessory made of any material is suitable.

Remove the handles, rip out the zipper and lining. One of the walls is left intact, and the second is cut lengthwise so that its width is half as large. On a narrow strip, vertical lines are sewn at equal distances. You get pockets into which you can put tools or brushes, pencils, pens and any other small items. From the remnants of the fabric, loops are made along a wide strip, on which the organizer is hung on the wall.

You can get a stylish organizer from an ordinary shoe box. To do this, the bag is completely ripped open and the box is lined. In a leather product, you can simply insert plastic elements under the lining, not forgetting the bottom and side walls.

Decorative pillow

From old leather, suede or fabric products you can make pillowcases for sofa cushions. To do this, you just need to open the handles and put the accessory on pillows of suitable size.

If there are none, you can take any filler and fill the bag with it, zipping it up. If the product had a clasp, then sew up the edge of the pillowcase by hand. You can additionally decorate the pillow with decorative elements.

There are many more options for using an old bag. And if it’s a pity to part with an old product, then you should choose the method you like, creating an original, exclusive item.