Refashioned Bags, Craft Book to be inspired & stay on trend

We choose the hot-of-the-press book “Refashioned Bags: Upcycle Anything into High-Style Handbags” by artist team Justina & Faith Blakeney as our book of the month over a decade ago, and well, it’s still very on trend today. Indeed it has been one of our favorite crafts and sewing books.

It’s the fourth book they’ve been writing together, and it seems to be their best ever. It’s ‘so magically delicious’ was the feedback from another reader.

Reduce, Reuse, Refashion! is the motto of the crafting siblings.

They know handbags to be the ultimate accessory. Rather than cookie-cutter designer bags, you could make your own for a strong fashion statement.

In today’s greener, more fiscally responsible world, it makes a lot more sense–and is a lot more fun—to make your own. Whether your closet is already an amalgam of hand-made clothing and remastered mash-ups or you’re diving into DIY for the very first time, bags are one of the easiest accessories to make over and require little more than a needle, thread, and everyday items you can find in the closet, garage, attic, or flea market.

 
That’s why the authors of 99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Tie & Rock Your Scarf show you how to make boutique-ready bags on the cheap. The Blakeney sisters twist and weave, turn inside-out, and re-appropriate just about anything and everything to fashion radical accessories with mad style and a message.

In “Refashioned Bags”, you’ll learn how to create carryalls, clutches, laptop bags, totes, and more. And all of them will get a unique look, whether from the use of an old wool sweater, an ex-boyfriend’s neckties, extra shower curtains, dad’s hand-me-down suit jacket, a quilt, an umbrella, or even a bath mat.

This Book’s Craft Projects

Some of the inventive and one-of-a-kind bags you’ll learn to make include:

• Boho Hobo Bag
• Sweater Computer Cozy
• Dapper Diaper Bag
• Dolce Doily Purse
• Le Zip Sac
• Tux Redux Bag And more!

Best Points

• Stunning, stylish craft ideas that will tune up your creativity
• All do-able projects
• Great motivator to recycle
• Ensures you WILL have enough cool bags laying around to go to town in a different one each day.

No kidding.
This books features step-by-step instructions with clear diagrams. Beyond this there are bonus crafting ideas, fun facts, plus of course tips & tricks from top bag designers in the DIY field who work with (un-)usual craft materials.

If you just follow the easy steps that require little more than cutting, folding, gluing, and basic stitching, you too can create refashioned bag designers.

Justina & Faith Blakeney are avid recyclers and clothing designers. Their clothing line, Compai, fuses fashion with saving the planet. Compai’s styles have been featured in Vogue, Glamour,Marie Claire, and on the ‘Today’ show.

In Sum

This fabulous book, ‘Refashioned Bags’ by Faith & Justina Blakeney is perfect for the DIYer!