Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Selvedge bag

You guys know I collect selvedge of course and I have been saving up for a big project.

But after making the notebook cover for Jem I decided to make one for myself using selvedges.
So I started piecing them together and I couldn't stop. I seriously ADORE how they look together so as my piece grew I decided to turn it into a bag.


It occurred to me that a predominantly white bag wouldn't last long so I decided to cover it with PVC.

I really really like it ! It is a super simple construction and I had to hand sew the handles on (that was a bit of a chore and I actually had to dig out the the thimble!)
I would love to make a big quilt out of selvedges - I know , this from a person who has yet to finish the one and only quilt....but hey a girl can dream.

This bag took almost 40 strips of selvedge - can you imagine how many I would need for even a little quilt- and there is almost no fabric at my place with selvedge still attached.
I don't even know why I like them so much, they just appeal to me.


Sounds like an excuse to buy more fabric if ever I heard one!

101 comments:

Kitty said...

Jodie, that bag is incredible. It's wonderful! You are so clever! No wonder you love it - anyone with a love of fabric would love it.

Well done you! x

Chookyblue...... said...

great bag........I love selvedge also........

Tara said...

Just brilliant!!!! (as always!)

Lucy Locket-Pocket said...

i love it i love i love it!!!!!!! can't type properly because i had to ring lesley straight away to get her to look too! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh want one! NOW!!!!!!

Jenny said...

WOW!!! That is just one heck of a lovely and unique bag!!!!I love it! What will you come up with next!!!

Lesley said...

Ooooh fab bag - I love it!!!!!

Of course now I have to start selvedge hoarding too :)

Lucy really was as excited as her comment suggests!!!!!

xxxx

Natasha Burns said...

Jodie I love your selvedge addiction! The bag is fabulous, you've really come up with something so unique here!

To answer you about the tea - it tasted like green tea, they come in all sorts of different flowers and flavours but mostly they are green tea based. Nothing exciting to taste - the fun part was in the watching! If it tasted like Earl Grey tea I'd be in heaven!

Barb said...

Jodie ~ that bag is just too cute and here I've been throwing away all my selvages for years. Maybe I should start sending them to you!

Queen Bee said...

I love love love that bag, so cute! :)

Gemma
www.craftsbygemma.typepad.co.uk

Alison Gibbs said...

Jodie your bag looks fabulous. Sounds like a fabric buying fest. is coming up.
Alison

Fiona @ Dragonfly-Crafts said...

I too collect selvages, you have made a fabulous bag out of yours.
Not sure what I'll do with mine YET?

Cass said...

I love your bag and I totally agree about selvedges, they look great

CurlyPops said...

You must have so much patience....the bag is beautiful.

Little Mysteries said...

The bag is fantastic!

Annie said...

Jodie, that new bag of yours is delicious. I just love your drive for craft projects and the ongoing "show and tell" which provides me with much entertainment and inspiration!

Lina said...

Fabulous - definitely a one of a kind!

Amy said...

Oh I think it is an excelent excuse to buy more fabric! Buy away!!!!! Lovely little bag- definitly a cute idea!

-K said...

Hi Jodie! This bag is so cool! I had no idea what it would look like when you said you were making a project out of selvages and I must say I am beyond impressed. Best, Karen

http://turnandpress.typepad.com

amandajean said...

oh, my! I ADORE THAT BAG!!! it is wonderful. you know, now I am going to have to try a quilt with this.

BoogaJ said...

I absolutely love it!! I am a huge fan of selvages too. What is it about them?

Karen said...

Too cool and original to boot! I have NEVER thought of using selvage ever- to think of the huge amount I've tossed!

RID said...

WOW!!! That bag is great, I love it!!!
Your work is wonderful. Little dress, lovely... You are so talented...Congratulations! Saludos desde Barcelona

Monkimom said...

What a wonderful look, like a recipe ribbon book of fabrics.
Want to create a mini quilt.
monkimom

Wendy said...

Love it! I've been saving selvages, some with 1/4" and some with 1/2" of fabric left on them since I saw the doll quilt you made. There is just something about them....

Knit - R - Done said...

Really creative and interesting!

Sharla said...

You got me started - ever since I saw your doll quilt, I've been saving selvedges. If you can show us how you made your purse, I would love it!

luv Abby said...

I want one!!!!! how gorgeous is that bag.... great work Jodie.

thornberry said...

Jodie, you never fail to amaze me. The bag is gorgeous, that you continually think outside the square and come up with new ideas. And you are always original and never derivative. You have a really special gift, and are definitely my biggest crafty inspiration!

JOinTAS said...

Love the bag but how in the world do you cover it in PVC?

Stomper Girl said...

Gorgeous! Hurry up with your shop!!!!

Jelly Wares said...

FANTASTIC!!!!! The selvedge looks great... I love selvedge too! When I order new fabric I rip open the packaging dying to see what the selvedge is going to be like... Pretty lame hey??? Great idea to put the pvc on the outside...

Jodie

Skye Rocket Sews said...

Your bag is wonderful!Selvedges...wow!I know...what is it about them?For me it's like a peep at an artist's palette and I love how straight they are(I can't cut a straight line to save myself).Love your quilt too.
Mel.

fiona said...

jodie thats flipping amazing!!!!i have a girlfriend who makes birthday cards out of the selvaege bits!!but a bag love it!!

Christine said...

Your little selvedge bag is adorable. I always feel inspired when I visit your blog. Good luck with the Etsy shop.

joanne said...

I think you are What i would call I high achiever !! Your stuff is way to fab and cool. Etsy will be lucky to have you!

Kloth & Bolt said...

I love the selvedges and am always trying to think of a good project for them, this is FANTASTIC! I love it! -kb

Red Geranium Cottage said...

Well aren't you the clever one. Great idea there. I love it!!!

bluemountainsmary said...

That is wonderful Jodie . As others have said - bring on the shop!

Lynne said...

Wow! You really have found a way to use every 'scrap', haven't you? The bag is beautiful. I never knew there were so many interesting selvedges around!

David and Melissa said...

Hi Jods,
Love the bag! Love also the idea of using selvedge. Definitely going to use mine. Hey have you thought of starting a Selvedge club where people have the opportunity to send selvedges to you. Selvedge's for Jodie or such-that if you want to let go of them. What do you think girls.
Love Melissa xxxxxxx

Lissa Jane said...

Jodiepoo
I love your selvedge bag, I have been saving selvedges too (I wonder who got me bit by that bug??? Hmmmm???) BUT I got smart (I know, dont laugh) I have been cutting them with an INCH above the selvedge so it wont lookie too white if I ever make something with them! I even 'theme' sort them (30's civil wars and THE other bits)



Lissa

Robyn said...

Hi Jodie

Your bag looks great!

One question tho - I was just looking at some newly arrived material and I wondered - do you save only the edge with the info on, or the other side selvedge as well?

All the bits that came today had one side with the pattern printed to the edge and one side with the info on.

starashan said...

I love this! What a clever idea :o)
-Sherrin

jenn said...

Fun! I like selvedges too. They are just an adorable variety of mini art at times. Your bag is a great use of them, very cute.

Selvedges are kind of like chocolates or jelly beans. Every company/artist has a different style with different flavors/colors.

Karin said...

Fantastic! I am going to start saving my selvedges now!

muralimanohar said...

Wow! I had no idea there was so much selvedge love out there! And how GORGEOUS they could look!

Jackie said...

Who would have thought to use the selvedges? I absolutely love what you did with them. Cool!!

zoesquid said...

They appeal to me too. What a gorgeous idea.

Katherine said...

Great bag, Jodie! I love this look and have a slow growing pile of selvedge strips I hope to be able to make something with soon. Thanks for the inspiration.

Kieny said...

That's a great idea, the bag looks wonderful!

Alice Grace said...

Absolutely Gorgeous bag!

Thriftin and Craftin said...

That is awesome! I love super creative, one-of-a-kind projects like this! GREAT JOB!

Carla

Christinesew said...

Love your blog! You've been tagged. This is what you have to do: 1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog. 2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. 3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. 4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

The Calico Cat said...

Love it! Makes me sad that I have been tossing selvedges...

Niesz Vintage Home said...

I LOVE that! Very graphically appealing and so unique.

Tell me, is that tiny bird a selvage??? How adorable is that!

Kimberly :)

nan slaughter said...

This is so clever! I belong to a quilt group who routinely tosses their selvedge...send me your address and we'll collect them for you and send them on...I would love for you to make a little quilt out of them because I want to see it! Great idea - great blog, thanks for posting! Nan

Blondie said...

I LOVE that bag! Must start collecting selvedge and make one for myself... thanks for a fantastic idea!

Katy said...

too damn clever, that's what you are!!! Now get that shop open woman - I need a bag with a window in it - need I tell you, NEED!!!!

Frogdancer said...

Found you through Crazy mom Quilts.

Lost in awe at that bag. You must have the patience of a saint. I just adore the thought of making something so attractive out of things that most people throw away.

Beautiful...

Ravenhill said...

wonderful bag! I was wondering if you would like to do a swap?

upstateLisa said...

Jodie, I love it! I love it!!! I have a whole door handle full of selvedges that I have saved... wondering what I might do with them!!! What a wonderful idea!!!!

Pip from Meet Me at Mikes said...

Gosh.. i've been so busy doin' crafty stuff that I haven't been over here in a little while! LOOK what I have been missing! You really are GOOD, you know?! I love this bag - so much to read and look at! Clever clever clever clogs! xxx

Anonymous said...

The bag is adorable. Great for fabric lovers. You could do a quilt just ask those that don't want their salvages to send you theirs ! Maybe you could even make it a challange and have people sew them up too ! The one that sends you the most gets a bag !
Barb

eileensattic said...

I've never seen anyone do anything like this. What a unique idea! This is my first visit here, I'm adding you to my favorite list!

Lark said...

Jodie, this is so great!!

Rosalind said...

Very cute. I have been saving mine too, but I have a very small stash compared to your loot!

I love them too. They are a bit quirky and fun. Like us crafting crazy ladies. : )

Leanne said...

great bag - I have been throwing my selvages in a box for a while but it will be a long time before I will have enough to make a bag.

Lorih said...

I love this bag! It's such a great idea! You did a really awesome job on this.

Jean said...

I tell you what, I will start saving all my salvages just for you! That way, one day you will have enough! Jean

Mandi said...

Wow!!! What a fantastic and creative idea! it turned out adorably!

Kate said...

Amazing Bag!!

Just Jaime said...

What a fabulous idea - so creative and crafty!

ingrid said...

EEEK! This is just so so fabulous! I am going to start collecting all my selvedge too now. I dont think I will come up with anything as wonderful as this but it is nice to hope.

tikki said...

that is fabulous!!! I adore it!! I love selvedges too, but must say had never thought to do anything with them. Shall no doubt now begin hoarding them away LOL

SweetPeaknits said...

What an amazing idea and it has turned out gorgeous. Well done.

A Spoon Full Of Sugar said...

Love your creative use of "Scraps". I will never discard my selvedges again! Thanks for all teh inspiration. Lisa

asti said...

WOW...I would never have thought of that. It's such a cool bag - I will look at selvedges in a new light now!

She Fights Like a Girl said...

I love this. Not only is a great idea and beautiful execution, the stripy pattern result is QUITE attractive! Win-win-win.

rohanknitter said...

That is an awesome bag. Very inventive and I love how it turned out.
I love the selvege edges too - I made a wrap skirt with some fabric from Africa and purposefully cut the ties out of the selvege.

Levin (and Emily) said...

that bag is absolutely bloody fantastic (bloody is not too bad a swear word is it????). words cannot express how funky the bag is.
how clever - and all from selvedges.
l
x

Linda said...

well Jodie you don't need me to tell you how absolutely gorgeous and fun that new bag is as soooo many others have done so already.......... so I won't!!

Corrie said...

oh my gosh that bag is fabulous and judging by the amount of comments before me I can see I"m not alone!!!!!!!!! well done! love the little cosmo one in there too

martha said...

How could I find handles like yours?

Martha

cynthia said...

this is just the neatest!
i've always thrown those away...

Anonymous said...

I absolutely LOVE your bag! I, too, love selvedges.
You should check out the house that I made on my blog. I just found your blog and will be visiting often, love your work.
Juanita

http://settlerspeace.typepad.com

cat said...

I love the handles!!! Where did you find them?

fi said...

Hi, one of my all time favourite bloggers also has a thing for selvedge, just look at her banner:
http://treefalldesign.typepad.com/tree_fall/

I have sent her a link to your blog too.

Melissa said...

Fantastic!

Anary said...

Very very cleaver idea!
Anary(atcomcastdotnet)

becsta said...

Wow, that bag looks really great! Top job! And congrats on finishing the top of your green quilt - it really is an epic undertaking, eh! I still haven't finished the first quilt I started, but I think that has to do with the fact that I felt I NEEDED to start with a queen size, and also the fact that I thought I should hand quilt it all together. it's going to take me an age, but oh well - hope it takes you less time than that! How cool will it be to see it finished and lying around your house, or wherever!

Christy said...

This is genius! It's so unique. I always feel almost guilty when I throw my selvedges away ... you've inspired me to look at them differently. :)

CJ said...

Love yer bag! TOO CUTE! I save selvedges but they might not be big enough pieces to do something like this with. I will have to see. They make me happy too.

Veronica said...

I'm from Brasil.
Wow! That's a great idea. Beautiful!

Olá, sou do Brasil e essa é uma grande idéia. Linda!!!

Bjs
Veronica

amy.gunson said...

I'm in love with this idea. Kudos for making good use of what's been hitting my waste basket. time to start saving!

kim miller said...

Ah ah! how cute is that! i like the selvage too!! i am only 24 but i think it comes from growing up with grandparents who dont waste a thing. i end up with all these lil scraps that i never know what to do with! when i was little my mom would give them to me to make barbie doll clothes out of :D

Bethel of Bethania said...

I love what you have made with selvedges ... they are far tooo pretty too waste I think ...
I had to laugh when you say 'sounds like an excuse to buy more fabric...' I bet you check-out the selvedge to make sure it's a keeper 'before' you buy the fabric ... ha ha
Keep enjoying the adventure ... OOroo ... Bethel

Joey's Dream Garden said...

Beautiful bag, and wonderful idea. I think I like it so much because partly I too like the bits of things which I think no-one else notices, you know the tiny little symbols and words on mass-produced things, and the names of the fabric on the selvedge is one of them. Also because I like how it brings into focus the things that you usually only see from the corner of your eye in a metaphorical sense, like things which go tend to go unnoticed, if you see what I mean. Very pretty too and you made good work of the handles!

Nancy said...

Jodie, I can't believe that selvage dress!! You are so talented !! Love your work.

Bellas Manualidades said...

Wao, I always kept them, I found interesting, it used them to be able to combine my quilts, guiding me with the circles of colors, but never imagine to make a handbag. That brilliant.

diybaglover said...

Hi there!

i have link ur tutorial in http://diybaglover.blogspot.com/.

Hope u dont mind =)

Blessed Family said...

I would love to send you some selvages just so I can see what you will come up with next!
Let me know if you would like some.

Blessings,
CP