The best scrap busting bag projects

If you are making lots of garments and find yourself with sections of fabric not quite big enough for another garment then I’ve got a great idea for you! Using up these sections to make bags is a great way to minimise waste and help clear out your stash!

This month we have released a limited amount of hardware kits for the popular g&g Luskentyre Bag PDF Pattern and the Bumbag from the Sew Over It City Set - helping you to complete the full set along with the Sewing Society City Set kit - yay!

These kits help you to easily get all the bits and pieces needed to complete the project - all you need is to raid your stash for off cuts of fabric, interfacing and all those odds and ends of thread from past projects and you’ll have a lovely new, super useful item to add to your handmade collection!

These projects are also great for gifts so if you want to get super ahead for next festive season, why not start tackling that ‘presents to make’ list now!?

Hear me chat about these kits and get inspiration on how to use them with your stash in my latest Youtube Video and read on for more pictures and tips!

City Set Bumbag Hardware Kit

In the Bumbag Hardware kit you’ll get webbing, swivel hooks, D-rings, slider, 2 zips a ‘me made’ label and a tip tips handout. If you don't already own the pattern then why not complete the set with our current BUNDLE OFFER?!

For £83.00 buy the Sewing Society City Set Kit (£75.00) and the Bumbag Hardware kit (£15.50) and save!

Just want the hardware kit?

It’s the perfect add-on if you already have the City Bag Kit!

Don’t have the pattern yet?

Your hardware kit includes a 25% discount code for the PDF from Sew Over It.

To complete the bumbag kit either use up off-cuts of main fabric, lining fabric and interfacing from your stash (it only uses a small amount of fabric) or purchase some additional matching fabric to the main City Bag Set Kit.

Luskentyre Bag Hardware Kit

In the Luskentyre Bag hardware kit, choose between classic ecru or navy colourway that tones perfectly with any colour. You’ll get a zip, drawstring, webbing and buckrum interfacing. If you don't already own the pattern you’ll also get a discount code that offers 25% OFF the PDF pattern from our website - yay!

To complete the kit you’ll need main and lining fabric and interfacing. In these two samples I used my collection of Liberty Tana Lawn scraps and off-cuts to make an on-trend patchwork quilted bag as well as a corduroy version with a quilted/padded detail on the pocket.

If you like the look of the patchwork Liberty Tana Lawn but don't have lots of scraps to use, remember we sell all our fabrics but the 10cm and 10cm is the smallest cut! So it means you can get a selection of lots of different prints without having to buy lots of fabric lengths! Yay!

My Liberty Patchwork Quilted Luskentyre Bag

I’ve been hoarding off cuts from all the projects that I made with Liberty Tana Lawn with years! The fabric just seems too beautiful to throw away and using it in this project has been a lovely way to remember past projects and make use of even the smaller scraps I had. I used the ecru hardware kit for this sample.

First I pressed all the scraps to get them nice and flat. Then using a quilting ruler and rotary cutter on a self healing mat I cut 3’ squares out of a variety of different fabrics. You can really do any patchwork type design you want here, I just opted for simple squares in a grid but if you are feeling more adventurous then you could opt for more complex patchwork designs. You can also do any square size you want too, so if its smaller scraps you have then you could cut smaller squares like these little 1" ones!

I lay out my grid of squares to ensure that I would end up with a bit of fabric at the end that was bigger than the pattern piece that I was going to cut out. Remember to take account of your seam allowances as well when working out how many squares you need. Once I had my layout set I numbered each column to ensure that as I stitched the squares together I could re-create the layout. It can help to take a picture of your preferred layout before sewing it together as well in case things get mixed up.

I then stacked the squares up under each number and stitched the squares together to form a row/column. I used a ¼” foot to sew the squares together but if you didn’t have this specialised foot, you could use a regular foot and a different/larger seam allowance - just remember to take account of this as it will make your finished square size smaller.

Once I had stitched the squares into rows, I pressed the seam allowances up and down, alternating the direction of pressing between each row to make it easier and more accurate when you then sew the rows together. I stitched two rows together and then once each row was stitched into a pair of rows, I then stitched them together to form my new piece of fabric.

Once I had my finished section of fabric I layered it up with cotton wadding and some light weight muslin from my stash. You could use any light weight fabric you have as it won’t be seen in the finished lined bag. I then quilted these layers together, sewing in between each square on the seam line. If you have a walking foot it’s best to use this but I found that as the fabric was light weight and the wadding was also fairly light weight I could get away with a regular foot, so depending on your fabric choices a walking foot isn’t essential for quilting.

Once it was quilted I then cut out the main panel for the bag - you’ll need two of these!

Top Tip - It does take a long time to prepare the fabric in this way, sewing all the squares and quilting so just take your time and chip away at it. It’s unlikely you’d get it all done and finish the bag in a day.

For the pocket I did try smaller squares that were 1” to make use of even smaller off cuts and scraps I had but I thought it looked too busy on the bag so I made a pocket that matched the main panel instead.

Once you have your quilted panel, just follow the instructions for the bag as if you were using any other type of fabric.

My Corduroy Luskentyre Bag

For this version of the Luskentyre Bag I used the navy version of the hardware kit. I had some stretch corduroy left over from a trouser and dungaree project as well as some stretch velvet.

To stabilise the fabric I used woven cotton interfacing. You can use scraps and piece them together as well - its a great way to use them up too!

I used the stretch velvet for the facing and for the pocket I stitched on a quilted grid design for some added detail. I layered the interfaced corduroy up with cotton wadding and lightweight muslin.

I hope this brings some scrap busting inspiration your way!

Happy Sewing!