A bag is everyone’s ultimate accessory and making your own – by recycling old clothing and household textiles - is both fun and sustainable.

For lots of reasons, our favorite clothes and textiles can’t be worn or used any more – they may have faded with wear, shrunk in the wash or just got ripped or a bit worn out. But much of the fabric in an old pair of jeans, or a jacket, or a tea towel is still useable!

So, why not repurpose them to make something new?

In this experimental workshop you will upcycle some old ‘rags’ to make a functional and funky tote bag. Your bag will be like no other, as your materials will determine the shape and style of your own design.

Come along to upcycle, make, create and be sustainable!

About the teacher:

Julia Triston is a professional textile artist, recently relocated to Denmark from the UK. She exhibits and teaches internationally and is a published author of two acclaimed books: How to be Creative in Textile Art and Contemporary Appliqué.

Julia is a selected member of the prestigious Textile Study Group (UK) and founded an international stitch school - STITCHBUSINESS - in 2006.

She has taught her own bespoke classes in textile art and design in many esteemed places including the Royal School of Needlework at Hampton Court Palace in London, and the Fibre Arts Symposium in Wanganui, New Zealand.

Please bring with you:

• Some old clothing or household textiles that are durable enough for use as a bag – eg jeans, jacket, tea towel, shirt, table cloth, curtain….(the more you bring, the more choice you will have!)
• Optional: Your own sewing machine and attachments
• Spare machine needles and bobbins
• Pins and needles
• Scissors – for paper and fabric
• Tape measure
• Sewing threads to match the colour of your chosen fabrics
• Brown paper, pen, ruler, notebook
• To complement your ‘rags’, a strip of plain fabric (eg cotton or linen) can add a colourful stripe or band to your bag
• Finishing touches can be added with some haberdashery – eg wide ribbons, ricrac, buttons etc.