As the sewing and accessories enthusiasts we are, we love bags—especially when it comes to making DIY bags with our own hands. But if you've seen our tutorials for making a pleated bag or a tote bag, you already know that. We especially love bags that are original, have a personality of their own, and stand out from the ordinary. The kind that catch your eye and make you think… “I want to make that bag!”.
So today we're going to quickly show you 5 ideas for making DIY bags that will turn heads. Some are very easy to make, and you don't even need to know how to sew, knit, or crochet to make them. Others are a little more technical, and you'll need a particular technique to make them.
Take a good look at these beauties! ;)
How to make original DIY bags
1. Furoshiki-style bag.
Do you remember furoshiki? It's a technique we've already talked to you about in the post Furoshiki: an original way to wrap gifts. As you can guess from the post's title, it's a way to create wrappings with fabric, but that's not all.
With furoshiki, you can also create bags—and you can't imagine how many different styles. The best part is that you only need a rectangular piece of fabric and know how to tie it. That's it! You can find instructions for making one like the one in the photo at Ecoshiki. Remember that it has to be a square piece!
2. T-shirt-yarn bag.
Although T-shirt yarn is usually worked with crochet, you can also work with it by knitting with two needles. You already know that the needles used for T-shirt yarn are much thicker (they look like toys!).
Whichever method you choose, depending on whether you already have experience with one or the other, the result will be amazing. Both variations are very original and will help you create a unique, eye-catching bag.
We've already organized more than one workshop to teach you how to make these wonders.
3. Wool bag.
Just as bags made with T-shirt yarn have a very summery feel, wool bags have a distinctly wintry feel, perfect for this time of year.
To make this type of bag, you need to know how to knit, although you can also create them from sweaters or other upcycled garments if you're handy. Look how beautiful it can turn out with an original little detail, such as simple wooden handles.
4. Bag made from an upcycled T-shirt.
This summer we published a couple of posts where we gave you different ideas for upcycling T-shirts. And one of those great ideas was using an old T-shirt to make a tote bag in just ten minutes.
This method is super easy, and you can do it in several ways: by sewing, using fabric glue, or closing the bottom with knots.
Take a look at the post, and we're sure you won't be able to resist trying it with one of the thousand forgotten T-shirts we're sure you have buried in your closet.
5. Kraft-Tex bag.
And finally, Kraft-Tex, a material we've also talked to you about in this post, and one that has brought us many happy results, like the beautiful bag in the photo.
Kraft-Tex's appearance makes it an excellent substitute for leather, and you can give it different finishes (softer and more flexible or more rigid) simply by soaking it in very hot water before working with it. It can be sewn, it can be washed, and it isn't a particularly well-known material, so the result will pleasantly surprise you.
Remember that at the Lulu Ferris you'll find a tutorial for making a maxi bag with Kraft-Tex. One of our favorites!
Making DIY bags doesn't have to be something only a few people can do. With all this variety we've shown you, we're sure you'll be able to try one. We're dying to try the furoshiki idea with one of our beautiful fabrics!