Crocheted Purse from Leftover Quilt Fabrics

As with many quilters, I end up with mass quantities of leftover fabrics that are too small to fold up and store, but too nice to throw away.  I use them for making greeting cards and for crocheting purses, etc. For the purse I'm making now, I ripped strips from fabrics I've had forever, that don't interest me all that much any more. After crocheting them together, I needed to block the 'new fabric' because it was a bit 'wonky'. So here is my soon to be new purse stretched out on installation styrofoam drying and being stretch to a uniform size.  It's been one of those nice projects to keep handy in a bag and grab when I'm going out to sit and visit in the park with my friends social distancing during the pandemic.

Now I need to find some strong black upholstery trim to make the handle. Have been looking online but to no avail so far. We used to have two fabric/craft stores in San Luis Obispo that would have carried some but both are closed now. Might need to dye up some cotton canvas to use instead.

Scrappy Crocheted Handbag

I've been receiving compliments on my small, scrappy handbag, so I thought I'd blog about it. I hate carrying a heavy bag with all my important 'stuff.' It hurts my shoulder and I'm sure it is not good for my back. Sometimes I just want a the bare essentials, some cash, a credit card, AAA card, license, lip gloss, keys, sunglasses, and cell phone. So, I made this little handbag out of leftover fabrics.

The photo above shows the lining I used inside.

Here's a closeup of the crocheting.

Below is a new one I'm working on which shows my balls of scraps. I tear the fabric into strips 3/4 inch to an inch wide and do it in double crochet with a size 9 crochet hook. 

 I like the idea of using up my fabric rather than buying something new.