Guess What this Bag is Made From....

Would you believe it if I told you this super-adorable bag was originally a pillowcase???  Looking at it, you'd never know, would you?

I've blogged before about the sewing and quilting prowess of my MIL and SIL.  Recently, Stacy, my SIL, told me that she found a pattern in a library book about easy sewing projects.  It involved making a bag out of a pillowcase, and she was making one for her and one for me! I was super excited about it.  I knew the colors would be purple and yellow, but that was as much as I knew.

Yesterday, we met for coffee after dinner and she gave me the bag! I was stunned...to me, it is such a cute design, so practical as a big bag to tote things around in, and overall just so sharp-looking that I simply can't believe it originated as a pillowcase.

This bag would be ideal as a grocery bag, a library tote, or a quick beach bag.  I plan on using it as a library bag and shopping tote.

Stacy bought the two pillowcases from Walmart to make the bag, but I couldn't help but think of circumstances where you could re-purpose old pillowcases and turn them into eco-friendly tote bags.  For instance, remember when you were little and you were changing the colors and designs of your room every couple of years? I personally had a Strawberry Shortcake room as a preschooler, and then I moved onto a series of purples and blues by the time I moved out of the house.  What if, instead of getting rid of all the different pillowcases I had as I upgraded bedding and designs, I was able to make these tote bags out of them?  Even a plain white pillowcase could be dyed with RIT to a suitable color and transformed into a stylish little bag.  But really, how cute would it be for a little girl to carry around her own library tote from a pillowcase she used to have in her room?  I'm not one for decorating in "character" themes for little kids --- there's not much I dislike more than the Disney princesses --- but once that little girl changes bedding, it would be super cute for her to carry around a princess tote bag.  Or a Dora tote bag.  Or a Yo Gabba Gabba! one.  I don't know, visit a store that carries children's bedding, and you'll see the possibilities are endless.

I think this is such a great way to re-purpose a pillowcase.  Because, typically I think, they get thrown away when you change sheet sets.  All of these sewing ideas make me think I REALLY need to get sewing lessons...I can't rely on other people to make all of these great ideas for me all the time...  Can I? (Just kidding...I need to learn!)