Velvety drawstring knapsack made from old dress

No matter how careful I am, I sometimes buy things that I end up not using much - like this brown velvety halter dress. I bought it for some special occasion but it has not been worn much since. As you grow older, the chance of getting invited to parties and going to gigs reduces tremendously; this dress became too dressy for just going out in the day.

After a few drafts on the drawing board, I've decided that I will make a simple knapsack out of it. The halter neck tie around strap is cut off to make into a thin scarf, and the length from above the waist and down is cut into this:

The bottom hem is sewn together to make the base


The top bit is hemmed up to leave openings for the drawstring


Each corner of the bottom is sewn into triangular flap to make a depth on the base


Leftover fabric (from the top bit of the dress) made into pockets on the inside of the bag.


The rest of the leftover fabric is used to make a pocket on the outside,
complete with zipper (a used one from some old clothing)


The drawstrings are taken from an old belt which buckle was broken.
The loops holding them at the bottom of the bag is made from the shoulders of the dress.


A new drawstring knapsack!

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