Into the Breach

For my first trick, I hope to turn an old coat into a new bag. I've had this coat for at least ten years, and it's been sitting in storage for the past five. Even though it's old, a little raggedy, and at least four sizes too small I've never quite found the heart to throw it away. To be honest, I even find that the thought of taking a pair of scissors to it sends a shiver down my spine.

But why? Surely it's just fabric? Fabric that's currently being wasted? I think that the problem is that, to me, the coat represents a different time in my life. It cost me £60 ten years ago which, even then in the times before recession, was rather an extravagance for me. I know that to some people £60 is nothing, but to me it is, and always has been, a lot of money. Today, £60 would be an unspeakable amount of spend on any one garment, in truth it probably represents my clothing budget for an entire year.

Anyway, that's quite enough nostalgia. The truth is that this coat is no use to me the way it is right now. I do realise that choosing to make a bag for my first project may be a little over-ambitious. Oh well, nothing venture, nothing gained.

Mostly, I love the design on the back of the coat, so that will be the main component of the bag. The plan is to use the zipper as the strap. Other than that I'm pretty much going to wing it. Oh dear, oh dear what have I let myself in for?