VINTAGESTYLE CASE

Upcycle an embroidered placemat into a pretty purse for travel essentials

1 Find vintage embroidered cloths at flea markets and antiques markets. Placemats make the perfect choice, because of their rectangular shape. 2 Measure one long edge and roughly divide the measurement by five. 3 With the wrong side facing, fold up the bottom long edge two-fifths and pin in place. This will form the purse section. The top remaining part of the cloth will become the flap. 4 Machine stitch along the two edges of doubled cloth, where it is pinned. 5 Fold over the top edge and press flat with an iron. 6 Sew a snap-fastener in place – one piece to the top flap (in the centre, just above the edge of the cloth) and the other to the front of the pouch, so they are in line when pressed closed. 7 Sew a crochet flower on by hand to hide the fastener.