How to Use Your Scraps: Part 1- Patchwork Purse
On my Instagram stories I asked my followers what kinds of Sustainable Cosplay topics they would be interested in. One of the answers inspired this series for my blog. Thank you!
How To Use Your Scraps!
This is truly all of the fabric that was left over!
For this project I challenged myself to use fabric scraps from my Vex'ahlia cosplay, which I debuted at C2E2 2023. Now, I used almost all of the fabric I chose for that cosplay, so there was really not much fabric left over. I knew I wanted to make a bag, of some sort, to make it easier to store my accessories for the cosplay AND I'd have a matching bag while walking around the con floor. After scrolling Pinterest for much too long, I determined that I did not have large enough fabric scraps that would fit any useful bag pattern (a wallet wasn't going to cut it).
While preparing to write this blog series I did a deep dive on how fabric scraps have been used historically. As the youtuber Bernadette Banner likes to say "Piecing is period." Now, I don't make historical costuming at all, but I love learning about the history of clothing and textile arts. The point of "piecing is period" is to emphasize how scrap fabric was not necessarily considered "scrap." Fabric was very valuable, so if a pattern piece didn't fit on a length of cloth, they slapped on the "scrap" fabric to make it work!
This deep dive led me into the history of patchwork, which is often cited as having originated in Ancient Egypt and Ancient China. Attempting to find a source for this proved INCREDIBLY difficult. This must be considered "Common Knowledge" and therefore not worth providing a citation in many of the academic papers I read. I found many references to a couple of preserved patchwork garments from about 5000 years ago, but nothing that told me anything about those garments! However I found this book Quilts: Their Story and how to Make Them, with an image of a patchwork funeral tent.
Image from the book Quilts: Their Story and how to Make Them By Marie Daugherty Webster
Due to how long it takes to spin thread, weave or knit cloth, and sew a garment or any other fabric item, all scraps of cloth were used in some way so as not to waste them. This idea really appeals to me, given how flippant our modern society can be about fabric. I have started saving my scrap fabric on the off chance that I can find a use for them in the future.
Bringing this back around to Vex'ahlia and the purse I wanted to make from my excess fabric. I pulled out what scraps I had left, which (again) really wasn't much. From there I looked at the purse patterns I had found on pinterest and tried to see if anything might look good if I patched my blue fabric together. I landed on a neat origami purse from Bernina. I’ll put the link to the pattern and the book at the end of this post.
I printed out the pattern and lined up the fabric on top of it to see what pieces fit best. I began marking on the paper pattern where each piece would fit on the pattern AND drawing those markings onto my fabric pieces so I knew where each one would go. This fabric is darker on one side, so I flipped a couple of pieces around to add that detail in. It was very important to remember to account for seam allowances during all of this, because I really only had one shot at this with the amount of fabric I had left!
With all of my pattern pieces traced out and labeled, I began sewing the strips together into the shape of the pattern. I added gold decorative stiches I had used on my cosplay for some *pizzaz* and to flatten down the seams between each fabric strip. Once they were attached together I decided I wanted a lining, so I went back to my fabric stash and grabbed the same grey fabric I had used as the boddice lining of the cosplay. I cut this all out in one piece, because I could. No need to make it patchwork if I don't have to right? I bag lined the two pieces together, flipped them right side out, and added a round of top stitching to make it look more finished.
Next up was the "origami" part of making this purse. The pattern is designed to be all one piece that is folded into the final purse shape. This creates a large inner pocket and two smaller outer pockets. I ended up hand stitching to connect those folded pieces to the main body of the bag.
For the strap of the purse I used leftover trim I had made for the hem of the main cosplay. It was the perfect amount for a shoulder strap and a little clasp to go over the main pocket. I attached the strap using a little more of the fabric scraps and 4 gold metal squares. To finish off the purse, I added a snap to keep the clasp in place.
Having a matching purse was the perfect accessory for this cosplay. Especially since it didn't have pockets! I love that I was able to keep even more of this fabric from going to waste AND I learned a lot about patchwork when preparing for this post. It has also become very helpful for storing small bits and jewelry I want to keep with the cosplay in storage.
Resource Links:
Origami Bag Pattern: https://blog.bernina.com/en/2017/02/origami-bag-free-sewing-pattern/
Quilts: Their Story and how to Make Them: Link
