For my first post I'm going to start simple and show you how to make the ubiquitous simple pouch with material scavenged from a pair of old vinyl boots that were sticking out of the top of a dumpster. The odds of anyone wanting boots that has been sitting in a trash can are pretty low I think but why not find some use?
Materials
Old pair of boots destined for the trash can
Needle and thread
Pencil
Razor blade
Scissors
Straight edge
Paperclips
Grommet tool and grommets
Something to use as a drawstring
Instructions
I started by pulling out a sturdy pair of scissors and cutting the tops of the boots off at ankle height.
Then out came my trusty tools for this project. Scissors, pencil, needle and thread, grommet tool, razor blade paperclips and not pictured, a straightedge.
Start by cutting all the seams with the razor blade or hobby knife if you have one. The boots came in three layers. The outer stuff used for this project, a layer of rubber and a soft lining. For this project we're going to peel away the rubber but leave it on the parts we're not using. For a later project you might want that extra support.
Here's what I got from one boot.
Do this for both boots then choose the large piece, bottom center in the photo and peel away the rubber backing.
Pins are generally a bad idea for both vinyl and leather, unlike cloth those holes don't heal up so put both pieces right side together and clip them in place. I used paperclips. Binder clips or clothespins could also work. Trim the edges so everything is nice and even.
The red lines show where to trim. I made a mistake here and forgot to round out the corners on the bottom. A stuff material like this won't turn out sharp corners when you flip the right side out so to avoid looking bad in those spots remember to cut them round.
Next take your pencil and straight edge and make a line about 1/4 inch from the edges or if you like to just eyeball your stitches that's fine too. If you plan to have your drawstring encased leave the top inch or so unstitched, otherwise vinyl isn't going to unravel so you're free to just leave the top opening raw as I did.
Do this stitching by hand. I backstitched along the pencil lines and then with whatever was leftover on the needle I whipstiched around the raw edges mostly to protect the seam when the pouch is turned back right-side out.
Set grommets, four on each side, I like 1/4 inch myself. Warning, the hole punch in my grommet set had a lot of trouble punching though the vinyl. An awl if you have one might be useful here.
Turn right-side out. Be gentile stiff material isn't going to want to fold around itself and you don't want to break your stitches.
I laced the pouch with two pieces of ribbon but lucet cord, yarn, leather strips, shoelaces, whatever fits your needs will work fine. From left to right lace in out in out and tie the laces on both sides together.
Pull on the laces between the center two grommets on each side to tie the pouch shut, this pulls in on the sides and makes a nice looking triangular shape out of the top of the pouch.
Total Cost
Grommets are about $5 for a package of 100, I used 8. The boots were free. I had all the tools I used. The ribbon was freecycled so total amount of money spent on this project $0.40 for the 8 grommets I used up.
Mistakes
I didn't round the bottom corners.
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