Thanks for the comments   I really like the idea of putting a denim covered base in the bottom - will try this tomorrow.  Better find the glue gun!  I am now eyeing up all t-shirts for their bag potential.

The piping was VERY easy and really makes the handle and top look more professional. It just adds one more step to the process.  I now want to do piping on everything! I used the zipper foot attachment for my sewing machine so you can sew right hard up to the edge of the piping - I think piping would be much harder without this. I NEVER pin anything! (just unpick a lot....)  For the handle I had the denim upper and spotty liner fabric pieces. I sewed the piping to the right side of the denim first on both edges then put the spotty part good side facing in over the piping and sewed all three layers together using those first stitching lines as a guide.  If you sew right on those lines you get a really perfect finish when it is all turned back the right way.  A picture would be better - I will try and take some when I make another.  For the top of the bag you sew the piping right around the inner edge of the bag outer before you sew the bag liner part on, use the first line of sewing as a guide and it comes out great when all done.  Good luck   I hope that made some sense, it is hard describing what I did.

Bee

Hi  , this is my first post AND my first Jordy bag completed!   It was fun to make.  I used a thrifted baby tee shirt (with Cat in the Hat design) and denim.  I tried sewing red piping for the first time on the bag handle and top of the bag.  I am really happy with the final look especially the piping.  I used iron on interfacing to stabilise the t-shirt fabric.

This is the T-shirt before:


and after:


I used magnetic closures for the first time - so easy!


I am now planning my next bag.  I want to try a zip closure and interior zipped pocket next time.   This one is a library book bag for a 5 year old.  She loves it.

Bee