Spoonflower Recycled Canvas Project Ideas

Spoonflower is an online printing company that allows users to create custom prints. They offer thousands of patterns and colors, allowing customers to choose exactly what they want printed onto their fabrics. Makers can also upload their own designs.
Spoonflower Recycled Canvas is 100% polyester and each yard is made from 10 recycled bottles. It has a surprisingly soft drape, radiant colour saturation and subtle luster. With hydrophobic qualities, it is an excellent choice for bags that get a lot of use like diaper bags, toiletry bags, and backpacks.

‘Art Deco Boats’ by Sue Shorman Art on Recycled Canvas
Try the Recycled Canvas for a small project like this Nasyow pouch before making something more
involved. Even though this is a woven fabric, I work with it more like a knit. The canvas slides around and
frays quickly. Block fuse before cutting, and avoid pulling on the fabric as you iron. Use pattern weights to
hold it in place and move your body, not the fabric as you cut. Use plenty of pins or clips for sewing and
baste or stay stitch seams wherever appropriate.

Amy Hutton stitched this Konin Bowler Bag using my ‘Floral Toile’ design on Recycled Canvas with a
coordinating cork handle and linen card pockets.

‘For bag making I like Spoonflower’s Recycled Canvas the best. I like to use a denim needle. I fuse prior
to cutting, because it does have a tendency to fray’ – Amy Hutton

The Happy Handbag

The January 2023 Bag of the Month Club Pattern by Sewing Patterns by Mrs H was the Happy Handbag. I made the exterior of this bag using Recycled Canvas in my Dalarna Floral and Ocean Linen Blender designs from the Spring Garden 2023 Collection.

The Wren Wallet

This petite Wren Wallet Pattern by Crafted by Leanne is great for beginner bag makers. It uses minimal hardware: just one magnetic snap, and a short zipper. You can easily use swatches or remnants to piece it together. I used Spoonflower Recycled Canvas in my Scarlet Macaw Tropical, and Chevron Watercolor Emerald design for the exterior of the bag, paired with a coordinating Feathered Chevron on Spoonflower Cotton Poplin for the card pockets, and lining.

The G.O.A.T. Tote

New York Roses and Watercolor Chevron

The Tiny Cata Cross-Body

I used my Saw-Whet Owls design on Recycled Canvas for this Tiny Cata by Oro Rosa Patterns.

The Howie Bowler Bag

Creating a Child-Sized Howie Bowler Bag with Spoonflower Recycled Canvas

When I set out to make a Howie Bowler Bag, I wanted to create something child-sized, and environmentally conscious.

Materials and Customizations

For this bag, I used two fat quarters of Recycled Canvas in designs from my Night Swim 005e5d color collection: Saw Whet Owls at Rocky Point and Moonrise Alvorado. These color coordinated designs printed beautifully on the canvas.

To create a child-sized version, I printed the pattern at 90%, which required me to adjust the seam allowance accordingly. *When reducing or enlarging a pattern be sure to adjust all pattern pieces.

Design Enhancements

I made a few modifications to the original Howie Bowler Bag pattern to better suit my vision:

• Additional Clip Pocket: I added a second slip pocket tp the back main panel
• I skipped the handles for this smaller version.

Why Choose Spoonflower Recycled Canvas?

Using Spoonflower’s Recycled Canvas felt like a natural choice for this project. The fabric’s durability and eco-conscious production process align with my values as a designer. Plus, the vibrant prints showcase the potential of sustainable materials in creating stunning, one-of-a-kind pieces.

Whether you’re making a scaled-down version like I did or sticking to the original size, the Howie Bowler Bag is a wonderful canvas for creativity. Give it a try and make it your own!

The Duncan Messenger Sling