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Tutorial: DIY padded camera bag insert

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Ashley from Lil Blue Boo shows how you can make a designer camera bag at a fraction of the cost of buying one already made.  The secret is a padded and velcro-ed organizer that can turn a roomy handbag into a stylish camera tote.  The padding protects the camera and keeps it snug and the velcro allows you to customize the size of the compartments for your camera body and lenses.  This is so awesome!!  Get the tute.

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[photo from Lil Blue Boo]

Comments

    • If you go to the post at Lil Blue Boo and then click the large graphic (title page of the tutorial), it will load the PDF in your browser. Alternately, you could right-click on the graphic and save the file down to your computer. –Anne

  2. thank you, thank you, and in case i forgot, thank you! this is so generous of you, and is greatly appreciated! God bless you!

  3. Thanks so much for sharing this. I’m going to buy the stuff to make one right away.

  4. So happy to have found this Tut! Thank you!! I have a backpack that I use as purse, camera bag, and laptop case. This will make the camera fit so much nicer!!

    My modifications will be: I will be getting 1/8″ acrylic (from hardware store) in place of the cardboard. I am also going to purchase a can of the spray that is utterly water repellent and paint the whole thing, so it is solidly water-tight, :).

    I will also be adding a flap over the top, so things will stay scratch-free in my bag.

    THANKS AGAIN!!

Have you read?

Charming Tea Towel Clutch Purse – Free Sewing Tutorial

This Charming Tea Towel Clutch Purse is such a clever upcycling project, and I love that it turns something as simple as a tea towel into a pretty handmade accessory. It is one of those sewing ideas that feels practical, affordable, and creative all at once — exactly the kind of project that makes you look at your linen drawer a little differently.

The tutorial uses a tea towel, lining fabric, heavyweight interfacing, snap buttons, embroidery thread, charms, and a feature button, so the finished clutch has more structure than you might expect from a tea towel project. The interfacing is the real hero here, helping the clutch hold its shape rather than feeling flimsy. That makes it much more useful as an actual purse, gift pouch, or little organiser inside a larger bag.

What makes this project especially charming is the way it can be personalised. The tutorial finishes the clutch with hand-sewn charms along the flap, plus a button to disguise the snap closure, giving the purse a decorative, one-of-a-kind look. You could easily change the style by using vintage buttons, embroidery, lace trim, beads, ribbon, or even little keepsake charms from old jewellery.

This would be a lovely project for using a pretty tea towel you have been saving, especially one with a vintage print, bold stripes, florals, or souvenir design. It would also make a thoughtful handmade gift, because each clutch can be matched to the recipient’s style. A bright yellow tea towel creates something cheerful and modern, while a floral or linen-look towel would give it more of a cottage or vintage feel.

The instructions are nicely broken down, starting with the downloadable clutch pattern, then cutting the towel, lining, and interfacing, sewing the pieces together, turning and pressing the clutch, adding the snap buttons, top stitching the sides, and finishing with decorative charms. It is a project best suited to someone who is comfortable sewing straight seams and handling a few small finishing details, but it is still approachable for a confident beginner.

Overall, this is a fun and satisfying sewing project with plenty of room for creativity. It is practical enough to use, pretty enough to gift, and a great reminder that handmade accessories do not need to start with expensive fabric. Sometimes all you need is a tea towel, a little interfacing, and a handful of buttons or charms to create something completely unique.