From fabric scraps to bag with delicate stitches

Start by finding fabric in your preferred colours. Here, two fabric napkins and a tea towel for padding are used — the latter can therefore show signs of wear. The finished product is intended as a sunglasses case but can also be used for other purposes.

Now, pin the three pieces of fabric together at intervals of approximately 7–10 cm.

Place the ruler on the fabric, and use a marker to draw dots approximately 2 cm apart in rows. Offset every other row by about 1 cm. You can see how in the video. Draw on a square area corresponding to the size of the bag you desire. In the video example, the end result is a sunglasses case.

Thread the needle with the first colour of embroidery thread. Start in one corner and sew with basting stitches vertically upwards. At each mark, sew a decorative cross. If desired, you may replace the cross with a different pattern or simply continue sewing with basting stitches.

When you reach the end of the marked line, sew across to the next line and sew downwards again in the same manner. Continue until you have embroidered through all the vertical markings.

Thread the needle with a new colour of embroidery thread. Sew through all the staggered lines horizontally, back and forth, as shown in the video, in the same way as in step 5.

When you have finished sewing along all the markings, cut out the area. Anna reminds you to cut slightly away from the sewn area.

Now fold the cut edges at the top and bottom of the fabric into each other, as demonstrated in the video, and secure the folds with pins. Thread the needle with a new colour of embroidery thread. "It is a good idea to use a colour that contrasts with the fabric," Anna thinks. Now, sew these edges at the top and bottom with blanket stitches.

Next, fold the fabric into three parts, and then sew the sides of the bottom two parts together using blanket stitches, in the same manner as described in step 8.

Fold the edges on the final part of the sunglasses case, the case's 'cover', that is, and sew them together using a blanket stitch again. Now all sides of the fabric should be closed with blanket stitches.

Next, cut six pieces of embroidery thread, each approximately 40 cm long. Thread a needle with all the embroidery threads, and pull them halfway through the centre at the top of the upper fabric piece, the bag's 'cover'. Tie a knot close to the fabric edge.

Next, divide the embroidery threads in two, and braid each section. Thread a wooden bead onto each section, and tie a knot just beneath the bead. Cut the threads slightly below each wooden bead so the ends resemble tassels.

Place your sunglasses in the finished bag, and close the bag by wrapping the cords around and tying them. Your bag is now ready for everyday essentials.