Sewing Wonderfully Nostalgic Items from Cloth Calenders

Would you like to create a nostalgic project? Do you remember the cloth calenders your mother and grandmother hung in their kitchen every year? Although many were used as tea towels after their year of glory and didn't withstand the stains of use, they are surprisingly easy to find at yard sales, thrift stores and even auctions.

Purses-One calender is the perfect size for a purse. A simple purse with a boxed bottom can be made with the calender on one side and the decorative picture on the other side. Excess from the top and bottom can be used for handles. Use a simple muslin or complimentary colored fabric for the lining. This would make a great birthday gift for a friend. For an added touch, find a calender from their birth year.

Quilts-Sew several together for a simple bed cover or sew a one color border around each calender to unite the calenders. Quilt with batting and a backing.

Grocery Bags-This has the added bonus of recycling twice. Make a cloth grocery bag from recycled cloth calenders and continue that "green" theme every time you shop.

Valance-Cut the cloth calenders in half and sew them side by side. Hem the bottom edge and make a casing along the top. This idea works well in a retro kitchen.

Wine Bottle Gift Bag-Measure the circumference of a wine bottle and the height. Add 2" to the circumference measurement and 6" to the height. With right sides together, sew a 1/2" seam down the long side and across the bottom. Hem the top. Turn right side out. Put the wine bottle in the bag and gather above the top of the bottle and tie with a ribbon.

Potholders-Again this is a great accessory for a retro kitchen and several could be made with one calender.

Cookbook Recipe Binder-Cover a three ring notebook with a cloth calender. The finished result will be so cute, you will want to leave it on the counter.

Okay, you've made several projects and you are now getting the hang of this cloth calender recycling idea, but what can you do with the leftover pieces?