Can anyone help a beginner with buying material please?

[strongasmeringue]

I want to make some bags using my sewing machine and want to practice with some cheap material and I also need some ideas for handles for the bags as I think I could do better than what I've done so far. Thank you ✂️

Try Aberkhan fabrics - if you can get to a store its better but they do have online sections.

Cheap material - ask other sewers as most have a stash of some sort. Check out remnant baskets at sewing places and search out cheap material places but beware often you get what you pay for. I have been known to raid old bedding and such to make up drafts of things and also old clothing that has decent material - curtains too

Also have you been on pinterest - that is great for seeing what is possible and following links to get patterns and such. Lots of u tube too

Look in charity shops for cheap material - even the clothes marked down for having flaws etc. An easy way to get a few bits to practise on . Depends on the bag as to how tough the handles need to be . Maybe a good strong sisal twine ? You could pad and cover with material for a nice finish .

Have you thought about using old duvet covers and sheets?

Thank you everyone. This is great. Duvets are a great idea as I have lovely ones from when the kids were small. Ds2 still has the ones he got when he went in to a bed around two. He's 12 now. I probably should buy him new but I haven't as he isn't fussed about the pictures and they still look in very good nick.

I live fairly near a Hobbycraft but I've noticed they've got more expensive lately.

Don't do Hobbycraft for fabric, it is way over priced. Markets can be great for fabric, unfortunately there are none around where I live currently, e-bay can be good also.

I went to HC yesterday and there was so many things I'd love to have bought if only they were a couple of pounds cheaper. I've started going in the range first as they are cheaper and then only paying HC prices for stuff I want that the range doesn't have. I'll look on eBay too. Thank you.

Fabric guild is great, website isn't very inspiring but they have cheap fabric, lots of usa imports, all the interfacing and wadding you may need as well as handles.

I found some nice fabric on eBay but I don't find it an easy site to use and size wise the pieces are too small. I'll have a look at fabric guild, thank you.