It's been quite a while since I posted anything about crafting or sewing. I've been taking a break from the sewing machine, but now we are reunited and it feels so good.
Inspired by this book :
I made this:
I started with some jeans I'd been hanging onto that will never fit me again. You know the ones. Maybe you even have some hiding in the back of your own closet! ;)
Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of how it came together. I loosely followed the directions in the book, but did a lot of improvising. The directions didn't have any pictures, so that's just me being impatient and wanting to figure it out myself. ;) I started by cutting off my jeans right below the back pockets.
Don't toss those pant legs! I wanted a deeper bag, so I cut a leg to the size I wanted and added it to the bottom. Here's a before picture:
I used the bottom half of the leg and trimmed it down to size, leaving the seam intact along the bottom edge. That seam became the bottom seam of the bag. I left a little seam allowance on the sides. Also VERY IMPORTANT- use a jeans needle and jeans thread. That way you won't cry.
I turned that little section right sides together and stitched up the sides, leaving the top part open of course. I didn't like the square corners, so I rounded them off (see, there I go improvising again). Right sides together, I pinned this bottom part of the bag to the top part of the bag, lining up those uneven edges.
Turn that bag right side out and ta da! The book says to use an old canvas belt for a strap, but I decided to make a wide tube using the other jeans leg. I stitched it up one side, turned the tube right side out, and attatched it to the bag at the sides. That's quite a few layers to sew through but the right needle and thread makes it pretty easy. It's also ok to turn the wheel by hand to get over those thick parts.
I used another section of jeans leg to make a flap. I wanted a flap almost the size of the bag. There I go improvising and not following directions again.
I also cut up a thrifted 80's t-shirt, using the denim flap as a template.
Stitched those two right sides together (leaving the top open), turned it right side out, pressed the whole thing down, and did a little topstich around the edges. Pinned the flap to the outside of the back waistband of the bag (making sure the side I wanted was going to face out) and sewed that right together.
That's all. Pretty darned easy.
My favorite thing is that it has all those jeans pockets. Ok, my other favorite thing is that it's huge! Which is pretty sad for me to admit since I basically outgrew the jeans. My new bag will comfort me in my denial, I'm sure. ;)
