Last Sunday I was presented with a completely worn out cotton work shirt & a pair of no longer wearable cotton 3/4 length cargo shorts to see if I might want to "cut off the buttons or anything" before they got transferred to the ragbag in the garage.
Honestly, there really was nothing left of the shirt & I could only salvage the buttons.
The shorts were pretty well rags too but I thought the pockets on the legs would make good starting points for project bags.
In truth the fabric on the other side of the leg is pretty thin but hey, nothing ventured nothing gained as the saying goes & the pants were throw-aways anyway.
Honestly, there really was nothing left of the shirt & I could only salvage the buttons.
The shorts were pretty well rags too but I thought the pockets on the legs would make good starting points for project bags.
In truth the fabric on the other side of the leg is pretty thin but hey, nothing ventured nothing gained as the saying goes & the pants were throw-aways anyway.
This is a project I've been wanting to do for ages, in fact I've been saving jeans we no longer wear for this very purpose.
Here's a photo tutorial & a brief description of the process I went through.
Here's a photo tutorial & a brief description of the process I went through.
I wanted to use the part of the shorts with the pocket on it because I wanted to be able to use the pocket as part of the bag so I cut the bottom hem off & the leg as high up as possible.
As I had decided I wanted the existing pocket to be in the middle on one side of my project bag I centred the pocket then used the original side seam to square the top & bottom edges.
This is necessary as the leg of these shorts is tapered.
As I had decided I wanted the existing pocket to be in the middle on one side of my project bag I centred the pocket then used the original side seam to square the top & bottom edges.
This is necessary as the leg of these shorts is tapered.
I sewed the leg together at the lower edge to make the bottom of the bag & then 'boxed the bottom' so that the bag would have a base to sit on.
The technique of 'boxing the base' is well explained in Kristin Link's 'Bag Making Basics' which is a free mini class on Craftsy.
The technique of 'boxing the base' is well explained in Kristin Link's 'Bag Making Basics' which is a free mini class on Craftsy.
I hemmed & sewed a casing at the top edge to create a space for a drawstring closure.
I hand sewed the section over the pocket so I didn't stitch the pocket closed !
I was so chuffed that I realised I needed to do this . . .
I hand sewed the section over the pocket so I didn't stitch the pocket closed !
I was so chuffed that I realised I needed to do this . . .
. . . however, I forgot to leave an opening in the casing at the top of the bag for the drawstring to exit so had to unpick a section & decided to really test myself & make a button hole.
So. damn. proud. of my buttonhole !
I changed it up a little for the 2nd bag I made from the other leg of the shorts & squared the sides as well as the top & bottom edges which allowed me to leave an opening in the side seam for the drawstring to exit.
So. damn. proud. of my buttonhole !
I changed it up a little for the 2nd bag I made from the other leg of the shorts & squared the sides as well as the top & bottom edges which allowed me to leave an opening in the side seam for the drawstring to exit.
. . . and here it is finished & in use.
It's large enough to hold my work in progress; this is a summer weight cotton, top down knit jumper on needles & there is a note pad, row counter & all the usual notions we needle-craft types like to lug around with us in the pocket.
It's large enough to hold my work in progress; this is a summer weight cotton, top down knit jumper on needles & there is a note pad, row counter & all the usual notions we needle-craft types like to lug around with us in the pocket.
I used the machine to sew most parts but it would be easy to hand sew this project too, it would just take a little longer.
I used the other leg to make another bag & completed both easily on a Sunday afternoon.
It was great fun & a lovely Sunday distraction.
I used the other leg to make another bag & completed both easily on a Sunday afternoon.
It was great fun & a lovely Sunday distraction.
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