T-Shirt to Drawstring Backpack

So, I was at the store the other day and I saw a cute Nike or Adidas or some-sports-related-brand drawstring backpack on sale. Considering that I was juggling an armful of household necessities, trying to figure out how I would fit my purchases AND my purse in my bike basket for the ride home, this backpack looked like heaven to me.  But, as I calculated the discount percentage off of the retail price (I rely pretty heavily on those little signs that list the "before and after" pricing), I realized that this bag would be easy to make on my own.  Of course, that didn't help me while I was precariously balancing a small mountain of items on the bike ride home, but I felt good that I didn't waste the 40% off of $14.99 (Yeah. YOU figure that out on your own).

I got down to it almost right away. I have had this jersey tank sitting around, waiting for a re-fashion for a long time now, and I thought it would be awesome for a drawstring back pack.

I looked up a few tutorials online, but I couldn't find any that were exactly what I wanted.  Considering that this is stretchy jersey fabric, I knew that I needed a lining inside for strength, and I couldn't find too many instructions for this bag that included interfacing and a lining.  I decided to just wing it, and went about matching up some fabrics.

A few problems that I had right off  the bat:
-The graphic on this tank was so close to the neckline that I had to put a strip of fabric at the top in order to keep the image from being distorted by the casing for the straps.
- I do not own cording of any kind, and the selection in my little town is super-limited, so I had to buy this thick shoe-lace type nylon weave stuff for the straps. Not my first choice.
- I really liked the grommet idea that I had seen on another blog, but I only have teeny ones for apparel uses (which I have never used), so I found those weird "D" loops that I re-purposed from another bag.
- The question of whether or not to add a pocket kept me up at night. In the end, I decided against it because this is more of a bike-riding knapsack rather than a daily purse.

Ultimately, this project took longer than it should have because I was being really picky about its construction.  I know myself pretty well, and I tend to put a lot of heavy stuff in my bags.  This pack needs to hold up to water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray, and whatever else I can cram in there, and I wasn't going to cut corners just to get it done quickly.  I am really proud of how it turned out (having not used any instructions), and I know that it will last me a long time. Plus, there are so many ways to add to this design that I could make a hundred of these and never have two of them be the same. I can't wait to make a child-sized one for The Bear now that I ordered grommets and cording from an online sewing supplier. Let the obsession begin!

Where have you been??

So,  here I am. New year, new state, new sewing room, and new projects.  I have actually been doing stuff since my last post (a million years ago), I just haven't been posting it.  Now that I have a nice, bright, non-creepy-spidery-basement area to work in, I have been spending a little more time sewing.  Of course, I still do the requisite hemming and patch work that seems to stick to you like stink when you own a sewing machine, but I have made a promise to myself to actually make some stuff for ME this year.  For example,

 KAPOW! I have had this fabric laying around FOREVER, and I picked up a backpack pattern last year that I knew would be perfect for this! Does anyone else buy patterns to go with fabric they already own? No? Only me? Well, whatever, Beetle Bailey comic strip fabric deserves to be respected that way. So, I turned it in to this:

The lighting was crap in my house on picture day, so this is the best I've got. I swear it is a backpack. I haven't quite gotten around to installing the lining yet, but the pieces are all cut and just waiting to be assembled. Possibly forever. I was pretty bored with this project by the time I finished the body... I'll get to it eventually.  In the meantime, I was looking to make myself some new spring/summer clothes since my new state gets pretty warm, and I came across this pattern in my stash:

Even though I am anti-sleeveless-tops, I thought I would be daring and make the long, sleeveless tunic ("c"). I had a great asian-style fabric that I thought would be awesome, so I gave it a go.

Why am I not modeling this, you ask? Well, because this pattern was constructed for people with tiny heads.  I mean, like, shrunken head tiny. I did my best to adjust the neck hole, but it's still a tight fight, and I hate putting it on and taking it off.  Plus, the sun was low in the sky, I have no good picture spots scoped out in my new yard yet, and I just wasn't feeling it. So, deal with the ebay-style pic.  This pattern sucked, and I will never wear this top. :(

After the tunic disappointment, I consoled myself by taking a trip to one of the 2 local thrift shops and found this truly heinous men's shirt:

I don't want to know who bought this shirt retail. I prefer to think that they were drunk and naked and needed something, so they grabbed the first shirt they saw. The fabric is pretty gross in a fake silk kind of way, but I instantly recognized the very cute skirt hiding in this fashion atrocity.

See? There it is! Again, no modeling pic because this was done on the same day as "the tunic that shall not be named," and I've already explained my attitude for that day. This project takes less than a half hour to throw together.  Just Google "Men's shirt to skirt," and you'll see 4 billion tutorials showing you how easy this is.

And, there you have it, proof that I have not been a total sewing slacker.  I have some shorts that I will attempt in the next few days, and I might, possibly start a quilt. Maybe.

I promise not to wait another century before my next post.

Broomstick Lace

I bought a huge bag of sewing/crochet/macrame/cross-stitch books at a local book fair a few weeks ago, and, since most of the books were published in the 70's, I came across a bunch of patterns utilizing a "Broomstick Lace" crochet technique. The skill is also called Jiffy Lace, and it requires a monster knitting needle ( I used size 50) and a crochet hook. After watching some video tutorials (the picture instructions that I have are AWFUL), I gave it a go:


Pretty cool, but an awful lot of work for something that looks the same as a standard shell crochet pattern. Plus, apparently people in the 70's had ENORMOUS heads. I had to add some ties so that it wouldn't fall off. Of course, I could have measured using a gauge pattern, but then I would be one of those weird crochet automatons.

Ooh, I also crocheted some socks last week, but I haven't taken any pics yet. They were super fast, but it seems that those poor 70's people suffered with tiny feet that couldn't possibly have supported their gigantic heads. Had to personalize the pattern, as usual. :)

Beetle Bailey and a Bum Bag

This weekend has been super-productive for me! In addition to a quickie up-cycled jersey skirt (that I didn't take a photo of), I sewed up a new sun hat for The Bear:
And a Bum Bag for myself:
This bag has a split zippered pocket on the outside and a small open pocket within. I tested out a new stabilizer on the straps, and squared off the bottom. I stuffed it chock-full-o stuff for a boat trip yesterday, and it held up like a champ!
Now that I got some personal sewing projects out of my system, I can go back to making stuff for other people! I bought a sweet t-shirt at the thrift store the other day that I am DYING to make into a bag, and I still have another dress I want to put together for Princess Peanut. Plus, I really need to restock my Artfire shop and get some things together for potential craft fairs this fall. Busy busy!

Princess Peanut's Debut!

After much procrastinating and a big move, I am finally working on the little girl dresses that got me started on this sewing obsession 3 years ago.

Meet Princess Peanut (of the Georgia Peanut's) displaying her newest custom made frock:
I have been carefully choosing fabrics that I thought would complement her fair skin and curly, auburn baby locks, and I think that these soft pinks and greens are perfect:
The dress is the product of a new pattern that I have been dying to try, and with the exception of the non-existent closure instructions, it was a quick and easy sew. Although, I don't know where they find the amazonian kids that they use for hem length models! I was so happy to have Princess Peanut in the flesh to measure, otherwise this dress would have been several inches too long. As it was, I tossed the pattern hem instructions and did my own thing (as usual).
And, of course, I had to add my own signature whimsy with the smiley face button on the back. Because toddler clothes should never be too serious. :)

Old Concert Tee Shirt to New Tank Top

I am finally back in business! After finishing a few projects that moved with me from IL, I was inspired to pump out a fun, quick tank for myself.

While unpacking, I unearthed some old concert t-shirts that had gotten lost in the process of becoming a grown-up. Obviously I felt sad for the once favorite shirts and decided to put them in my sewing room so that I could infuse some new life into them at some point. This is what caught my fancy today:
I found a tank pattern that I had forgotten I owned, and since these concert tees are men's XL, I knew they would size down really well.
The pattern encourages a tighter fit, but this tee is 15 years old (and had been very well loved prior to storage) so I decided against straining the remaining stretch in the jersey, and left it loose.
I am really excited to wear my old concert tee in a new way! The others may become bags or pillows, or who knows what, but this one was begging to be worn again.

Double, Double Toil and Trouble..

We are finally transplanted in Georgia, and after a month of cleaning, painting, flooring, and unpacking, I have a working sewing room!
Of course, I needed a nook for The Bear!
My little sanctuary from the southern heat and humidity. I hope to spend the majority of the summer sewing away. I have missed my machines and fabric. Plus, I desperately need a new bag. So, let the sewing begin!