Recycling Denim Shorts into Bag

I saw these pinstriped shorts with turn-ups in a charity shop and loved the self-covered buttons.  I decided they would make a great bag.

Tried out my idea first by pinning it into shape and having a look at how it would look and if it would be big enough.

Then I took the plunge and cut off the legs leaving a gentle curve.  The crotch I will turn under and topstitch flat.  Using the shorts as a pattern I cut out the lining fabric.  

I backed the lining with fusible fleece as this gives a nice cushioned effect inside.  The fabric is a cotton print from my mother's stash.

 

I got out my trusty ‘Zipped Pocket’ (7” x 7”) template and cut out a front and back in lining fabric, then ironed on some medium woven interfacing.  I checked the zip fit and marked its position with a water soluble pen.  (Before pressing I spray it with water to remove the marks.)

Here the front is attached to the lining right sides together and sewn round the ‘letterbox’.  The opening is then cut through both fabrics.  I learnt how to do this in Lisa Lam’s book “The Bag Making Bible” which I recommend to anyone who wants to know how to make all the component parts of a bag (ISBN-13:978-0-7153-3624-3 or ISBN-10:0-7153-3624-X)

If you have done dressmaking, it’s just like making a bound buttonhole, where you ‘post’ the fabric through the slit.  Lay it flat and if forms a bound rectangular opening (a letterbox!) Then you give it a good press, lay the zip in the slot (Lisa suggests using double sided tape to hold it securely).  Then sew it in place using your zipper foot to get as close as possible.  I always start near the puller as that decides how close you can go.

 And here is the zip stitched in place seen from the front, and the back

This is the back of the zipped pocket.  I like to overlock /serge the back and front together for a good finish.

On the other side of the bag I am adding a 6” x 6”patch pocket.

Here is the patch pocket cut out in lining material with medium woven interfacing applied. 

The other piece is plain navy with a heart applique cut out of the lining fabric. It’s fixed in place using Bondaweb, then zig-zagged to fix securely. 

 Now the lining was prepped, I got on with the bag.  I removed the broken metal zip.   I FITTED MY JEANS NEEDLE then stitched the opening closed up the side of the placket and across the top, then sewed the crotch down and stitched the across the bottom with a 4/8” seam, and pressed it open.

I sewed the bottom corners where they measured 3” across and trimmed the seams to 4/8”.  This will give a nice full shape!

 I attached the lining front to the back and did the same 3” corners then tried it out - oh joy, it fits!  (Sometimes it needs a little adjusting at this stage!) 

Now for the handles

This is the piece I cut off the legs.  Once the turn-up was opened out each leg gave me a strip 5” x 22” and revealed the unbleached stripe!  I joined the two together giving a single 5” x 44” strip.  I then cut it in half lengthways, leaving 2 strips 2½” x 44” for the handles.  I like a 36" handle myself.

I pressed the seam flat and topstitched down both sides.  I also unpicked the overlocking/sergeing on the existing 2 seams so I could press them flat and topstitch them too.  This was to reduce the thickness for my poor sewing machine when it comes to assembling them into handles!

Then I cut out matching lining pieces and ironed on fusible fleece.  

Having seen the shoulder bag Video Tutorial (http://sew-whats-new.com/group/sewing-purses-totes-handbags-free-pdf-epatterns/forum/topics/sew-a-zipped-shoulder-bag-video-tutorial ) I decided to link the handles to the bag with 4 brass rings because a) I hadn’t tried it before, and b) I had the rings!  I cut straps to hold the rings off the ends of the handle strips.  This left me two handles 2½” x 36” and 4 ring straps 2 ½” by 4” and matching lining pieces. 

The straps for the rings are stitched together, turned right side out and topstitched.  I then folded them in half and threaded on a ring then stitched across the bottom to hold it in. The ends are left raw as they will be concealed by the lining.  I had meant to topstitch the straps in navy but forgot!  

The rings and straps in position 2” in from the side and extending 1” above the bag. They are stitched in place along the existing stitched lines. I went over them twice.

I turned down 1” on the top of the lining then pinned it in place.  I always slip stitch the lining in place by hand, then topstitch with the machine afterwards.  I know the lining is where I want it if I do it that way!  The lining is stitched in and the raw edges of the ring straps are hidden.  With the lining stitched along the very top edge the straps are also caught in again and made more secure.

Here is one of the handles sewn together with a 2/8” seam.  I trimmed the corners and the short end seam to reduce bulk.   You can see the gap I left to turn it out in the middle of one side.  This way it is 2 short pieces to pull through instead of 1 long one, and you get neat ends as they will be on show.  

I start turning it by hand (or by finger!) then use the knob end of a chunky wooden knitting needle to push it through the rest of the way.  The trick is to tug on the side seams

Here you see me pushing the handle back through itself on the wooden knitting needle.    Once through I reverse the needle and use the pointed end to push out the corners. Then I press it well and topstitch all round. This seals the opening and strengthens the handle. 

The handles were threaded through the rings, turned back 2” and stitched down.  They are not a perfect match but hey I can live with that!  I sewed them down with a little narrow box stitch.

These brass rings are actually hinged, so I could do all the sewing first and slot them in afterwards and didn’t have to have them clanking about!

 

The finished bag!

Is it too plain?

Should I have added some coloured applique or embroidery?

Should I have made the patch pocket bigger to take my mobile?

Am I pleased with it?

Hell yes!

It's now my sister's new Summer Bag.

How to tell if your AUCUBA is a male or a female.

Why do you need to know (unless you are a lonely aucuba)?  If you want berries you have to have a female plant, and a male nearby!

What is an Aucuba Japonica?  It's better known as a spotted laurel, an  evergreen shrub with yellow spots or splotches depending on the variety.  

So if you want berries you need to know how to tell whether you have a girl or a boy.  Most plants do not specify, and if you buy one with berries on it they will not occur again unless you have a male plant in the vicinity.

So how are you supposed to know the difference?  None of my gardening reference books helped identify an existing plant unless you knew which variation it was, and even then there was some confusion over which were which.

I went on-line and eventually managed to find the answer from a site that no longer exists.  I have seen people asking about it recently, so I thought I would put my findings here.

Look at your plant,

1.  If it has berries (September - January) it is a girl!  Thanks to our crazy climate mine still has berries and is in flower too!  

If it does not have berries it is either a male, or a female with no male nearby!

2.  If it is in flower (April) look at the flowers -

If they are close to the leaf with a thick central pistil (as above) it is female and will produce berries if there is a male nearby.

If the flowers are held away from the leaves on upright panicles with four anthers in each flower (like the one above) it is a male.  It can fertilise females in the vicinity but does not bear berries itself.

Now you can go shopping for the right partner!  All these have different yellow varigation -

Females

‘Variegata’                   

‘Golden Spangles’                          

‘Marmorata’

‘Gold Dust’                   

‘Sulphura Marginata’

Males

‘Golden King’     

‘Crassifolia’

‘Mr Goldstrike’              

‘Picturata’*

‘Crotonifolia’*

*"Some plants of 'Crotonifolia' and 'Picturata' are known to be female and have produced fruits"

RHS Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers 2006

I bought a 'Crotonifolia' a couple of years ago as the label said it was male, but when it flowered it was a girl!  

So I bought myself a 'Mr Goldstrike' last week not only because it is a boy for my 2 girls, but also because it is another lovely variation which will brighten my garden. However, I am just waiting for the flowers to open to confirm that.....

6th May 2013 - It's a boy!  Got home today and the new aucuba Mr Goldstrike has finally flowered.  The four white anthers show up really well!

and here's my big girl, with berries AND flowers at the same time.  Our climate is so mixed up.

The central pistil is not as bright as the anthers, more green and transluscent.

Anyway hope that explains why the Aucuba you bought with berries on never had any more, and what to do to ensure it has them next year.

You should visit www.sew-whats-new.com!

Hi

My name is Karen, I live in rural Norfolk, England.

I like to create, I taught myself Canal Art which is painting roses on items as done by the people who used to live and work on our canal systems.

Mostly I like to sew.  None of my family or friends share this interest, so I went on-line in January and found www.sew-whats-new.com.  It's an international sewing forum with over 20,000 members worldwide, many of which you can see on our 'Members Map'

You have your own page on which you can store photos of your creations and write blogs.

You can join a Sewing Channel on something you have a particular interest in.

You can read other people's blogs, watch video tutorials, view photo's of other people's creations, read photo tutorials, ask questions...... there's lots to do!

You can have a quick look without joining, but if you want to join you just 'Create a profile' with a few details of yourself.

To join a sewing channel, read the list in the left hand column on the Home Page, click on the one that interests you and JOIN it.  If after looking it's not for you, hit the LEAVE button.

It's worth a visit!