Purse From Shirt & Mumu

Ok. So I couldn't hold out any longer. I know the wedding is in like 3 weeks, and there are alot of things that still need to be done, but I really needed to get my craft on! LOL

Yesterday, I made a purse from an old men's shirt and a mumu dress thing. I don't know how I ended up with so many mumus that I didn't buy and never wore, but they are great sources of fabric!











Now don't think my misbehavior has gone unpunished.....My normally nice sewing machine decided to fight me every step of the way...so much so that I ended up leaving off the pockets that I was planning to put on the purse. (and still eventually will!) On top of that, I had to take the pics with my phone. (hence the crappy & tiny shots!) Then, the computer fought me trying to get the pics online. And Blogger didn't put the pics where I wanted them in the first post that was lost due to my battery dying without warning!!! (*A few deep breaths!*)

So anyways.....

I finally have the elastic thread I was needing for my wedding dress. I, also, got a discount card at Hancock Fabrics...which will help when I finally buy a sewing table and adjustable dress form. I tried to make my own dress form, but I screwed up. Plus, I lost weight since then, and don't want to be wrapped in tape, unable to sit, for so long, again!

Yoga Pants From T-shirt (my version)

Here Goes:

***Make sure the distance from armpit to armpit on the shirt you are using is bigger than your thigh measurement. For the waist you can use the sleeves of the t-shirt, a skort like my last pair, another shirt like this pair, or just any fabric that you can get to the measurement needed. For drawstring you can use ribbon, rope, long boot shoelaces, one of the sleeves cut into a spiral so as to make a long string, etc.

Also, for the waist, make sure your fabric doesn't fray, or extra steps will have to be taken.***

Step 1: Lay your T out flat, making sure to line up the bottom front with the bottom back.

Step 2: Cutting thru the front and the back at the same time, cut the sleeves off at the seams. (Cut so as to leave the seams on the sleeves, not the shirt.)

Step 3: Cut from the armpits to the bottom sides of the shirt, following the folds made from it laying flat.

Step 4: Cut the neck and shoulders off by cutting straight and even, thru both layers, from one arm to the other, just below the neckline.



Step 5: You now have the 2 (unsewn) legs. Set one to the side. Fold the other one, lining up the 2 edges you cut in step 3, with outsides facing in, pin and sew securing ends. Repeat for other leg. (The red yarn shows where was sewn.)



Step 6: Turn them right side out. Line up the arm holes, outsides facing in, pin and sew from the inside, securing ends.

Step 7: Try them on both ways. Determine which side will be the front. Now measure from the back seam of the pants up to where you want your waist to end. Multiply that by 2 and add seam allowances at both ends. (I used my finger to measure. My waist just happened to be the same measurement as my index tip to knuckle. It is easier and more accurate than a ruler, which you have to distort yourself to read the measurement.)

Step 8: By whatever means, make a rectangle that is (your waist measurement+ seam allowances) by (measurement from step 7.)

Step 9: Outsides facing in, line up the shorter edges, pin and sew securing ends.

Step 10: Lay your pants flat, right side out. Take the waist tube you just made, turn it inside out, and put around top of pants with the tube seam lined up with the back pant seam. (If you used 2 equal pieces to make the waist tube, line the seams up with the side folds of the pants as they lay flat.) Line up, pin, and sew around, securing edges.



Step 11: Now fold the waistband in (If using elastic instead of a drawstring, now is the time to put it in.) Line up the edge of the inner waist band, with the edge of the seam, pin & sew, securing edges.

Step 12: Now that your pants are sewn, all that is left is the drawstring. Move to the middle of the front of the waistband. (use pant seam to line up.) Half-way up the waist, outer layer only, fold over and make 2 small vertical holes. (The front seam should line up right between these 2 holes.)



Step 13: String as shown below:

If any of this doesn't make sense to you, please let me know.
Also, I would love to see any that yall make.

And yes I did lose weight. Don't I look good!?! LOL

Just Started!

This Blog is dedicated to recycling and refashioning the old and boring into the "new" and exciting. Anyone can craft, but it takes talent for the final piece to be both beautiful and practical. I hope to have guest bloggers as well as contests in the future.

Keep checking in and you may find yourself discovering a new craft that is "Not Quite New!"