Demin shorts!

I'm the kind of person who wears jeans to death! I wear them every day, so it was hardly suprising when my favourate jeans got a massive whole in the knee. I was still abit annoyed because I loved them.

This picture is from this post.

But yesterday I had a great idea; why not make them into shorts? So I cut of half the legs (just above the whole) and hemmed them, to create amazing shorts, which I know I'll wear to death this summer.

I'm really pleased with how they turned out. All together it took me about 30 minutes, mainly because I was trying really hard to make both legs exactly the same length. I used the same thread that I used for my denim skirt and had the hem line at about 1cm.

 What's great, is that they're ready just in time for spring and summer.

I hope this has inspired you!

High waisted denim skirt

A few months ago I posted about a denim skirt I had made using an ebook.  I really enjoyed making it and had some denim material left over, however I didn't have enough to make a full denim skirt. So I had a look through my box of materials and found some lovely pink flouty material, which I had got a while back in a 60p pack from Abakhans. The combanation made a wonderful skirt.

I followed the ebooks instructions for the top half and then gathered the pink material to give the skirt a floaty summer look. I say that I "followed" the ebook but I totally forgot about the part where you make the pattern given fit you and so ended up with a tight fitting high waisted skirt. Although it wasn't ment to be high waisted I think it actually works quite well. Funny how mistakes can sometimes turn out amazingly well!

I hope this has inspired you!

Simple recycled bag

Free Pattern

When my little sister came home from Brownies saying that they had to make a bag out of recycled material it was obvious she was going to use the sewing machine. Because she had never really used a sewing machine before, I said I'd help her. So while she was looking through the pile of all the families' old clothes (which is conveniently situated at the bottom of her wardrobe), I drafted an easy pattern for her to follow. The item of clothing she used in the end was an old dress of hers that was way to small for her.

27cm and 35cm are the numbers stated.

You will need:

• Old clothing/material (from which you will need 2x A and 2x a strip of contrasting fabric with the Measurements of 75cm x 9cm)
• Thread
• And a sewing machine (this is opional as it can be sewn by hand)

Method:

1. Sew the 2 A pieces of fabric together along the curved line with wrong sides facing, to create your basic bag shape.
2. Next hem along the top to get rid of the scruffy edges.
3. Now get your 2 strips of contrasting fabric and fold in the two scruffy longer edges into the middle.
4. Then fold the material in half so that the scruffy edges are hidden.
5. Once this is done sew down the side with the two inner folded edges to secure it in place. These two pieces will become your handles.
6. Finally turn your main bag inside out and attach your handles to it so that they are evenly apart and the bottom of the handle is hidden. 

    7.   Now you have your new basic bag.

This bag can be decorated in many different ways. For example my little sister used the ruffle of the dress to make a mid ruffle. This effect could also be achieved with a ribbon. If you want to do that, before you start sew the ruffle to where you want it to be on both of pieces A with the scruffy edge folded inward so that it isn't visable. The folding wouldn't be needed if you used a ribbon as the edges would be finnished off for you.

I hope this has inspired you!

Active skirt

FREE PATTERN

This skirt is so simple to make and is great for looking stylish but still being able to go about every day activities. I came across the idea for this skirt by buying a 60p pack from abakhans and the stripy material bellow was in it.

You will need:

Spandex material
Sewing machine (set to zigzag stich)
Thread

Instructions:
First measure your hips. Cut out a piece of this fabric that is the length you just measured (DON'T add any seam allowence as the strech of the spandex is what will keep the skirt up) by 16cm. This will become your waist band.

Next cut out a piece of fabric that is between 1.5 and 2 times your hip measurement in width (this measurement will depend on how loose you want the main part of your skirt to be) by the length you want your skirt to be plus hemming allowence ( I would suggest a length that comes to mid way between your hip and your knee or just bellow).

Now sew the waist band (folded in half) onto the larger piece of fabric streching the waist band as you go so as to make ruffles in your skirt.

Once the last step is complete sew the two oposite sides together (right sides facing) so as to make a tube.

Finally hem your skirt. Now you have the perfect active skirt!

I hope this has inspired you!

Another McCall's M6165

At the begining of this month I posted about a pattern I had tried out. It worked so well last time that I really wanted to do it agian so when I saw some amazing dotty matrial (£3.00 per meter) in the clearance section in Abahkans I knew it was destined to become this top.

  Like last time it worked really well. The pattern is nice and easy to follow and at the end you have a wonderful top that can be used in many diffrent situations.

I hope this has inspired you!

Bed sheet skirt/ blouse

FREE PATTERN

This was my expermental piece, so I didn't want to waste good fabric (I used my little sisters old bed sheet) however this pattern is heaverly reliant on the material used.

You will need:

an old bed sheet
a zipper
thread
a sewing machien (it can be done by hand however it will take alot longer)

Instructions:

Measure your waist. After taking your measurements add on a 2cm seam allowance.
Now cut out a piece of your fabric, which is your waist measurement plus SA by  14cm.
Next measure from your waist to your knee (don't add any seam allowance to your measurement because when it is heamed it will come just above your knee).
After taking your waist to knee measurement cut out a piece of fabric, which is the length you just measured by twice the length of your waist measurement plus SA.
Next sew a straight stich allong the width of the larger piece of fabric and gather it untill it is the same length as your waist band.
To create your waist band fold it in half and sew the long not folded edge to the gathered side of the larger piece of material.
Now sew the sides together but don't sew the waist band together as now you need to install your zipper.
Finally hem the bottom and you should have a skirt (and if your like me and don't have large breast it will also work as a strapless blouse).

I hope this has inspired you!  

Floaty top (McCall's M6165)

I found this pattern back in november at a sewing fair for an amazing price of about £2. I was really impressed by how cheaply I was able to get it. While at the fair I also bought some semi see-through sari material for only £1 per meter. As I choose to do the vest top patter the material only cost £1.50.

When I got home from the fair I decided to start on the piece not realising just how easy it was. I started at 5:00pm and was finished by 8:30pm.

 It's great for smart casual as it can simply be thrown over a tank top and make a whole outfit look more formal.The best part is that it looks diffrent depending on which colour tank top I wear beneath.

I hope this has inspired you!