Leather Skirt + Old Belt = New Bag

       I simply love leather. It creaks when it moves. It smells earthy. It reminds me of the smell of barns and horses; two of my absolute favorite things. You can never go wrong with leather, it's timeless and always classy.

        The one problem with leather however, it is expensive. To buy nice, 100%  leather will not be cheap. Unless....

     ...you happen to find a 100% leather skirt for $1 at your local thrift store! In which case, your finances most likely won't pose a problem! You might remember I did the same thing with this bag a few months back.

      I still use that bag quite a bit, but it's a bit too "boho" for dressier outfits. I wanted to try a less distracting version that would be more neutral looking.
      Please pardon the awful working photos...this was an "after bedtime" project. I chopped off the top that was shaped with darts. That left me with a flat panel to work with. I did not disassemble the lining or any of the existing seams.

         I decided to cheat, and use the skirt hem for the top of my bag. (my motto is to skip hemming whenever I can get away with it!)  I cut 2 inch by 2 inch corners into what would be the bottom of the bag.

       Next, I sewed 10 inch casings on the sides. I wanted a bit of a gather along the sides to help shape the bag and to create a bit of a ruffle.

     I slipped the elastic between the lining and the leather and threaded it through the casing.

       I sewed the ends of the elastic down, and it gathered up the sides just nicely.

       Next I closed up the bottom lining by sewing across the bottom seam.

       I flattened the corners and sewed straight across the corners.

      I did the same with the leather, but left a small part open to turn the bag right side out.

     I sewed it that last little bit from the outside once the bag was turned. I used the skirt waist band as straps for the bag. Lastly, an old belt that was needing to be trashed became the closure to the bag. I hid a magnetic snap under the buckle so it just snaps easily into place.

      While I didn't do it on purpose, this bag does fit nicely with equestrian trend I'm seeing all about this fall. I just love all the buckles and bits of leather used in unexpected ways on clothing. What do you think of the trend?

        If you've never tried working with leather, a thrift store skirt is totally the way to go...you can hack it up without worrying a bit about messing it up!

Hebrews 10:38   Now the just shall live by faith...

linking to:
Crafty Confessions
Home Stories A to Z
Kammy's Korner
My Girlish Whims
Sew much ado
Someday Crafts
Tatertots and Jello
The Southern Institute
Brassy Apple
Under the Table and Dreaming
Homemaker on a Dime
The Girl Creative

DIY necklace for the untalented

      I'm severely challenged when it comes to jewelry making. (Interpretation: Abby has no patience for things that have small parts!) This necklace was right down my ally, it took five minutes and cost 25 cents! Want to know my secret?

      A belt...from the thrift store...that cost 25 cents. There's a real science to this, so watch close. Clip belt to desired length. Make sure you use the rustiest pliers you can find...it adds to the rustic charm.

       Attach extra chain to even out sides.

      Add the extra pieces on for a second little looptey-de-doop.

      Totally fab huh?! Yes, I know that that one link is backwards...and it's annoying me to no end as I sit and type this...and no, I'm not going to re-take the picture to fix it. Check back around next week and we'll talk about that shirt.

   

      It's just as fun to make as necklaces out of belts...promise. Have a great weekend!

1 Corinthians 13:4   Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

Easy Happy Fourth Shirts

     Like to wait until last minute to keep up with the holidays? Ya, me too. Here are three ideas for last minute go to see fireworks shirts for the big day.
     I started with three shirts, one for each little lady and one for me. (Umm, so that tank was a failed attempt at dip dyeing....does that look like ombrey grey to you? Me neither. Me thinks I need to work on my methods a tad.)

      Baby got a button and fabric strips sewn onto hers.

     Oldest little lady got fabric painted letters on hers. She is learning to recognize letters, so she liked that.

      I got a monochromatic sparkly flag on mine sewn from trim and do-dads I found in my stash.

     Hope you have a wonderfully fun and safe Fourth of July!

Psalms 33:12   Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD

Sling Bags - Part 2 (The up-cycled leather version)

        This is part two of my sling bag/boho bag/hobo bag/bucket bag/whatever else you know to call it bag tutorial. If you missed part 1 you can catch up by looking here. All the nitty gritty of measurements and directions for sewing can be found in that post.. This tote bag I am going to show you today is quite possible my most favorite thing I have ever made for myself. I. love. it.

    LOVE.

   
     It makes my eyeballs smile. Really.

        Let me explain a bit about this bag. It started out looking like this...

     ...a size 4, 100% leather skirt I found at a thrift store for $2. Yes, you read that correctly. A 100% REAL leather skirt for $2. Evidently the dear folks at the thrift store don't know how expensive leather is, nor do they recognize brand names terribly well. I was only too happy to oblige them in supplying the wanted $2 and dashing out with my prize. As it is highly unlikely I will be shrinking to a size 4 in the near future, I knew this skirt, was destined to be my new hand bag. Using the general measurements of the bags I showed you yesterday, I cut out my bag. I cut it flat to work around the existing seams. I was not about to spend hours deconstructing this thing!

     I also cut the straps an inch wider. As you remember from yesterday, you have to flip the bag through the straps to get the right sides out after sewing....leather is thicker than canvas, and I wanted to make sure it would fit through!
     My next step was to embellish the outside a bit. If you remember this post, you know how I once turned a vintage crochet table cloth into a skirt. I had saved the scraps from that project, and deemed them perfect to use now! The cut out is not a perfect one, but that doesn't bother me in the least.

     I used a glue stick to lightly press the design onto the bag, and hold it in place. You do not want to use pins when working with leather. They will poke holes that do not go away. Next, I sewed the design onto the bag. I worked very slowly and tried to keep all my seams hidden within the lines of the design. You can see on the back here how that looked. (I found those numbers written on the back of the leather, once I had removed the lining...not sure if it's a date or a pattern marking?)

      I also added a few more pieces of the crochet to back of the bag, cause you know, it's gotta look pretty from all sides.

     Next, I sewed the bag together. Instead of pins holding the pieces together, I used these office clips. They are quite handy to have around when sewing, I highly recommend having some on hand.

     When sewing on leather, it's absolutely necessary to have a leather needle on your machine. You will break needles and skip stitches if you don't. The other thing about leather, is, it won't want to slide under the pressure foot. The back side of leather is sort of hairy, and it grabs and sticks. I used a single sheet of tissue paper to sew over, so that the leather would feed through properly. I have no idea where I learned that, just a trick I picked up from somewhere. It works really well.

     When you get done, you can just tear it off and pick out the bits of paper. It only takes a second to do.

      I did the inside lining and pockets the same way I showed you yesterday. I attached the lining to the outside the same way as well. For the "handle" part, I sewed on a bit more crochet before putting it together.

     I think that it, and the ticking lining, add just the right touch.

      The other thing about leather, be careful with your fingernails, machine parts, and scissor tips. Leather scratches, and you don't want to mess up the finish. Which must be why I thought a scratchy fence post with rusty barb wire was the perfect photo setting. Yup, I'm a smart one.

    Not bad for $2 eh?

     The other thing that made this such a good deal, was, the leather was in perfect condition. There was not a scuff or a scratch anywhere on it! It was also thinner, workable leather, which, unless you have an industrial machine, is pretty important.

    I hope this helps you see how even a simple design like I showed you yesterday, can be translated into any style you wish. Feel free to ask questions if there is something I haven't been clear about...and as always, I love to see your versions!

Psalms 107:1   O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 

linking to:
Simple Home Life
The Vintage Farmhouse
The Freckled Laundry
Brassy Apple
Homemaker on a Dime
Boogieboard Cottage
Under the Table and Dreaming
Sew Much Ado
My Girlish Whims
Someday Crafts

Easy Pant Refashion

       Yesterday, I kept thinking it was Friday all day...today I can't seem to remember that it's Friday at all. Hence the reason it is 5 PM, and I've just remembered to post something for today. Here's a quick little refashion that's guaranteed to make your weekend cooler and comfier. Grab a pair of jeans that's a tad ill fitting...not hard if you're tall like me. Every pair of jeans is slightly ill fitting.

     These cost me $5 dollars at a consignment shop, so I wasn't the least bit worried about ruining them. I marked where the knee was, and where I wanted to shorten them too. I amputated them a few inches below that. I wanted the hem to be rolled, so that is why I didn't chop exactly where I wanted them to end up.

        Next, I took them in a pinch along the side seam, just to straighten the leg out.

    
       I serged around the bottom to keep them from fraying in the wash. Next, I rolled them up once and tacked them down at the side seams.

      Lastly, I rolled them up a second time, without sewing anything. I pressed them with the iron and called it done. Easy, fast, and soooo much better for this lovely hot weather.

      I was sort of thinking about throwing them into a bucket of bleach to lighten them up a bit. I don't really care for dark wash unless its really nice jeans. Have any of you ever bleached your jeans before? Did you like it? Do tell, pretty please!
Happy Weekend! =)

Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.