How to sew a recycled denim handbag. Part 2

Back again! To recap last week’s post … I wanted to make myself a 100% recycled denim bag, using denim strips like those bags I saw on Pinterest. Last week I cut up my denim jeans, pieced and sewed the strips together and fused on the interfacing for my outer bag walls. I sewed the pockets and the zipper pocket on my bag lining. I sewed the bag strap. I did my topstitching – I love topstitching and Amber, my Singer 421G was a work horse!

This week, I continued on. I prepped the opening zipper, cutting it to the right length and topstitching the zipper tabs on the ends. I switched from the brown zipper to this blue one as it fit around my iPad just right.

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How to sew a recycled denim handbag.

I was trying to think of an eye-catching, mysterious title for my blog post. I couldn’t. I have too been immersed in bag making lately – sewing creatively, instead of blogging creatively!

The only other handbags I’ve made I posted about here and here. I made one of them for my sister – she’s seems to be happy with it. I made her’s by copying something she already had.

This time I wanted to make a handbag for myself out of 100% recycled materials, specifically denim. I have been collecting a few images on my Pinterest and I’m quite inspired by this recycled denim Chobe Bag with the denim strips sewn together.

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Whoot! Whoot! Whoot!

It’s time to announce the winners of last week’s giveaway! I used a List Randomizer on Random.org to pick the winners. I typed in all your names, pressed “go” and it randomly sorted your names, with the first two names being:

1. UtaC
2. Sewing with Scoobys

I did the same for my two pattern names and came up with this:

1. Simplicity 9224
2. McCalls 4106

Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!

So that means UtaC won Simplicity 9224.

Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!

Sewing with Scoobys won McCalls 4106.

Congratulations!

Ladies please email your mailing address to me at imadeit362436 (at) gmail (dot) com. And thank you all for playing along with me!

Now for some more exciting news (for me only, I suppose)!! It’s karma, it’s zen, it’s fate…. PatternReview’s newest contest for November is “The Handbag Contest”. MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE THING TO POSSESS… HANDBAGS!

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Pondering buttonholes…

I have been pondering buttonholes… but first let me tell you about one of the best Craftsy courses I have taken, Sew Better, Sew Faster, featuring a pattern from Islander Sewing Systems, Jacket Express #218. (Not being paid to say this neither, just my opinion!)

I have taken about a dozen Craftsy courses – some free, some not. THIS Craftsy course is one of my favourites – and I only have two favourites so far, guess I’m a tough sell.

I have always wanted to make another jean jacket, this time not a BLUE jean jacket like the one I wore during Me Made May 2014. My sister and I found this lovely fabric a while ago – an Annette Stretch Pique Print, 97% cotton 3% spandex. I pre washed it and it came out so soft. So between that and the abstract flower design on the fabric, I love it.

Nice dress! Thanks, I made it!!

Now I don’t want to go through the whole process step by step, but I thought I might give you some of the do’s and don’ts I discovered.

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