Upcycling and Repurposing

Photo by Andrej Lišakov on Unsplash

I have had a green Zara top hanging around for two or three years now. I wash it and hang it in my closet for the spring and summer, never wear it, then pack it away in the fall, fully confident that in the next spring/summer season, I will definitely wear it.

Except I definitely don't wear it and I end up shifting it back into storage again.

This weekend, I looked at that shirt and decided there must be something else to do with it. I have been making some tote bags (really easy and great pattern from Make It & Love It) and decided that this top could be a great color for a tote bag. I also have been saving some jeans that my kids have grown out of and decided a tote bag needs a pocket.

My project was born, and a few hours later, my bag was done.

First, I ripped out the seams to get as much of the usable fabric as possible.

Then I salvaged the jeans pockets, measured the reused fabric and my new fabric that would also be part of the bag, and started pinning.

Once everything was measured, cut and pinned, I started to sew - which is my favorite part. **I am not a perfectionist sewer, but have learned by past mistakes - that measuring and pinning are key. Spending the time doing that, makes your end product better. Nobody wants to rip out seams and start all over...

Anyways, a bit later, and my bag was coming together, with a pocket on the inside... and on the outside.

I am super happy with the end result and look forward to making more!

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