Eco DIY: Fabulous Scrap Fabric Purse

Craft bonanza! After making my patchwork blankie out of scrap fabric I sat down with a notebook & pen and started dreaming up other simple DIY projects. This handbag is not hard to make and looks very eco chic (superior handmade style!)
It's also made entirely out of fabric, so all you need are basic sewing skills to put it together.
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STEP 1 :
Choose two contrasting fabrics, and pin them together in a rectangle shape to cut out.
I chose some velvety animal print, and a kimono type fabric for their flamboyant contrast.

STEP 2 :

Fold over the top edges of the purse, and sew a strong seam at the very bottom. This is to create a drawstring style hole for the purse straps to pull through.

Both sides should then have the drawstring hole, which are sewn into the inner side of the purse. (see pic below)

STEP 3 :

Fold the purse over, with the drawstring holes lining up evenly. Sew a seam along both sides (left and right) but NOT over the drawstring holes.

The purse should then look like this pic below... my animal print is the inner part, and the kimono fabric is the outside of the purse.

STEP 4 :

THE STRAPS ::::

Cut six strips of scrap fabric (or tie pieces together), make two groups of 3 strips, tie a knot at the top of each one, then BRAID! yay! I love braiding. :)

Use a big safety pin to pull your braided strap through the drawstring holes on both sides...

...tighten the straps, then tie them together at the top.

ALL DONE!

HANDBAG HEAVEN :::::

How easy and cute is that?! Plus functional! You could use this as a purse, but also as a knitting/crochet bag! Or maybe carry your small pets around the house in it. ;)

I like this eco crafting project alot... now back to my notebook to think up more things I can do with this fabric.

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Here is a quick lil' tutorial vid for this DIY Purse project -(if you learn better with music and short commands...) ;)



Xoxoxo

Eco DIY: Patchwork Blankie (from scrap fabric)

My ever ambitious mom entered me into a craft fair (ohmygawd Mom!), and I have only one month to make a craft booth's worth of eco friendly stuff! I am bracing myself for a month of non stop crafty mania...
and here is the very first project.
I have had this one tucked in the corners of my imagination for a while now, a patchwork blankie of luscious luxurious colors. A blankie made of only scrap fabric, sewn together in a simple way. I got the scrap fabric that was left over from a seamstress friend (it's amazing all the fabric that is left & discarded from people's pillow, curtain, and bed spread decor!)
STEP 1:
I cut a buncha squares the same size (see top pic with my cat Toots in it). I cut enough so there could be four rows of six squares.
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STEP 2:
I sewed squares together - 6 in a row going up and down. (see pic above) I did this four times, making four separate LONG rows.

(NOTE: however you decide to sew them together, the important part is just being consistent. I laid the right side over the edge of the left side of each square and sewed a seam on top. Every time.)
STEP 3:
I took each row, turned them to the under side and made a seam. A seam that would be covered later by the backing of the blanket.

STEP 4:

The backing of the patchwork blankie was just a large piece of fabric i found in the scrap fabric bag. I pinned the patchy part on top to hold it in place, and then sewed a seam on top.

STEP 5:

Once the seam was in place, I evened out the edges of the brown fabric backing, and then cut wide "fringe". Each piece of fringe was then tied into a knot at the bottom.

(this is the knot fringe after it was totally finished- see pic below!!!) Super rustic cute. ;)

FINIS :::::

I like it! I like it!

It was a little hard to do since it was my first time sewing something like this, but it only took me half the day. The hard part is just the tedious monotony of putting it together, not the actual skill it takes to make.

Totally worth the time! Wish I could keep it for myself. :)

Xoxoxo

Eco DIY: Reversible Maxi Dress (made with left over fabric)

I love reversible clothing, but it's a rare gem to find something made like this - but how eco would it be to have one dress actually be two? And to make it from scrap fabric, organic fabric, or maybe some leftover fabric your local seamstress has extra that she would love to pass on to you!
This Reversible Maxi Dress is a pattern born of my mind, but I think it's not too hard to understand how to make it with simple shapes and the following directions::: (ask me questions in the comments if something is confusing)... :)
I had some left over fabric that my mom gave me a few years ago - it happen to be a stretchy crushed velvet in multiple colors (ooh la la & groovy too!) To make the dress really vibrant I chose two equally bright and hued colors that looked good together - because the inner color will show on the outside in some places (like the reverse side of the tie around the back of the neck, and in the area where the drawstring will pull it to fit in the back.)
Step One: put the two pieces of fabric facing inward, facing each other and cut a big square the length from under your breasts to the ankle (or however long you want your dress.)
Step Two: sew together the outside edges (right and left, but NOT top and bottom.)
**If your fabric has a specific side which is supposed to show on the outside, make sure the sew the fabric inside out just like if you are sewing together a pillow.**
The seam created by sewing it inside out, will look like this below when you turn it back to the right side ( the side you will be wearing it).....
Step Three: cut a band of fabric whatever width you prefer (mine was about 4 inches or so) from the top of your sewn square. Cut it evenly across the entire piece from the top part of the fabric which was not sewn shut. (NOT from the right of left that you just seamed.)
Step Four: flip the band over to make a contrasting color band that will be sewn under the breasts, in an empire style....
Sew the band right back wear you cut it from, except now in the reverse color... red on the blue side, blue on the red side.
Step Five: cut two triangular shapes for the top of the maxi dress, but with the two pieces of fabric facing each other (just like above with the big square!) You can decide on the shape and size of the triangle buy measuring against a top, bra, bikini, etc that you already have in your size - just make sure it's wide enough to cover your whole boob. Make sure above your triangle you cut longer strips of fabric going upward for the ties which will go around your neck.
Step Six: sew them together on the edges just like a pillow - but leave the bottom open so that you can turn then right side in after your are done with the seams.

Step Seven: take a tape measure and find the EXACT center of the square - this is where the two triangle top pieces will meet in the middle.
Step Eight: because the band is open on the top, you can insert the two triangles inside and sew a tight zig zag seam over them - connecting both color sides of the dress at once.
Then sew a seam across the entire band closing the top up.
Step Nine: you will want to add in one more stitch across the band leaving enough room to run a drawstring through directly under the breasts. Then cut little holes at the edges to run it through - use a safety pin to pull the drawstring through easier. This drawstring will help give chest support, but will also be how you pull the swag of fabric together in the back to whatever size you need.
AKA- you can gain and lose weight all year long and still fit in your reversible maxi dress!!!
LAST Step: carefully sew a seam up the back if the dress till it reaches the band, leaving some extra leg room at the bottom too by leaving the first bottom 5-6 inches open. Everyone likes a 'sexy slit' to show off your calves!
To check out bunches of pics of the end result(s) watch the video here ...



XoXo

Sewing With Local Organic Cotton Scraps

This eco sweater is make from approximately 12 different scraps of locally woven organic cotton. The eco fashion store downtown (in Asheville NC) sells cheap little bundles of organic cotton, sometimes it's all rolled up and you don't know exactly what you are getting. In this case I ended up with 2 awesome bundles of fleece & sweatshirt fabrics that are now perfect for winter weather! It was really difficult to come up with a whole sweater pattern with so many scraps - so I sewed many of the panels together to make on flat piece of fabric to start with. Don't mind my cold hard facial expression or the funky wet hair ;) ... I am wearing a tank top under the sweater since it is off the shoulder, the front bodice is made up of 6 panels.I made a tie that was attached to the sides in such a way, that if i wanted to wear the sweater in reverse I could just turn it around and still use the ties to make it more fitted. I used a tight zig zag stitch to keep the seams tight, and simply sewed the panels one on top the other rather then creating hidden seams. Gives it a eco crafty look that I LOVE! :)