Ever since I started creating bags out of old jeans I've learned a lot and I'm still learning. Buying jeans at the second hand shop is an adventure as you never know what you get but that's only a part of the adventure. The other exciting thing is, when you see the jeans, you have to decide right away if it fits your taste or better yet, you have to see what you can make out of it. I love these trips and can hardly wait for the shops to open so I can buy a bunch. Shirts are easier as I only have to check size and quality. The pattern is not that relevant, most of them are striped or checkered, and if the quality is fine (I only buy almost brand new) then it's fine by me.
Today I'm going to show you the last bag I mad last week.
Working With What Was Left
I made a bag a few weeks ago but instead of using the pockets as they were, I took them off and sewed them on the new piece.
That's how the place of the pocket was visible on the fabric left. The carry straps take a lot of fabric if you want to make them from one piece, that's why one piece is shorter.
The line above the pockets was also a good thing to discover. Usually there the fabric is cut but this time it was made from one piece, put together first and abrased after. That's why the line and under the pockets are darker. I thought I could use it and I did.
First I had to see how much I can use. Needed to make the two half identical and as one was shorter, that gave me the measurements.
Here's the two identical halves.
The next challenge was to match the two dark lines at the top. It's not mandatory but it looks awful if those does not match. When people look at the bag they notice the lines don't match, especially those used to symmetry. That can ruin the whole bag. Lucky me, the two lines match, no mistake there.
The back is simple but it's made of three pieces. Can you spot the lines? This was necessary as there were no big pieces left but I don't see that as a problem, the whole bag is made of pieces and besides, the lines are hardly visible.
For the upper part I used a lighter color, the wrong side of another jeans as matching two jeans colors is quite impossible, so in these cases a little bit of contrast is good.
I'm getting better at this. Two weeks ago I wouldn't have dared to use a dark thread on a light fabric or vice versa as I wouldn't have been sure I could sew a straight line.
Today I'm not sure either but I dare to do it. I'm not saying this is straight but it's close, not visible from a helicopter as we used to say.
This is the front part, ready to be put together.
Close-up about the part where the two dark lines meet. There's a slight difference, 1 or 2 mm but it's ok, I can live with that.
The Lining
For the lining I chose a striped Esprit shirt. I think it goes well with the design.
And made my job even harder, again. I thought to keep the label as Esprit is a respected manufacturer, of at least I respect it a lot. The quality of the shirt was exceptional, I love working with Esprit and other brands like s'Oliver. Quality always comes first.
You may ask, why did I make my job harder. These shirts are not straight, I had to cut the bottom part and also on the sides, but it worth it, always. Quality is rewarding.
The lining after the pockets were applied.
This one also has three pockets as I like bags to have as many pockets as possible.
There were no major problems with the sewing here, thank God!
Again, I thought the pocket of the shirt worth to be saved, so there it is.
Here it is, the finished bag.
Side view to show you how the pieces match or not.
Although there was quite hard to fit the label, it came out well.
The pockets are quite deep. My phone case is 15.5cm long and the napkins are only halfway in the pockets.
I feel good because was able to save a pair of jeans (again) and a shirt. Someone is going to enjoy this bag, I'm sure of it.
Treasures During Lockdown
As you can guess, most of the non-essential shops are closed, among which the ones selling threads and everything related to sewing. I knew this would come and have managed to buy pretty much everything I needed even though at that time I had no idea how long the lockdown will last. Today I still have plenty, but ... there's always a but!
The lockdown has caused a lot of damage, economically we're in a big trouble and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know what's going to happen. Prices are going to explode once shops open. I've been watching the prices online and in a matter of days the price of threads went up with 50%.
So my first thought was to try to buy the existent stock at the nearby shop. To my surprise, today the shop was open although it shouldn't have been. They are trying to game the lockdown by opening every day for few hours, randomly.
This is what I came home with. 6500m of thread and 7m of shirr for masks. I needed the shirr as masks are and will be mandatory after May 15, when some restrictions will be eliminated and I want to be ready with my mask. I'd rather make my own then pay three times or more for a normal mask.
And when the lockdown is lifted, I'm going to raid the stores to buy as much as can afford at these old prices. After that everything it's going to cost more.
This is my entry to #needleworkmonday challenge, founded by @crosheille and hosted by @muscara, @shanibeer and @marblely.
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