I'm sure that we all have those t-shirts lying around the house - the ones that you get for free from an event and are so large that they fit you like a dress (Well, maybe not everyone has that problem, but at 5'3", I certainly do!). Here is a great pants tutorial where you can create yoga pants from an old t-shirt. Just make sure that you have a really large shirt to work with. This pattern is quite ingenious because you use mostly all parts of the shirt, simply sewed together in different ways. This project is also pretty easy to do, so even beginners will be able to sew their own pair of pants pretty quickly. You can find the yoga pants tutorial here, and while you're at it, visit the T-Shirt Surgery Livejournal community for more inspiration.
I'm opening myself up wide open here by posting this, but I know you'll all be kind! Maybe it's appropriate that Friday is traditionally 'crafts gone wrong' day!! But, I'm pleased with my first ever attempt at applique, and my daughter seems to love it. Basically I'm a frustrated mum who can never find cool, slightly spooky/hippy clothing for my little girl. I've toyed with the idea of making her clothes since she was born, but I just never seemed to get the time. I thought customising would be a good place to start, and applique can just look so cool. I've decided from the start that any fabrics I use will be recycled, so I went to the local charity shops and bought several children's t-shirts to cut up (the 3 used here cost a total of £3).
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If you have an old pair of flip flops lying about, and you just can't see yourself wearing them again this summer (what summer? I hear you cry!) you can give them a new lease of life with this great idea, as featured on Floofle! Atomic Rose, the brains behind the pattern, said she couldn't find any affordable hot pink pumps, and couldn't face adding her unwanted flip flops to landfill, so she got to work creating her own. She will make a pair for you, for US$30, but where's the fun in that? Instead, why not get your knitting needles out and have a go yourself?
Find out how after the cut...
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I remember when I was a kid I used to put crisp packets and chocolate wrappers in the oven and turn them into key rings. I found someone who has turned a crisp packet into a bracelet and thought it was a brilliant idea. I was so excited I went straight into the kitchen to find wrappers that I could use.
There are two ways of shrinking the wrapper; follow the jump for instructions on both methods.
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With an old pair of jeans you can very easily have a fun new handbag. We all know that women love accessories and I’m no different. In fact I would have to say that two of my major loves in life are shoes and handbags. The more I have, the happier I am. So when ever I have a spare afternoon and the sewing machine is available I, most often than not, sew a new handbag. I have over 50 handbags, is it time I call myself an addict?
Anyway, making a bag out of jeans is fantastic because: you don’t need to sew on pockets (Levi Strauss has already taken care of that), it doesn’t get dirty easily, is quick and very easy to do and it goes with absolutely any casual outfit.
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Wow! I am so totally impressed by Flickr user mleak's dress made from plastic grocery bags. She collected bags, ironed them together to form a fabric, and then sewed this dress based on 1950s housewife styles.
Other photos in her photostream document her trip to the grocery store while wearing the dress. Who knew there was such a stylish use for those plastic bags?
If you're part of the global campaign to cut down on plastic bag use, you'll already know that recycling old carrier bags is a bit of a non-starter, and that the best thing you can do is re-use them. You'll probably also have seen plastic bags fused together to make funky, sturdy new ones like the Cambodian recycled rice bag range from Firebox. And now, there's a free online tutorial with step-by-step instructions on how to make your own at Etsy Labs.
All you'll need to make your shopper is plastic bags, parchment paper and an iron. The great thing about fusing plastic bags (apart from the obvious environmental benefits - this one puts three or more large bags to good use) is the range of styles you can invent. Pick whatever colours you want for as subtle or vibrant an accessory you want.
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