Floral Drawstring Bag and Refashion T-shirt

front bag

Hello everyone!
Finally I have done my first project for 2013 Style The Stash Sew A long. I am really happy with my new drawstring bag but I am not that happy with my refashion t-shirt. Anyway, I'll be wearing the t-shirt on my everyday wear (home and garden when I play with my almost 3 years old son).

Here are the details of the bag,
I called floral bag, because it's made from floral fabric. It has two inner pockets, two side straps that I just sew together to make the bag stronger, the drawstring that ended with wooden beads and inserted bias tape on the upper and bottom bag to make the bag look nicer.

Materials:
1/2 yard of lightweight floral linen (left over from my floral shorts), 1/2 yard of kind of heavy cotton in deep purple color, 1/2 yard of silk crepe de chine (left over from floral shorts) for inner bag, mid weight fusible interfacing for floral linen fabric, heavy weight fusible interfacing for deep purple fabric, home made bias tape in light yellow color - here is the tutorials, two big wooden beads and same color of thread. All the materials are from stash.

Pattern:
Self-drafted tote bag pattern, based on this self-drafted pattern. I made the bag smaller 2" than the original pattern and make the bag taller 3" than the original pattern. So now, the size of my drawstring bag is 15" x 13" . Also, I made the style in the bag bottom same as my G Bag.
For bag straps, I made 2 smaller straps 1" x 40" (I cut the fabric 3" x 40" and fold it together, sew it and top stitch in both side)
For bag string, I made 1/2" x 46" (I cut the fabric 1.5" x 46" and fold it together and sew it)
For string carrier, I made 6 pieces 1/2'' x 2.5" ( I cut the fabric 1.5" x 2.5" and fold it together, sew it  and top stitch it in both side)

How I worked:
I worked the same way as I did in all my hand made bag, you can take a look here and here. But on this drawstring bag, I need to make a string and string carriers.
I inserted the bias tape on the bottom bag (deep purple fabric) and upper bag too.
I hand sewn the string carrier on to the body bag, I did that because the carrier is too small and impossible to sew it with the machine.
I also inserted the wooden bead in the end of the string to make the bag look nicer.



side bag



back bag

And here are the details and pictures of the refashion t-shirt,
I mentioned on the beginning of this post that I am not so happy with this refashion t-shirt but I have to wear it and show it to all of you,
I planned to make a short sleeve t-shirt with boat neck style but did not came out so well. So, I changed my plan to a sleeveless t-shirt with tie on the shoulder. I knew, this type of top is not flattering my upper body but anyway..... I can wear it on hot and humid day:)



before

after



after

 

This is my first project on refashion a men's t-shirt and it was a very difficult work. My Janome sewing machine did not work so well on this type of knit fabric. I don't know why.
But at least next time I know how to choose a better garment to refashion.



the outfit



me wearing my outfit

Happy sewing! And in case you missed my floral shorts, here are the details.

Floral Shorts

floral shorts front

Hello all,
I finished this floral shorts yesterday but still missing the refashion t-shirt and hand bag to complete my first project for 2013 style the stash sew a long.
While I am working on my refashion t-shirt, I'd love to share the details of the shorts with all of you.

Materials:
1.5 yards of light weight floral linen, 1 yard of silk crepe de chine for shorts lining, 2 yards of cotton lace, fusible interfacing, invisible zipper, hook n' eye, 4 small snap fasteners and same color of thread.

Pattern modifications:
I made this shorts from pencil pants pattern, based on Burdastyle Pencil Pants 04/2013 size 38.

As shown on my sketch above, I reduced/shorten the middle center of the pattern 6 cm - because the pattern is way to long for my petite body.
For the length of the shorts, I measured from the waist (a) down to the thigh area (b) 40 cm. And from crotch area (c) down to the inner thigh area (d) 21 cm. I also extend/added the side 2.5 cm, then I drew a new line from b to d.
Then I drew the waist band 4 cm wide, 89 cm long.
I added 1.5 cm seam allowance to all edges and 4 cm for hem allowance.

How I worked:
After I had all the pattern pieces, I transferred to a floral linen that I already prepared. I also cut the silk crepe de chine fabric for the lining but here I made the length of the shorts lining 6 cm less than the body (floral linen).
Then I pin and sew it according to the sewing instructions.
For the shorts lining - I  hand sewn the invisible zipper on the lining and finished the hem line with  the lace around it.


And here are more pictures of my floral shorts,

floral shorts back



As shown in the picture above, the waist band finished with hook n' eye and snap fasteners.

I hope you like it and happy sewing to you all!

2013 Style The Stash Sew A Long

Hello everyone!
I am joining Sarah of SarahLiz Sew Style on a challenge to sew garments from the stash. And here are my sewing plans/ideas for June 2013,

My first project is an outfit (floral shorts and matching t-shirt), inspired by Instyle - Summer Fashion 2013 .
I am  going to use a pencil pants pattern based on Burdastyle Pencil Pants 04/2013 for this shorts, I will explain to you how I made a shorts pattern from a pants pattern on my next post.
For the fabric, I will use 1 1/5 yards of light weight floral linen. I am thinking of making a matching bag if I have the left over fabric, I will see later:)
Also, I am thinking of matching the shorts with a purple t-shirt. I had an idea of refashion a men t-shirt that I had inside my stash.



image source

And my second project is brocade dress based on Burdastyle Sweetheart Dress 04/2013.
I have 2 yards of brocade fabric in floral green in my stash for so long waiting for the right pattern.

image source

Happy sewing and wishing you a very good weekend (it's almost weekend here in Macau)!
P.S. If you are interested with style the stash sew a long group, please head over this link, Style The Stash Sew A Long. Some of the participants already made a lovely projects.

Me-Made-May'13 Day 27-31

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!
I have been busy the whole weekend with my family. We did a short trip here in our place, enjoyed a sunny day and did some shopping too. So, only today I manage to write a post in my blog. But before I write more about the final update of my MMM'13, I'd love to show you the pictures of my beautiful place,

And here are the final update of my MMM'13.
Day 27
On Monday 27th, I wore my Sheath Dress based on Burdastyle pattern 03/2013. I made this dress to participated Julia Bobin Mad Men Dress Challenge 2 and finally I wore this dress on a special dinner date with husband:)

Day 28
On Tuesday 28th, it was a very lazy, hot and humid day here in my place. I stayed at home the whole afternoon but only went out to the supermarket in the end of the day after my husband came back from work. I wore my self-drafted old dress that I made 3 years ago. My husband took a photo of me inside my sewing room just before we left the house.

Also, My husband wore this men's shirt at work.

Day 29
On Wednesday 29th, I wore my brand new outfit that I made for WSBN Burda Magazine Sew Along. The outfit based on Burdastyle Light Cowl Top 01/2013 and Tie Skirt 08/2012. See the details here, Burdastyle Outfit

Day 30
On Thursday 30th, I wore a repeat dress from day 4 and a self drafted tote bag. We went out for lunch at our friend restaurant O Santos Comida Portuguesa.
Here is the details of the tote bag, how to make your own tote bag

Day 31
On Friday 31st, as theme-Friday is Red - I wore Jackie Dress based on Louisa Drop-Waist Dress from Burdastyle Sewing Vintage Modern Book. These dress made from red lace and lined with red silk crepe de chine

Also, my husband wore this men's shirt at work. Based on Burdastyle sewing Vintage Modern - Frank Button-Down Shirt pattern.

Previous posts of my MMM'13,
- MMM'13 Day 20-26
- MMM'13 Day 13-19
- MMM'13 Day 7-12
- MMM'13 Day 1-6

Happy sewing!