craftgrrl | My first real DIY Project. (Woot!)

Last night I was surfing some DIY sites (ohmystars especially) and decided I'd like to try again. (When I was 10 to 12 I'd make my own beanie baby sleeping bags and clothes, and my own pillows, etc. Nothing very fashionable, I can assure you...) Thus, when I got up this morning, I made my mom move the car, I took the ladder down to the attic, and spent a good two hours up in the attic choosing old clothes and fabrics up there to use. Dragged down a ton (as a result now have a huge pile of stuff in my room) and set to work. I decided to do something with an old pair of jeans. I made a REALLY cute purse (teehee, I like it!) out of the top, and then my 6 year old sister, seeing mine, decided she wanted one too, so I took another section of the pant leg, and made her a purse as well. Explanations how I made it

The pants before chopping up. I cut right above the crotch for my bag, and took about 9 inches of the right pant leg (the one w/ the pocket) for my sister's bag. The green splotches you may see are because of my crappy webcam, not because the pants are stained.

Finished Project:

Close ups:

View inside (and of lining):

Okay, the steps I took........

1. Cut off pant part of jeans.
2. Hemmed jean to make the purse close on the bottom.
3. Made lining out of maroon cotton fabric. (My god. A beautiful color!)
4. Sewed lining to meet with top of jeans so that it stays inside nicely.
5. Added black ribbon through belt loops.
6. Made straps w/ same black ribbon. Sewed it on.

My sister's purse.

Close up:

My sister posing:

Instructions:
1. Trimmed jeans to make even.
2. Hemmed bottom to make it close.
3. Hemmed top of jeans. (No lining.)
4. Added strap w/ nice little beads. :)
5. Sewed two 6 inch pieces of ribbon on each side of the purse.
6. Added a bead to each end.
7. Voila. A nice fastner. :D

Questions? Comment at my LJ or send me an email. (cassiopia3@yahoo.com)