Upcycle: Shirt to Purse

Some of you may recognize the top shirt/purse as my final project from One Month to Win It, a sewing/crafting contest that I won in April! I love the little details in clothing so I used those details in my purse patterns. You can find the pattern for the pink shirt/tote over at Craft Buds. I've uploaded a free PDF pattern* for this purse here. The pattern is 2 pages. You'll want to print both pages out, line up the dots and tape them together. For some reason, in my browser the PDF preview shows the pages are cropped but once I download it, it shows correctly.

For this bag you'll need:

• one long-sleeved western style shirt
• 1/2 yard fusible fleece
• 1/2 yard fabric for the liner (I used a heavier weight home dec fabric)

To get started, assemble all the pieces in the photo below including:

1. Two pockets from the front of the shirt
2. A 6 1/2" x 9 1/2" rectangle for the inner fabric including the buttons from the front of the shirt
3. 12" (or longer) zipper
4. Four strips total of 18" x 2 1/2" fabric, one strip cut from each of the two shirt sleeves including the button, and two strips from the liner fabric. (Using these measurements, the final sewn and attached strap will be around 34" long x 2" wide so feel free to adjust as necessary if you'd like a different length/width. If you're using a lighter weight fabric shirt and/or liner, you may want to add strips of the fusible fleece to the inside of the strap for extra reinforcement.)
5. Use the pattern to cut pieces from the top back and lower back of the shirt for the main body of the bag.
6. Use the pattern to cut two pieces of fusible fleece.
7. Use the pattern to cut two pieces of the liner fabric.
8. Save the cuffs for a wallet (pictured near the end of the post).

First you'll get the pockets ready. Sew the pockets to one of the exterior pieces (left photo). I sewed across the top, then pinned the flaps up and sewed the sides and bottom. For the inner pocket (right photo), hem the edges of the rectangle and sew it to one of the pieces of fabric for the liner.

Iron the fusible fleece to the shirt fabric. Iron the top of the piece down 3/8" to help later with the zipper installation. It's optional if you want to stitch it down.

Then with right sides together sew the bottom and sides shut.

Then pinch together the bottom corners (left photo below) and sew them shut. Pinch together the top corners (right photo below) and sew together, sewing down your folded or hemmed edges from the step above and leaving a 1/4" gap where you'll be adding the zipper soon.

Follow the same instructions for the liner. Then nestle the liner inside the outer pieces. Now pin the zipper in place between the two layers and stitch along the sides using your zipper foot. (The left photo below shows raw edges, but in your version you should have either ironed or stitched the raw edge two steps ago.)

Now get the strap ready. First sew the strips together at the centers so you have a single long strip from the shirt fabric and from the liner fabric. Then sew them together with right sides together (shown below). Turn right side out. Hem the bottoms or fold under. Then sew the strap to the bag with an X inside a square.

For the wallet you'll cut off both cuffs from the shirt and open them up. Line up the raw edges of the two cuffs and zig zag stitch them together. Cut a 1" strip of fabric for the contrasting stripe and iron the long edges under 1/4". Sew it to the center to cover up the zig zag stitching/raw edges of the cuffs. Then fold up about 2/3 of the bottom of the wallet and stitch down the sides. The snaps from the shirt act as the closure.

And here's a few more shots of the finished set!

* This is a free pattern designed only to give you a guideline as to how I made this upcycled purse. All shirts are different so there are no guarantees yours will turn out exactly like this one. Please use the pattern at your own risk. 

SMS Giveaway Day Winner!

Congratulations to Franstuff, comment #247! Out of 250 comments you were the lucky winner of the tote bag and fat quarters! I've sent you an e-mail with more information about your win.

I also wanted to welcome the new followers to the blog. Thanks for visiting my site and participating in the giveaway! It was so fun for me to read all of your comments and see what everyone was working on. This is a busy group of sewers and crafters!

Just to introduce you to Bugglebee, I usually post one tutorial a week and I'll include free printables or patterns for projects that require them. I just started this blog earlier this year but below are some examples of what you might find here (or just click on the tutorials button above for the full list). Thanks again for visiting and for being a part of this blog!

Time for a giveaway!

*** This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered!***

Sew Mama Sew is hosting their twice a year giveaway day when tons of crafting/sewing blogs all host giveaways at the same time. It's a great way to find new blogs (and hopefully win some things too)!

I'm giving away a tote bag and a bundle of four fat quarters! Except for the red and white polka dots, all the fabrics are from Denyse Schmidt's new line of fabric. The tote is a little smaller than a grocery bag. It's lined with red polka dot fabric and features contrast red stitching, reinforced straps, and a small interior pocket.

To enter: Just leave me a comment!

• If you need a suggestion, you can tell me what you're currently working on.
• You must be a follower through Google Friend Connect, RSS, or e-mail.
• The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only.

Make sure your e-mail is linked in your profile so I have a way to contact you! If you want to be sure, leave it in this format myname(at)place(dot)com so you don't get lots of spam.

The giveaway will remain open until Friday, May 27 at 8:00 PM EST. The winner will be chosen through random.org and contacted by e-mail. And if you're interested in more giveaways, check out my other blog Craft Buds where we're giving away everything in the photo below!

Giveaway News

Hello followers and visitors! Sorry for the lack of posts for the last couple weeks. Other things are keeping me busy so in place of tutorials (which I'll be posting again soon), here's some other exciting news!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

Sew Mama Sew is hosting their twice a year Giveaway Day May 23-25. It's huge. Over 300 blogs particpate in handmade giveaways and you still have time to add your blog if you want to join in. Bugglebee will be giving away something too so come back on the 23rd to find out what it is! 

You can also check out my other blog, Craft Buds, for tips on hosting and promoting your giveaways. We'll be hosting a giveaway there too. Lindsay who I run Craft Buds with will have another giveaway on her personal blog, Lindsay Sews.

Friends' Adoption and iPad Giveaway
Second item in giveaway news has to do with my friends Alex and Ray. I grew up with Alex and have known her all my life and I met Ray in high school through our church's youth group. They are an awesome couple with 3 great biological kids. They've decided to add to their family by adopting twins from Eastern Europe, Max and Lena.

They will to travel to Europe at the end of this month. While they prepare you can help out a great cause by donating to their adoption fund. Every $5 you donate counts as an entry toward an iPad giveaway they are hosting. You can find out more about their giveaway and their adoption process at their adoption blog. Make sure to enter by May 21 for the iPad! After that date you can still make a donation, it just won't go toward the giveaway.