In this quick and easy clothes upcycling project I'll show you how I repurposed a top that didn't fit me anymore into an evening bag.
[Link] Make a tight dress bigger - • Make a tight dress loo...
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In this easy sewing and upcycling tutorial, I’ll show you how I upcycled a top, with a mandarin collar, into an evening bag with stiff straps.
I had previously cut up the top, using the fabric from the back to make a dress that was too tight for me bigger.
Link: • Make a tight dress loo...
The front of the top, with the mandarin collar and red embroidery detail was perfect to refashion into an evening bag. The process was quite simple and I devised a really practical way to make the handles that I hadn’t used before.
The first step was to cut the top down and sew new side seams. I wanted the evening bag as big as possible, whilst still having a formal quality. Little evening bags aren’t big enough for me - I carry a phone and a manner of all other handy items that I never end up using. The beauty of being able to make my own bag, is I could determine the size.
After pinning the new side seams and top hem, it’s over to the sewing machine.
I think this upcycling project highlights how you can repurpose beautiful fabric that has been created with skill and expertise, giving it a functional second life.
The next challenge was how to make the stiff handles that would sit up on their own. I don’t know how dressmakers do this (please let me know in the comments) but I used rope. I went down to the my workshop and grabbed a few different types of rope and decided on the orange rope I use camping. It was perfect.
Next, from my offcuts I cut a few strips of fabric that I used to create the covers for the rope.
With the fabric turned inside out, I used my zipper foot to sew as close as possible to the rope. I probably would do this differently next time, instead measuring and creating a casing or tunnel-like channel like you would for shoulder straps or a waist band. The zipper foot process wasn’t ideal and I did get some holes.
Once finished, the rope is removed and the channel turned right side out and the rope then fed through again.
An important tip here is to cut the length of the fabric tunnel that covers the rope longer so it’s just loose fabric, without any rope, so you can sew it onto the bag.
Next, I measure equal distance from the side hems and pin the straps to the top of the bag and it’s over to the sewing machine.
And finally, to create a clasp to keep the bag closed, I went through my bag of buttons. I decided on a big black button as I didn’t want the button to take away from the mandarin collar design and red embroidery. I simply hand sewed a ribbon tie that looped over the button.
And it’s finished. This was a quick upcycling project that could be completed within an hour. Best of all, it’s made to size and fits all the “essentials” that I never end up using.
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Thanks for watching,
BEX.
My videos and tutorials include:
* make a tight dress bigger
* make a dress bigger
* increase a dress size
* make a small dress bigger
* make a tight dress looser
* increase the size of an ill fitting dress
* make a too small dress bigger
* how to upcycle clothes ideas
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* sewing tutorials for beginners
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* thrift store clothing transformations
* clothing refashion ideas
* sustainable fashion DIY
* revamp old clothes
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* refashion thrifted clothes
* upcycling clothes without sewing
Second Life Upcycling is about altering and upcycling clothes to give them a second life, inspiring people to recycle, repurpose, refashion, reuse, and rethink. On this channel, you'll find easy, quick, and simple step-by-step clothes upcycling tips and easy sewing tutorials. I have been thrifting, second-hand shopping, and sewing for 30+ years. I started thrifting in the 1980s. My passion is following an ethical style when it comes to my clothing choices and living an environmentally friendly life. I rarely buy new clothes (or anything new for that matter), instead shopping second hand at shops, Goodwill, Vinnies, Salvos and flea markets.