Tutorial Tuesday: Denim Tote from Left Over Pockets

Hello and welcome to Tutorial Tuesday! I am continuing with my denim destashing and giving you this denim tote from random pockets I have been saving from hubby's worn out pants.

 Here are the pockets, four in total; two regular and two that have a fold-over flap.

I decided to attach the regular pockets to one of the fold-over flap pockets.

voila

I then opened up the other pant leg with the other fold-over flap pocket and sewed each side to the sides of the regular pockets. 

This forms a box with no top or bottom.

With extra denim lying around, I made a lining for the tote. I cut out two rectangles; one for the bottom and the other for the lining of the tote.  I sewed one all around the square-like form of the pockets.

Now, for the lining, in addition the rectangular bottom piece, I cut out the same shapes as the pockets from extra denim, sewed them together like I did the tote. It's like making another separate tote.

Then you attach the lining to the actual tote, right sides together. 

Make sure you leave a little extra space to turn inside out.

This is what it looks like turned inside out

How it looks when you put the lining inside. 

Now iron all around the top part of the tote. We'll start making the straps.

I used the leg of a pant for the straps about two inches wide. Fold each, the long way, stitch right sides together and then turn inside out. If your denim is too thick, I would just topstitch each strip with ends folded in.

This is what you get. Two strips for straps.

Determine placement and put the ends in between the lining and the tote.

Then topstitch all around.

This is what it looks like at this point. I wanted to add a little more interest though.

I still had the top part of some other pants I reconstructed earlier.

I cut two  bands from the tops of two different pants. I also cut the loops off.

This is what they looked like after I finished.

 I attached the bands together and sewed them to the top of the tote.

Voila again!

I love these shots! I had to take my "after" pictures with my kids in tow. Sumer camp had not yet started last week. 

Flexing my mommy muscle! lol. So glad my yard is enclosed and Dan can't run away while my oldest takes pics!

"yes, you can get your car from my tote!"

Thanks for reading!Tell me what you think.

Camouflage Jacket to Camouflage Tote Bag

Face it people, sometimes it feels like there is a war going on out there, and you need to be armed with your camouflage tote bag!

This is a recent reconstruction that I wanted to share with you. It's a camouflage jacket that I turned into a tote. I love the way it came out and I decided to sell it in my, shop. 



Before picture




Camouflage Tote Bag, $30.00.
Available at http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/

 I transferred the pockets to the bag,  two in the front and two  in the back and I lined it with recycled denim. There are more pictures of it in my shop so check it out and tell me what you think.