Tuesday 21 July 2015

Morsbags


I happened to be looking for a free grocery bag pattern on the internet a little while ago, to use up some fabric stash. In my haphazard, one link leads to another to another to another, I came across the site for Morsbags.

The pattern was a simple, no-frills job that suited my purpose.

But then I got to reading some of the information on the site, and was incredibly impressed with what they are trying to do, and have so far achieved.



Their blurb;


Morsbags are handmade from recycled material, meaning it is completely unique. Over 175,000 morsbags are now being used worldwide (as of July 2015).

Can you sew? Go to www.morsbags.com to download the free pattern and make morsbags from old curtains, duvet covers, tablecloths etc.

This is a positive way to reduce the hideous number of plastic bags being used and to keep textile waste out of landfill - 1 million plastic bags are consumed per minute globally - of which hundreds of thousands end up in the oceans.

The idea is to get together with people in your local community, eat cake and make reusable morsbags and then give them away for free.



I really love the concept of recycing old textiles to make them - Nan's old flowery duvet, those questionable 90's curtains, and then giving them away by guerilla bagging people!

The 'giving away for free' is their main point of difference, with the idea that people will be a bit shocked to receive something handmade free, and perhaps think on the re-usable bag message a bit more than if they just went and bought one themselves.


If you are interested in making some for yourself or to giveaway, or even just have some unloved fabric that could be recycled into bags by someone else, all the details are on the Morsbags website, where you can also find groups near you if you want to join rather than play along at home.


** I am making bags myself to give away because I think this is a really good cause, but this is not a sponsored/promotional type deal. Just me being overly enthusiastic!!

Tuesday 14 July 2015

Hot Patterns Fast and Fabulous Pull-on Palazzo Pants

I've been lamenting my lack of trousers for a while now.

I have a pants block, but am still not entirely sure how to use it to make pants. Ridiculous, eh?
While I was chastising myself for this, Hot Patterns very helpfully came out with a new trouser pattern, that looked like the fit I was trying to achieve.



It was downloaded and printed, toot sweet!

As it was billed as relaxed fit, I waffled on which size to go with, but ultimately went with the sizing that matched my measurements.
It is super quick to cut out and sew with only 2 main pieces in your main fabric, and the waistband in a knit. Pockets are optional - I belatedly decided to add the front ones to practice my pockets.

I initially made them up as per the pattern, and the only fit change I needed to make was to lower the front waist by 3". Fortunately, I suspected this might be the case, so had only basted the waistband on. A quick snip and re-attach the waistband and I have a very wearable pair of pants.




The fabric is a wool suiting I found at the op shop for $3 a metre. This I don't think is as drapey as the pattern suggestions, but it is comfy, and at this time of year - WARM!!

I am still deciding if I should narrow the leg a little, but I will definitely be making these again.


Tuesday 7 July 2015

By Special Request

It started innocently enough ....


T - 'Mummy, I want to be a Ninja'

Me - 'Okay. Have you got a ninja costume in the dress up box?'

T - 'Oh .. no. But I found a picture on the computer, and you can make it for me'. (The google foo is strong in this one!)

Me - 'Oh?! Show me then'.

T- 'See, it has a dragon on the front, and it has to have ... and ... and.... and you can make it for me!

Me - 'That looks a bit tricky to make ...'

T- 'But you are very good at sewing, Mummy :-) '


And thus, I was suckered into making a ninja costume.

I took the cheats way out, and purchased black pants and a long sleeve tee, while hoping I could come up with a good way of getting a ninja-like dragon on the front.

We googled images, and found one that he was happy with, and I thought I had a hope of pulling off.

In the end, I vaguely traced the image onto some red fabric, and then appliqued it to the front of the tee. Cut around the circle on the outside, and the dragon in the middle.

Job done!