Upcycled Denim Impossible Triangle

A couple of weeks ago I tried paper piecing for the first time using my denim scrap stash and made this kangaroo pillow.

I think it turned out rather well and so was keen to try this technique again to use up a little more of my denim scraps.

I do have lots more books with patterns in, but I had this idea that I wanted to try.  Wouldn't an impossible triangle look cool in denim.

So I printed out a simple template.

Then in my usual way of learning, launched myself into it.

I cut the template pieces, then cut the corresponding denim in different shades. 

Unfortunately I hadn't thought this through very well and struggled to piece these together with inside and outside corners to deal with. My first attempt was a fail..

Undeterred, I cut the corner pieces into simple strips and tried again.

I still found that I had some corners to join - it wasn't all straight forward simple seams. So there was a lot of fiddling about, stitching and unpicking and lots of improvisation.

I think I still have a fair bit to learn about paper piecing!

In the end however, I was so excited to see the finished piece looking just like...an impossible triangle!

Now I have to decide what I'm going to do with it!

My thoughts at the moment are either:

another cushion / pillow

the side panel for a bag for me

or maybe I should just stretch and staple it to a canvas and hang it on the wall?

What do you think I should do with it?

Any other suggestions welcome too.

Upcycled Denim Kangaroo Patchwork Pillow

I haven't done any clothes upcycling in a while and thought it was about time I started tackling my large stash of old clothes - in particular jeans.

I have lots of scraps of denim, left over from old jeans and many projects to upcycle them. I keep even the smallest of scraps, so was looking for something to make with them.

Paper piecing is something I've been wanting to try for a while, so I figured that was a good thing to combine with my denim scraps and give it a whirl!

I have a few books and patterns given to me by a friend a few years ago, so I chose one of those,

and a pattern from it to try.

I have to admit I didn't follow the paper piecing instructions too carefully - I printed the template onto some thin cardboard

 then cut the pieces out and kind of held them on my denim scraps and cut around them with a rough seam allowance!

I did follow the order to join the pieces together though - and think I did ok for my first try (considering I wasn't too careful with cutting my seam allowances!)

So then, what to do with this kangaroo block?

Inspired by a recent post from Anna of Tea and a Sewing Machine, I decided to make a cushion cover. Nice and simple!

So I added a border to my kangaroo block using more pieces of denim from the remains of a pair of jeans which had already been cut.

Then for the back of the cushion, I decided to try something I'd seen on Pinterest - a patchwork of jeans pockets. which I stitched together in a very random order.

So here are my 2 cushion cover sides (before trimming) with an old cushion.

And then trimmed, with a zip and ready to join together!

I simply stitched the zip across the top and joined the sides to make the cushion cover. 

I'm really pleased with how it turned out!

Although a little fiddly with the small denim pieces and the thick seams denim produces, I like the effect of this denim paper piecing and think I might try some more.

I have plenty of scraps to work with anyway!

My daughter came home and told me my cushion looked professional! Praise indeed!

So what do you think?

Anyone have any tips for a novice paper piecer?

I have several upcycling tutorials to browse through - many of which use old jeans to work with. Go here to see them all.

Lunch bag Tutorial

My eldest daughter was in need of a new lunch bag for school this year as her old one was falling apart. So I dissected the old bag and made a new pattern and tutorial to make her a new one.

I made 3 bags in total. For the materials I used waterproof fabric for the outer fabric in two of the bags and rip-stop nylon for the inner fabric. The long zips were reclaimed from the above old lunch bag and old school bags. For the insulating layer between the inner and outer fabric I used foam sheets reclaimed from old lunch bags and some pieces of old silver car windscreen shades. Finally for the handle, I used parts of straps reclaimed from old backpacks.

For the bag I made to produce this tutorial, I used an old pair of jeans and an old favourite nightie of my daughter's for the outer fabric 

and for the inner, I used sections cut from an old pool toy - an inflatable ring that somehow got a puncture!

I used the Hello Kitty Pictures from the nightie as applique to add to the plain denim from the jeans for the outer fabric.

The pictures were a little sticky and glittery, so I used a thin piece of tissue paper on the top when I stitched around the edges. this helped the machine foot slide across the fabric better, and when I was finished the stitching the excess tissue just pulls off.

So - here's how to make your own lunch bag.

First cut your materials.

You will need

 Outer and Inner fabric

2 main panels each - outer and inner fabric template - click here for free download

1 side panel piece each fabric 62 x 10 cm (24.25 x 4")

1 back piece each fabric 22 x 11.5 cm (8.75 x 4.5")

Extra inner fabric (rip-stop nylon is ideal) for binding the seams.

Foam Insulation (an old car windscreen shade is ideal)

2 main panels - foam template - click here for free download

1 side panel strip 59 x 6 cm (23.25 x 2.5")

1 back panel 18 x 8 cm (7 x 3.25")

Zip  

1 zip 62 cm (24.25") 

Handle

Piece of webbing (or cutting from old bag strap) 28 cm (11") long and approximately 4 cm (1.5") wide

First of all take your long side outer fabric panel and your handle.

To seal the ends of your handle - heat gently using a lighter to melt, seal and prevent fraying.

Now pin one end of your handle in the centre of the end of your long side panel and pin the other end 20 cm (8") from that edge.

Stitch both ends of the strap into place securely in the shape of a box with cross in the middle, like this:

Now you need to put the 4 panels of your bag together, each piece will have outer fabric, inner fabric and a foam piece sandwiched in between. Make sure the outer and inner fabric pieces are 

WRONG SIDES TOGETHER.

Pin around all 4 edges of each panel and stitch together. Use a 2/8" seam around all these pieces. The foam part should sit in the middle and the stitching should run around the outside of it.

Repeat this pinning and stitching the other 4 pieces together.

You should now have 4 bag panels ready to assemble into your lunch bag.

To assemble you first need to attach the zip to the long side panel. Place the zip face down along one long edge of the panel. Then lay a strip of your extra inner fabric (around 4 cm (1.5") wide) on top of the zip (this is to bind the seam and hide the raw edges) and pin through all layers.

Using the zipper foot on your machine stitch along the long edge where you have pinned.

Trim the edges in line with your panel.

Now to use that extra strip of fabric you just attached to the zip to bind the seam and hide those nasty raw edges.

Basically you double fold the fabric over the seam and pin it to hide the raw edges. The finished seam will stick out from the other parts but will be fully enclosed.

Now to join the small back panel to this long side panel. Place one edge of the long panel right sides together with one edge of the back panel. Once again as you pin these together, add a strip of fabric to bind the seam afterwards. Now you need to start making your seams 3/8" to make sure you hide all your previous stitching.

After stitching the pieces together, fold the binding fabric double over the seam, pin and stitch to hide the raw edges.

Now join the other ends of both the side and back panels together - make sure they are right sides of the outer fabric together, and once again add a strip of binding fabric and enclose the raw edges of the seam.

You should now have the outer edge of your lunch bag ready to attach to the two main panels. First the base.

Pin one of your main panels right sides together to the bottom of your bag side panel (the edge without the zip!)

Stitch all the way around.

Now is where you add your fabric to bind the seam. Pin, then stitch, a strip all the way around the seam you just stitched. Fold and overlap the edges of this binding strip so there is no raw edge showing where they join!

Then double turn it over and stitch to enclose all the raw edges. Your bag should now look like this.

Finally you can attach the top panel to your bag. Open the zipper and pin the zip edge and top of the back panel to the top panel of the bag,. Right sides together.

Once you have stitched all the way around, it's time to add one final strip of binding to enclose your last seam and raw edges.

Once you have finished this binding, your lunch bag is finished!

Here are the three bags I made together.

Which is your favourite? Mine is the Kitty one in the middle - mostly because it's made from so many different parts and so has the best 'story' - old clothes for the main fabric, the zip from an old school bag, the lining from an old pool toy, the foam insulation from old lunch bags and car windscreen shades and the handle from an old backpack! Awesome!!

My girls both like the the green and brown one with the turtles and leaves in the design of the fabric!

For the free downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

If you liked this tutorial, then take a look at the other free sewing tutorials I have available here. There are over 100 for all kinds of things to make and all levels of sewing ability!

For example you could make a coordinating water bottle carrier to go with a lunch bag for back to school!