Sinead O’Carroll
Sinead O’Carroll
Have a sewing machine that’s gathering cobwebs at home? Here are some really easy and ways to bring it back to its former glory again, with minimal exertion and maximum return.
These mini-projects are ideal to get into sewing, producing results you’ll actually want and teaching you basic machine skills.
1.
.T-shirts to Tote Bags
Tote bags. Who doesn’t love a tote? Incredibly lightweight and environmentally friendly, they allow you to avoid single-use plastic when out and about without weighing you down. The only issue is their relative light weight makes them easy to lose… If you want to source a new tote in teh most sustainably way possible, consider transforming an old tshirt into one;
Honestly, making a tote bag from a t-shirt is really easy and is a great way to kick-start your machine sewing as it uses simple stitches (that, plus you can use the scraps from the sleeves to add a tote pocket)!
2.
Coasters and placemats
If you find yourself with old towels or blankets that you’re thinking of discarding, STOP RIGHT THERE. Don’t you know you can cut-and-sew them into coasters or table mats? It’s fairly effortless and the process can be applied to different fabrics to produce varying products!
These are handy if you only have small amounts of fabric. Using the same process, you can make cotton face pads, which you can wash and reuse.
3.
Reusable tea bags
Sewing tea bags is pretty similar to above, with the addition of a draw string. It’s a sustainable alternative to buying regular, disposable tea bags.
Producing these is simple and you can wash and reuse them, and meanwhile you’ve learned to add a drawstring!
4.
Trousers extenders/ fabric cuffs
If you’re a charity shop fiend and have bought a pair of jeans or trousers that aren’t *quite* long enough, you may be tempted to write them off – don’t! Adding a few inches to a pair of trousers couldn’t be easier as you can sew an additional cuff onto the hem with whatever fabric you have, from old curtain fabric to patterned bedsheets… Floral flannel flares, anyone?
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