Retro Redo

Hello Friends! And will be saying all my blogging is in progress it seems. My decades long saying is "my life gets in the way of my life!" I first started making instructional blogs because I was explaining the same thing many times on some of the facebook groups I'm in. I am trying the google version of their blogging site but not done much once I set this up. I had switched to archiving my photos to google drive anyway so that is so much easier than the free one I was using at wordpress. Have since deleted that one. It took me 3 or 4 steps to insert photos there and often losing my edits and starting over too many times! Im not knocking wordpress but for the style I want and having to type and add photos while live on the website and living a bit more rural with hiccupping electricity and wifi The single step here to add photos already in my google cloud is easier for me. I did like the free templates at wordpress but Im just typing hopefully quick and easy instructions...

 I was given a large bags of  jeans. My current sewing mode to reduce bags on the floor and reduce stash is to make similar things all at the same time. They were all men's plain jeans in larger sizes. Most had knees ripped out and other damage. So I cut out all the best materials. I found this template (not pattern as all dimensions are given on the screen) from my favoite youtube jean bag maker EasyToSew.  I altered the pattern a bit by imbedding the strap into the bag at the top ends. The original method had the ends folded around the strap. This method makes an easier lined bag to turn and have a good finished strap look. The only reason the bottom piece is cut is to reverse the  denim for a 2 toned look. Otherwise this bag could be made in 2 pieces plus the strap. This is also the first exact bag Ive made from her dimensions. Most of the time Im using her many well constructed details and zipper applications in my own sized bags. Especialy with upcycle you make ...

I dont have step by step pic on these. Just getting some pics and general posts up to start with. After my holiday sewing push will add more detailed posts. I usually make 2 messenger bags with convertible straps to cross body or over the shoulder. If I made a bigger purse style bag I was usually using the entire top o the jeans. I was seeing if I could calculateout 2 bags from one pair of jeans more like purses. The straps actually use a lot of material. First bag took a few days thinking. Im running low on small zippers so inside I just did an open pocket. To also save material I used the lining for the back of the straps.  The waistband on these was really thick so I cut it off which led me into the idea of zipped shoulder bag style. When I make my sideways turned boho bags where I just cut off the entire top I make one bag per jeans. But that is a bigger bag. Doing them this way, using the fancy side as a front and plain part of the leg or the back I can get  2 bags per je...