From Denim Jeans to Panel Bag

Every well dressed young Miss needs a fab bag to go with her fab outfit .... and this thoroughly modern Miss prefers to upcycle in the most sustainable way she can ....
Denim would have to be one of my favourite fabrics to sew with.... and sewing with recycled denim is even better - it's soft and strong and full of character.

My friend Nicole and I made this bag using her unwanted jeans. I was keen to try Nicki's new Panel Bag pattern and I was also keen to add a feature of the shrinking sheet effect that I have used previously.
I altered the pattern by adding 5cm extra length to the bottom panel pieces of this bag - I wanted to show off as much as the feature fabric as I could. The shrink sheet is placed underneath the feature fabric and stitched - I used a serpentine stitch with about 3cm gap between each row of stitching. You then steam iron with the iron hovering above the fabric - not touching - the steam makes the fabric shrink and shrivel right before your eyes.


Of course denim loves to be topstitched - I used this Guterman thread - it's an upholstery thread with a denim 100 needle - worked a treat ...


I reused the jean pocket for an internal pocket ...
Added the obligatory brassy rings ... and I also stitched on the jean tag - though it did rip a little as I tried to unpick it - but stitched it on regardless ... the red piping really highlights this bag ...

and a brass magnetic closure ....
And ..... where is she off to this weekend?

Ruffles and Tulips

I have revisited the Wikstenmade Tulip Skirt ..... this one using a cotton print from Spotlight ... with happy red buttons ....
This is an excellent little skirt pattern, highly suitable for those learning to sew. And here is one in a denim from Tessuti's. I lengthened the skirt about 9cm since I am no longer particularly youthful (according to my birth certificate) .... it's a lovely lovely fabric, and I like this skirt - but I don't love it - best for the young ones .....
The little black blouse is a FREE pattern - JJ Blouse from Burdastyle. This is a super cute little blouse - I enjoyed making this. Fabric from the now closed - Pooh's Place at Belmont NSW - but recently resurrected into BLOCK N ROLL - Yay! we again have a local fabric store!!!! The fabric is a lovely spotted voile - I have more of this stashed away in cream.
OK, now I need some help ... for the denim skirt,
I topstitched the hem and placket using Gutermann's topstitching thread - it is quite thick. I used a topstitching needle - size 90, and I loosened off the upper tension. My little sample piece was good, but the results on the skirt were not good. The stitches on the wrong side had bubbly bits of the top thread throughout ... I'm hoping someone can help me ... should I fiddle with bobbin tension? More decrease on upper tension? Anyone? Anyone?