• About
    • Contact
    • Press
    • Sponsor
  • DIY
    • Home & Garden
    • Jewellery & Accessories
    • Yarn Crafts
  • Sewing
    • patternless & self drafted
    • Refashions
    • Commercial Patterns
    • Sewing Tips
    • Overlockers
  • The Refashioners

makery

DIY, how to, jersey, knits, refashion, refashioning, repurposing, Restyles, Sewing, sweatshirt, Thrifting, Tips and Tricks, Tutorials, Uncategorized, Upcycling

DIY: Sweatshirt Market Tote Bag

23rd February 2015

Turn a Sweatshirt into A Tote Bag
This sweatshirt was no longer as slouchy as I would like (one too many tumbles in a too hot dryer…yep!) and was languishing unloved in my wardrobe. So I thought I’d turn it into a handy little market tote, (complete with reinforced handles) ready for my next shopping trip… here’s how….

Turn a Sweatshirt into A Tote Bag

Start by pressing and laying out flat with shoulder seams lined up….

Turn a Sweatshirt into A Tote Bag

Cut off the sleeves using the seams as a guide…

Turn a Sweatshirt into A Tote Bag

Cut a big “U” shape out of the neckline…

Turn a Sweatshirt into A Tote Bag

Turn inside out, remove ribbing, sew opening closed (I curved my corners), then turn right side out again….

Turn a Sweatshirt into A Tote Bag

Now for the handles. Cut 2 x 7″ sections from the ribbing you just removed….

Turn a Sweatshirt into A Tote Bag

Fold in half lengthwise and serge (you could also zig zag or stretch stitch) all the way along the open edge. Look what it does! Cuurves into a perfect handle shape!

Turn a Sweatshirt into A Tote Bag

Feed one side of a handle through the tube…

Turn a Sweatshirt into A Tote Bag

Secure/stitch the 2 handle/strap pieces together…

Turn a Sweatshirt into A Tote Bag

Then slide the tube of ribbing over the join to hide it and distribute evenly. Repeat for both handles….

Turn a Sweatshirt into A Tote Bag

and you’re done!

The beauty of this is that it provides a little more structure and support to what would otherwise be rather stretchy handles, which has kinda what put me off the idea of T Shirt bags in the past. Plus sweatshirt fabric is sturdier to begin with. I think this bag could take a few fresh apples and bananas without breaking into a sweat (unintentional pun 😉

Do you use reuseable shoppers? Handmade or shop bought? My worst habit is actually remembering to take them with me to the shop…doh!

Related

30 Comments

  1. Rita says

    23rd February 2015 at 8:02 pm

    A fantastic idea!
    I use reusable shoppers, but they are not that pretty hmmm… like this.
    I have to make some!

    Reply
    • portia says

      23rd February 2015 at 8:09 pm

      Thanks Rita! Be sure to show me if you do! Px

      Reply
  2. Toria says

    23rd February 2015 at 8:24 pm

    Fantastic idea! I’m so pleased to have discovered your blog 🙂 This would be perfect as a bag for chucking my daughters’ bits and pieces in when we’re out and about. I like that it’s sturdy too; I’ve made a bag from a vest top before and it was pretty useless with being so stretchy.

    Reply
    • portia says

      23rd February 2015 at 9:12 pm

      Exactly my thoughts. Who wants their free range eggs being bungee’d into the pavement, right, lol?!

      Reply
  3. Willo says

    24th February 2015 at 2:46 am

    Wow,how much fabric could fit in that bag

    Reply
    • portia says

      24th February 2015 at 7:10 am

      Quite a bit I should think! Px

      Reply
  4. Anne says

    24th February 2015 at 1:46 pm

    Awesome bag!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post that links to your tutorial here:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-sweatshirt-market-tote/2015/02/24/
    –Anne

    Reply
    • portia says

      24th February 2015 at 2:05 pm

      Thanks Anne! Px

      Reply
    • portia says

      26th February 2015 at 9:51 am

      Thankyou Anne 🙂 You are awesome!

      Reply
  5. Kate says

    24th February 2015 at 8:21 pm

    Great idea – thanks so much! 🙂

    Reply
    • portia says

      24th February 2015 at 8:45 pm

      Shucks! You’re welcome Kate 😉

      Reply
  6. Timi says

    25th February 2015 at 7:16 am

    What a great idea!!! Thank you for the tuto!!!

    Reply
    • portia says

      25th February 2015 at 7:44 am

      Thank you Timi! Glad you like 🙂

      Reply
  7. Ginger says

    25th February 2015 at 5:53 pm

    Clever!!! I’ve got a grease-stained sweatshirt that I’ve been mulling over a refashion for some time… this will be just the ticket, I think!

    Reply
    • portia says

      26th February 2015 at 9:50 am

      Patch pocket from the leftover sleeves could hide the grease marks? Or maybe some abstract appliqué over the affected area with leftover sleeve fabric….hmmmm…

      Reply
  8. Carol says

    3rd March 2015 at 9:58 pm

    HOW COOL!!!!!! I will be making these. I always need a sturdy bag to carry all my work stuff in. THANKS! Carol

    Reply
    • portia says

      3rd March 2015 at 10:18 pm

      Ah you’re welcome Carol

      Reply
  9. Penny Mann says

    5th March 2015 at 10:07 pm

    What a brilliant idea.
    I am going to go through my husbands wardrobe now to see what sweatshirts I can make bags out of – hehehe!!!
    xx

    Reply
    • portia says

      5th March 2015 at 11:04 pm

      Couldn’t possibly condone that Penny, he he 😉

      Reply
  10. Tina Barner says

    10th March 2015 at 7:08 pm

    I have been very leery of anything “stretchy” and was quite afraid to even try! However, this tutorial is so incredibly easy and awesome, I can’t wait to get started! I like to get materials from a local thrift shop as you can recycle just about anything. I am, however, only looking for pillowcases and now sweatshirts! Thanks SO MUCH for this awesome idea!

    Reply
    • portia says

      10th March 2015 at 7:31 pm

      You’re welcome Tina! I thoroughly approve of your choice of shopping venue! 😉 Px

      Reply
  11. Mania says

    4th May 2015 at 12:11 pm

    this is soooo cool!!!!!!!

    Reply
  12. MALIKA says

    8th February 2016 at 11:56 am

    Good idea.

    Reply
  13. Susie says

    26th June 2016 at 1:08 pm

    I love this and want to make it! However, I got confused when you referred to feeding the handles through the tube. I didn’t know what tube you were talking about. Can you explain what or where it is?

    Reply
    • Portia Lawrie says

      26th June 2016 at 2:08 pm

      Hi Susie! Apologies for any lack of clarity. The tube(s) I refer to are the handles made from the ribbing in the previous step. Does that help?

      Reply
  14. Phyllis Smith says

    10th April 2017 at 7:04 am

    Very cool idea! I have a sweatshirt that I machine embroidered with the name of a church that we no longer attend. I’ve wondered what to do with it. It would even be hard to give away! I don’t care if that name is on my shopping bag, and it would be easy to fold up the bag and stash it in my handbag until it’s needed!

    Reply
    • Portia Lawrie says

      10th April 2017 at 11:21 am

      perfect!

      Reply
  15. Judy Willette says

    30th August 2018 at 3:58 pm

    “Secure/stitch the 2 handle/strap pieces together…
    Then slide the tube of ribbing over the join to hide it and distribute evenly. Repeat for both handles….”

    I guess I’m being dense, but I just don’t get this part. Please explain.

    Reply
    • portia says

      31st August 2018 at 11:47 am

      The tube of ribbing sits on one side of the handle.((each handle is initially 2 pieces) Once you join the two pieces of the handle together you slide the tube of ribbing over the handle to cover the join.

      Reply
  16. Kitty lipsky says

    15th February 2019 at 5:29 pm

    I intend to make this today! I plan to make pockets from the sleeves, one inside and one outside with the rubbing giving them some structure.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Portia
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
Follow
Sewbox

© Copyright 2021. makery. All Rights Reserved. Managed by WordPress Web Dev Cornwall .