Reversible T-Shirt Purse

Materials Needed:
• T-shirts (I used 9 but I think you could do this with 2 or 3)
• Sewing machine & thread
• 2 buttons (optional)
• needle and thread (optional)


*one side front & back


*the other side front & back


*strap detail

Recently my little sis cleaned out her closet and I snatched all of her awesome t-shirts (I just imagined all the fun things I could make). This t-shirt purse is my first project using those old t's. I didn't use a pattern and it is pretty thrown together but I would rate this project intermediate.

To start I grabbed the 3 different shirts that I wanted to be the one side and I grabbed my scissors and cut out how big I wanted my bag to be out of the green and brown t-shirt then I took the blue shirt and cut it out the same width and then cut out the height I wanted it to be (which ended up being a little less than half the height). This will also be my "template" for the patched side.

Next I took about 6 other t-shirts and cut out strips of their decorated sides and sewed them together side by side until I had enough to make the front and back of the purse. Then I took some scraps and cut out a couple of strips for the flap of the purse and sewed them together. Then I placed my original shirts on top of my stitched up ones and cut it down to size (great measuring I know). Once this was done I sewed up the sides and bottoms of my 2 purses and then I grabbed a small thin scrap (to be the button hole) and pinned it to the flaps (facing in- so when I flipped it inside out it would be showing on the right side; my flaps are right sides together) then I sewed the 2 flaps together (I would say if I did this again I would have sewn the tops onto the flaps first but I sewed them on later). Then I folded the top of the bag down about 1/4 in. and ironed it (I did this to both bag (not flap) pieces).

Next I made the strap. I used the extra pieces I had from cutting off the excess from the patched side and just sewed them together with a bunch of curvy and straight lines. To get the different colors I made my bobbin thread blue and my top thread yellow and flipped it over to get both the stitch colors on each side.

Then I took placed the patched purse inside of the solid purse wrong sides together and pinned it. Then I placed my straps inside the 2 pieces (the patched and the solid purses) and also put the flap inside the 2 pieces (again if I were re-doing this I would have those sewn on already). Then I stitched it all together (stitches showing) and then flipped it over and stitched another line as well (just for good measure and to make both the yellow and blue thread show).

Finally I placed a button where it should lay according to my button hole sewn onto the flap, and I put the needle through. Once it was on the other side I grabbed another button (it's reversible so we have to have one on the other side) and placed the needle through one of the holes and then I continued to stitch both buttons on. Now I can turn it either way and I have a fun new bag!

Sock Monkey or Sock Monstar

Materials needed:
• pair of socks (or more)
• sewing machine & thread (or hand sew)
• buttons, googly eyes, felt, embroidery thread (for details)
• fiberfill
• chop stick (or long thin object to stuff arms and legs with)







So who doesn't wonder what to make with a pair of socks? The top 2 pictures is of my version of a sock monkey I made for my husband- this was the very first thing I made of socks! The bottom photo is one of my sock monstars (this is my little sis'). I got the idea for sock monstars from a book my big sis got me called Stupid Sock Creatures: Making Quirky, Lovable Figures from Cast-off Socks (great book for the know how and creativity inspiration).

Sock Monkey How To:
To start the sock monkey I chose my socks (I got a pair of long socks because I wanted this monkey to be able to hug my husband tight) then I laid it out with the heel side down and flattened it out the best I could. Then I cut a line in the center of the leg part of the sock from the part where you put your foot in to until about an 1.5 inches from the heel of the legs to create the legs. Once they were cut I went to the sewing machine and flipped it inside out then stitched the bottom of his legs and then up the inside of his legs leaving the crotch area to flip and stuff the monkey with.

Once his legs were sewn, I flipped the monkey inside out and I got some fiber fill and filled in the monkey (legs first- using a chopstick to stuff it into the bottom). Then stitched his crotch up using a slip stitch.

Next I got the other sock and cut off the heel (for his mouth) and 2 arms (the same way you did his feet) and then cut out 2 sets of ear shapes (4 total because your sock will have 2 layers you cut at once).

For the arms I sewed them inside out leaving one side open to stuff and sew to the monkey. For the ears (there are 2 so you will do this twice) I sewed them inside out all the way around leaving one side open so I could stuff it a bit and sew it onto the monkey head.

Once I had my arms ready I turned them right sides out and stuffed it using a chop stick and folded it under on the sides then did a quick hand stitch just to help it stay then placed it on the monkey and did a slip stitch around the arm twice securing it to the body. I did it again for the other arm.

Next I added the mouth (the heel part of the second sock). Here I folded over a small edge all the way around and flattened it then placed it where I wanted and did a slip stitch around it stopping with enough room to stuff his mouth then I finished sewing it up. Then I went to the ears and stuff them a little bit and again folded a small part all the way around and slip stitched it onto the monkey head. Then I got my embroidery thread and made a quick mouth crease by coming from one side to the other and then tying it off. Lastly I added black buttons for eyes (you can of course use anything you want- googly eyes, felt...ect).

Sock Monstar How To:
To create the sock monstar you use the same principles as the monkey but with a lot more creativity! Here instead of using the toe part of the sock for a head I cut it into a diagonal giving it more attitude (in my opinion at least). Also instead of leaving the heel of the first sock on the back I used it on the front and made it into a sewn down mouth (this came from the book: Stupid Sock Creatures: Making Quirky, Lovable Figures from Cast-off Socks) and I added a pink felt tounge sticking out. Then I did the arms the same as the sock monkey arms I just used different socks to make them. For the eyes I used googly eyes but I sewed them to a patch of hot pink felt that was eye liner and lashes for this girly monstar. Lastly I added some white felt wings so this monstar could fly. What is just so great about this is that you can pretty much do anything. I have added tails big heads, teeth, clothing, all kinds of stuff. It is just so much fun and not too difficult either.