How to Recycle Old Shirt Sleeves Into Small Bags.

This is a short Instructable of how I made a couple of small bags out of some old velvet shirt sleeves that I had left over from making a shirt into a vest. Now, I know that not everyone has remnant shirt sleeves laying about their homes, but on the random chance there is one person out there that happens to come upon that stellar shirt at Goodwill (Thrift store), here is a way to make use of that perfect find.
I am putting this in the mother's day sewing contest. This little bag would make a nice gift wrap for a piece of jewelry, or perhaps a small box of candy, etc. for Mothers day. I might not make it in black, though. :) One of my friends suggested that you could also make sachets out of them. If you make it a little longer, then sew shut the cuff, hem, and put the drawstring at the top, I think it would make a nice bottle cover/ wine bag for gift giving.

Step 1 Shirt Reducing

(I am again assuming that most people reading this have basic sewing skills.)
Remove the sleeves of the shirt you want to use. Cut the sleeve off at the length that you want your bag to be, plus your seam allowance, and sew the bottom shut. If you want to use a sleeve with a cuff, you could, I would just sew the cuff shut first, before making it into a bag. (Sorry some of these pictures aren't the best, I was consumed with craft mania, and got in a hurry to finish. Also it is kind of hard to take pictures of black velvet. ) :)

Comments

[Catwoman81]

This is perfect for my latest freebee score! I'm getting married next year and picked up a bunch of beautifully embroidered and beaded dress sleeves left over from another bride who removed them from wedding dresses to make her bridesmaid's dresses. I figured they would be good to make into purses for my bridesmaids, but wasn't sure if that would work out. Your Instructable gives me tons of confidence to try this out! Thank you!

[libraryCat]

How awesome for you! What a fantastic freebee score! :) I am sure that they will make lovely purses for your bridesmaids. I wish you the best of luck, and a lovely wedding. :D

[patmac]

Very nice!