How to Hem Jeans

If you are like me you have the short girl problem of jeans never fitting. I buy the short size in store and they are still always an inch or two too long. I came across a Pinterest post a while back about how to hem jeans and keep the original hem. This grabbed my interest because I hate the look of hemmed jeans that cut off the original hem, which results in me just walking around with too long of jeans and tearing up the bottoms.

 I really wanted to find an old pair of jeans to try this on in case I messed it up. Luckily I found a pair of Calvin Klein Jeans in good shape at Goodwill and they were perfect for my experiment. I found the link and the time today to try it and it worked really well. You can tell you hemmed them but anyone looking at you shouldn't have a clue. I've included the link below. This blogger really explains the process well:

http://refashionmama.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/alteration-my-new-favorite-way-to-keep-original-hem-on-jeans/

Burlap Tote Bag--

I made this burlap re-usable shopping bag/storage tote for my friends wedding. I finished it up after the fact so I was able to add some personalization from their wedding. 

Sadly I don't have great step-by-step instructions on how to make this because I kind of winged it. Briefly, I cut the basic front and back pieces from a large tote bag pattern I had. I cut burlap and a blue cotton lining for both the front and back. I then pieced the lining and burlap together. I cut a roughly six inch wide piece of blue fabric for the binding around the top. I just made sure it was long enough by laying it over the pattern. I sewed the binding on before joining the front and back pieces. I then made handles by cutting two long strips of burlap and folding each in half (hotdog style) and sewing. I then attached one to the front and one to the back panels and eyed it to make sure they lined up. I then sewed them on making sure they were sturdy. I then sewed the front and back together. 

I used fabric paper (can get at walmart or a craft store) to create the map on the front. I put the paper in my printer and the map/postcard from the wedding into my copier and copied onto the fabric paper. Let the fabric paper dry for a while. This paper was iron on so I placed it where I wanted it and fused it to the bag. You can also buy sew-able fabric paper. I used a piece of cardboard in the base of the bag to add support.

Burlap is interesting to work with. It frays very easily and can be itchy and rough. You can make it easier to cut by tearing out a string of the burlap along the line where you want to cut. It's also very messy and you can end up with fibers everywhere. I really didn't have any problems with sewing it though. I did use a zigzag stitch for extra support and to keep the burlap from fraying as easily.