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Bridesmaid Kits from Menswear

This post is sponsored by Dove® ClearTone™ Deodorant – designed to visibly reduce underarm dark marks and even skin tone.

Here is a little project that takes about 45 minutes to do and about $6 in supplies. These little bags filled with gifts for the bridesmaids are made from old menswear jackets from the thrift store. You can find such quality fabrics in old vintage pieces to rework into something new. This project was put together by Alexis Birkmeyer and I think it is so clever. You’ll need basic sewing skills but it is really really simple and takes less than an hour to make. You can find the template and complete instructions below. When it’s done fill it with gifts for your bridesmaids.

Click through for complete instructions and photos.

Materials Needed: Menswear Jackets from the thrift store. (Look for garments with large areas of fabric without any seams. Depending on the garment, you can probably get about 2 pouches out of each.) An iron, a sewing machine, a 7″ zipper for each pouch, the printable template (download here), scissors, pins, and ribbon.

A. Cut the large areas of fabric out of the garment. Trace the template onto your fabric. You’ll need two ovals, two of the small rectangle, and one of the large rectangle.
B. Iron back a 1/2″ hem along the long side of both small rectangles. These will go along side the zipper. Stitch the zipper into place 1/4″ from the edge of your new hem, keeping the fabric right along side the edge of the zipper.
C. Cut two 1.5″ pieces of ribbon, fold in half, and iron.  Pin the first one right over the end of the zipper (save the second for later). Pin the large rectangle to the zipper rectangle, sandwiching the bit of ribbon between them. Stitch these two pieces together right along the edge of where the zipper ends. After sewing them together, if your large rectangle and zipper rectangle aren’t the exact same width, trim the wider of the two to make an even strip.
D. Match the first oval up with the zipper part of your long strip. You want the zipper to be centered on the top of the oval. Starting with the zipper end, pin the strip all the way around the circle. Use plenty of pins!
E. Stitch right from where the zipper pull starts around and back to where you started stitching. Try to end the seam exactly where you started. There will be extra fabric at the end, which is good! You can turn it inside out and start to see your pouch taking shape.
F. Match the other oval up and pin in place just like the first.
G. Stitch it in place and turn inside out.
H. Pin the second bit of ribbon right over the start of the zipper.
I. Pin the two ends of the rectangles together. If you lined things up well, you should be able to stitch straight across and it will be right at the edge of the zipper. If it doesn’t line up exactly, don’t worry! Just curve your last seam to connect the two edges and hit the very edge of the zipper. Trim away any excess fabric.
J. Grasp the zipper pull through the fabric and unzip. Turn inside out. Tie on 6-8″ length of ribbon for a pull.

Concept and photos by Alexis Birkmeyer for Oh Happy Day

  1. Marie

    May 2, 2012

    How adorable and thoughtful is this?! Love it! 🙂

    http://www.happypaperplace.com/

  2. Victoria@VictoryPaper

    May 2, 2012

    I love the look of these! I have a similar menswear bag that I thrifted some years back that I adorned with bright colorful broaches. The juxtaposition of masculine and feminine goes with dressy and casual wear!

  3. jillian

    May 2, 2012

    what a great project and fun way to reuse an old jacket!

    http://hitherandthitherblog.blogspot.co.uk/

  4. Audrey - This Little Street

    May 2, 2012

    Too adorable! They are perfect!

  5. Hyde

    May 2, 2012

    I love these DIY things, even though I can’t do them myself. Thinking of having a handmade paper topper…http://concarta.blogspot.com/ like here…so much more special!

  6. Lexy @ The Proper Pinwheel

    May 2, 2012

    I’m THIS close to going to a thrift store to find some jackets. This looks tricky, but I’m going to attempt! My sewing = no bueno.

  7. lydia.

    May 2, 2012

    i love, love, love this. i can’t wait to give it a try at my next craft night!

  8. ANNE

    May 2, 2012

    These are so cute. What might be cute is if it’s given to a guy to use old thrifted ties for the ribbon parts or even ad a tiny pocket in the from with some of the thrift tie material. Love these! Great job!

  9. Courtney

    May 2, 2012

    These are completely adorable!

  10. Jaime

    May 2, 2012

    I am so loving this series of posts! These are so easy and creative. Another must do project!

  11. Teresa

    May 2, 2012

    These are darling!

  12. Full Cup

    May 2, 2012

    Brilliant!! What a cool idea! Where did you come up with it? I’m constantly at the thrift store, keeping my eye out for something unique. Now I’m going to go just to find some old man jackets, ha ha ha. Thanks for posting! I love your blog.

    xoxo,

    Molly Jane

    P.S. Stop by and say hello!:)

    http://www.browneyedcharmer.blogspot.com

  13. Kelda

    May 2, 2012

    Fantastic idea! My husband has an old jacket that is driving my nuts – no I know exactly what to do with it! XO!

  14. Shannon

    May 2, 2012

    these are just so great! thanks for the wonderful craft idea – hoping I have time to make these in the next 2 weeks for my bridesmaids! I’ll keep you updated 🙂

  15. carole

    May 2, 2012

    These turned out so cute! What a great idea! I could see the sleeves of the jacket making some great rectangular bags. And many times old jackets also have great buttons on them. Incorporating them in some way could be cool – perhaps a side pocket on the bag that buttons closed? Or a strip of fabric (about 6 inches) with button holes on each end that could attach to the button and the resulting loop could hold bracelets or other jewelry or hair binders.

  16. Tan

    May 2, 2012

    I love taking thrift store clothing items and remaking them into something else! It’s so much cheaper (and better!) than buying the fabric.
    Great DIY!

  17. jaclyn @ thelateafternoon

    May 2, 2012

    i love EVERYTHING about this!! the idea of using an old jacket is fabulous!

  18. Mrs Average Bride

    May 2, 2012

    way cool! Time to get the sewing machine.

  19. Flowersdeliveryhyderabad

    May 2, 2012

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  20. Whatever DeeDee Wants

    May 3, 2012

    These are fantastic.

  21. Vanessa {vanilla and rose}

    May 3, 2012

    I’m loving this project! I definitely want to give it a try!

  22. Holly

    May 3, 2012

    WoW those are soo cute and fun!! 🙂 Love your site!! xo Holly

  23. Engagement Rings ireland

    May 3, 2012

    Love the concept, so practical. From engagement rings

  24. Gina

    May 3, 2012

    Wow, this is really great. I was about to throw away my thrifted coats too…maybe I’ll save them now!!

    http://www.eatblogpray.blogspot.com
    xo

  25. Chase l Oh The Cuteness!

    May 4, 2012

    These little pouches are so cute! Definitely on the to-do list!

  26. wakanetwork

    May 4, 2012

    This should be on my to do list this week. I’m so excited to try sewing my own things.

  27. Barbara

    May 6, 2012

    I cannot print the templates on any of these projects? What am I doing wrong?

    can’t understand your test below it is hard to read — I am not a spammer.

  28. Béa

    May 8, 2012

    trop chou!

  29. Gina

    May 9, 2012

    Awesome project! I always love reusing things and can always use another bag!

  30. jonahliza

    May 11, 2012

    i love the sweetness the ribbon adds to the tweeds.. cant wait to make one.. or a couple!

  31. Savanah

    May 14, 2012

    I love this! The ribbon adds such a perfectly girly addition to the tweed 🙂

  32. emily b

    May 14, 2012

    These are fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing!

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