Summer at last, and it’s time to put all that extra daylight to good use. A day at the beach or picnicking in the park? Yes, please! And while the glossy catalogs are full of attractively posh picnic baskets and matching beachwear, it’s really a cinch to whip together a serviceable tote from some worn-out winter togs, keeping them out of the waste stream and your wallet in your pocket. Whether incorporating the durability and urban flare of an old pair of trusty jeans, or the blowsy voluminous proportions of a pre-loved full skirt, your summer tote will come in handy on any outing.

You Need

*Discarded blue jeans or knee-length full skirt, preferably one without a stretchy waistband or pleating.

*Fabric scissors

*Sewing pins

*Iron

*Needle/thread or sewing machine

*Skinny scarf, dress tie, or length of cotton fabric for strap. (If using jeans, use the leftover leg scraps.)

How To

1) For jeans, turn inside out, and cut off legs about three inches from crotch. Pin a seam about one inch from end of each leg. For skirt, turn inside out and pin a seam about an inch from the edge.

2) Straight stitch the seam and trim about a half-inch. Turn blue jeans or skirt right side out again.

3) To make a strap out of a length of fabric, cut out the length you want plus two inches, and double the width. Iron the fabric, then fold in the edges down the length of it so they meet in the middle and pin in place. Iron again then stitch each side about a ¼” from the center where they join. You might also want to stitch a parallel seam a ¼” from the outside edges to prevent bunching. Finish off the ends by folding to the inside about an inch, stitch in place, and sew to bag with the folded edges on the inside. For DIY on the fly, use a funky old dress tie or retro scarf instead, and don’t forget to leave the pockets of the original garment free for hauling handy little extras.