Boot Socks and Wine Bags from a Sweater
Whenever I cut something apart to make it into something else, I try to use as much of the material as possible and minimize waste. This project is a great example using just about everything. From one sweater I've made a pair of boot socks and also two wine gift bags.
Boot socks are a favorite accessory of mine because they are a cute, warm and can be worn a lot of different ways. I have many styles of boot socks available in my Etsy store here.
Wine gift bags are fairly easy to make and are great to have on hand for a last minute invite or gift. Here are the finished products from this project.
Step 1: Find a sweater where you can fit the bottom of your leg into the arms (from the knee down). The cuff of the sweater will be around your ankle and the area by the armpit will be by your knee. Once you find a sweater with sleeves that will fit your legs, start by cutting the sleeves off the sweater. I typically like to cut along the seam where the sleeve connects to the body of the sweater.
Step 2: With the sleeves cut off, put the front and back of the sweater aside - it will be used in the wine bag project. Lay the sleeves flat folding along the side seam and line the cuffs of the sleeves to the base of a self-healing cutting mat. Trim along the top so the sleeves are the same length and even across the top.Put the piece you trimmed off the top aside - we'll be using this piece in the wine bag project.
Step 3: The cuff of the sweater, which will ultimately be the bottom of our sock, is already finished and therefore doesn't need any attention. The top edge, which we just cut, is raw and needs to be finished. Start by zig zagging all the way around the raw edge at the top of the sleeve. You will want to use a thread color that coordinates with the color(s) of the sweater.
Step 4: If you haven't already turned your sleeve inside out, do so now. With the sleeve inside out, fold the top of the sleeve down about a half of an inch. I like to put the first pin in the fold along the side seam. Once you have the side seam folded and pinned, move to the opposite side (directly across from the seam) and fold and pin that side so the top edge is flat and even. This will be the part of your sock that is most visible so it's important that it's even.
Step 5: With the sides secured, pin the middle section between the side pins making sure the top stays straight across. Add as many pins as needed between the existing pins to secure to fold across the top of the sleeve.
Step 6: At this point you should have a half inch fold pinned around the top of the sleeve. If necessary you can press this to make it easier to sew it, however this step is not always necessary. You're now ready to sew the top seam using the same coordinating thread used in Step 3. If your sewing machine has a stretch stitch, I recommend using it as you're making a sock and it's good to have some give to it. Sew around the top of the fold as close to the zig zagged edge as possible to ensure the raw edge is secured and won't roll into view at the top of your sock when you wear it.
Step 7: Repeat steps 3 through 6 for the other sleeve. When you are finished, turn the sleeves right side out. At this point you have two boot socks with a finished top edge. You're now ready to add some embellishment. For this project I added two bright red vintage buttons to give the socks a pop of color. For other pairs of boot socks I've sewed lace seam binding along the top inside of the seam. You can get creative at this point and give them as much embellishment as you like.
When adding buttons you need to make sure you think through where the side seam of the sweater will be on your sock. I typically wear them with the side seams in the back and the buttons on the side. Map out the positioning of your buttons and seams to ensure they are where you want them. Remember the buttons and seams need to be opposite in their positioning to be in the same place when you are wearing the socks. In the picture below you can see the side seams are positioned on the right of one sock and on the left of the other. For buttons on the side of you socks, mark the middle of the sock with a pin centered between the two sides.
Step 8: With the location where you want to place your buttons marked and your side seams considered you are ready to sew your buttons on in the desired location. I added mine close to the top so they would always be visible. With the buttons added your boot socks are ready to wear.
Step 1: Take the body of your sweater that was set aside during the boot sock project and lay both sides flat on top of each other on a self-healing mat. Be sure the finished, straight bottom edge lines up against a horizontal line on your mat and that one side edge lines up with a vertical line. Line the ruler up to a vertical line and trim the sides of the body just enough that you have straight, 90 degree edges on both sides.
Step 2: Wrap one of the body sections around a wine bottle and pin it in place so the cuff rests at the top of the bottle in the desired location. Mark with a pin the position of the bottom of the bottle on the sweater body and the width necessary to wrap around the bottle. Be sure to leave 1/2 inch extra for seam allowance when you place your pins on the bottom and side.
Step 3: Making sure to keep the bottom and side pins in place, remove the sweater body from the wine bottle and lay it flat on the self-healing mat. Line the bottom of the sweater up with a horizontal line on the mat and one side of the sweater up with a vertical line on the mat. Using the pins as guides, trim the excess material from the bottom and side of the sweater body. If you did not allow for 1/2 inch for seam allowance when you placed your pins do so now when you cut the side and bottom.
Step 4: You should now have a piece of the sweater body the same height as a wine bottle which will wrap it. Lay the sized and cut body piece on top of the unsized piece and cut the second piece the same size as the piece you already cut. When you are done you should have two correctly sized body pieces.
Step 5: Fold one of the pieces in half, lengthwise with the right sides of the fabric together leaving the finished bottom edge of the sweater horizontal across the mat - this will become the finished edge of the top of your bag. Pin and sew along the side seam leaving 1/4 inch seam allowance. When you are done you should have a tube open at the top and the bottom. Leave the tube as it is with the right sides of the fabric together on the inside of the tube and the wrong sides on the outside of the tube.
Step 6: Next you will need to cut a circle for the bottom of the bag. Typically the left over fabric you removed in step 2 of the boot sock project will be enough to use for the bottom. Find a cup to trace around that is slightly larger than the bottom of the wine bottle - this will give you automatic seam allowance. I found that a Solo cup worked well. Once you've traced the cup with a marker, cut out the circle.
Step 7: The circle now needs to be attached to the bottom of the tube. Before you start this step make sure your sleeve is still inside out. I find it's generally easiest to do this by attaching the first pin to the side seam of the tube and the circle base. Be sure you are pinning right sides together. Then, fold the sleeve in half and mark a crease directly across from the side wth the seam. Pin the opposite side of the circle to the crease.
Boot socks are a favorite accessory of mine because they are a cute, warm and can be worn a lot of different ways. I have many styles of boot socks available in my Etsy store here.
Wine gift bags are fairly easy to make and are great to have on hand for a last minute invite or gift. Here are the finished products from this project.
Boot Socks Project Steps
Step 1: Find a sweater where you can fit the bottom of your leg into the arms (from the knee down). The cuff of the sweater will be around your ankle and the area by the armpit will be by your knee. Once you find a sweater with sleeves that will fit your legs, start by cutting the sleeves off the sweater. I typically like to cut along the seam where the sleeve connects to the body of the sweater.
Step 2: With the sleeves cut off, put the front and back of the sweater aside - it will be used in the wine bag project. Lay the sleeves flat folding along the side seam and line the cuffs of the sleeves to the base of a self-healing cutting mat. Trim along the top so the sleeves are the same length and even across the top.Put the piece you trimmed off the top aside - we'll be using this piece in the wine bag project.
Step 3: The cuff of the sweater, which will ultimately be the bottom of our sock, is already finished and therefore doesn't need any attention. The top edge, which we just cut, is raw and needs to be finished. Start by zig zagging all the way around the raw edge at the top of the sleeve. You will want to use a thread color that coordinates with the color(s) of the sweater.
Step 4: If you haven't already turned your sleeve inside out, do so now. With the sleeve inside out, fold the top of the sleeve down about a half of an inch. I like to put the first pin in the fold along the side seam. Once you have the side seam folded and pinned, move to the opposite side (directly across from the seam) and fold and pin that side so the top edge is flat and even. This will be the part of your sock that is most visible so it's important that it's even.
Step 5: With the sides secured, pin the middle section between the side pins making sure the top stays straight across. Add as many pins as needed between the existing pins to secure to fold across the top of the sleeve.
Step 6: At this point you should have a half inch fold pinned around the top of the sleeve. If necessary you can press this to make it easier to sew it, however this step is not always necessary. You're now ready to sew the top seam using the same coordinating thread used in Step 3. If your sewing machine has a stretch stitch, I recommend using it as you're making a sock and it's good to have some give to it. Sew around the top of the fold as close to the zig zagged edge as possible to ensure the raw edge is secured and won't roll into view at the top of your sock when you wear it.
Step 7: Repeat steps 3 through 6 for the other sleeve. When you are finished, turn the sleeves right side out. At this point you have two boot socks with a finished top edge. You're now ready to add some embellishment. For this project I added two bright red vintage buttons to give the socks a pop of color. For other pairs of boot socks I've sewed lace seam binding along the top inside of the seam. You can get creative at this point and give them as much embellishment as you like.
When adding buttons you need to make sure you think through where the side seam of the sweater will be on your sock. I typically wear them with the side seams in the back and the buttons on the side. Map out the positioning of your buttons and seams to ensure they are where you want them. Remember the buttons and seams need to be opposite in their positioning to be in the same place when you are wearing the socks. In the picture below you can see the side seams are positioned on the right of one sock and on the left of the other. For buttons on the side of you socks, mark the middle of the sock with a pin centered between the two sides.
 |
| Note the sock on the left has the side seam on the left and the sock on the right has the side seam on the right. |
Step 8: With the location where you want to place your buttons marked and your side seams considered you are ready to sew your buttons on in the desired location. I added mine close to the top so they would always be visible. With the buttons added your boot socks are ready to wear.
Sweater Wine Bag Project Steps
Step 1: Take the body of your sweater that was set aside during the boot sock project and lay both sides flat on top of each other on a self-healing mat. Be sure the finished, straight bottom edge lines up against a horizontal line on your mat and that one side edge lines up with a vertical line. Line the ruler up to a vertical line and trim the sides of the body just enough that you have straight, 90 degree edges on both sides.
Step 2: Wrap one of the body sections around a wine bottle and pin it in place so the cuff rests at the top of the bottle in the desired location. Mark with a pin the position of the bottom of the bottle on the sweater body and the width necessary to wrap around the bottle. Be sure to leave 1/2 inch extra for seam allowance when you place your pins on the bottom and side.
Step 3: Making sure to keep the bottom and side pins in place, remove the sweater body from the wine bottle and lay it flat on the self-healing mat. Line the bottom of the sweater up with a horizontal line on the mat and one side of the sweater up with a vertical line on the mat. Using the pins as guides, trim the excess material from the bottom and side of the sweater body. If you did not allow for 1/2 inch for seam allowance when you placed your pins do so now when you cut the side and bottom.
Step 4: You should now have a piece of the sweater body the same height as a wine bottle which will wrap it. Lay the sized and cut body piece on top of the unsized piece and cut the second piece the same size as the piece you already cut. When you are done you should have two correctly sized body pieces.
Step 5: Fold one of the pieces in half, lengthwise with the right sides of the fabric together leaving the finished bottom edge of the sweater horizontal across the mat - this will become the finished edge of the top of your bag. Pin and sew along the side seam leaving 1/4 inch seam allowance. When you are done you should have a tube open at the top and the bottom. Leave the tube as it is with the right sides of the fabric together on the inside of the tube and the wrong sides on the outside of the tube.
Step 6: Next you will need to cut a circle for the bottom of the bag. Typically the left over fabric you removed in step 2 of the boot sock project will be enough to use for the bottom. Find a cup to trace around that is slightly larger than the bottom of the wine bottle - this will give you automatic seam allowance. I found that a Solo cup worked well. Once you've traced the cup with a marker, cut out the circle.
Step 7: The circle now needs to be attached to the bottom of the tube. Before you start this step make sure your sleeve is still inside out. I find it's generally easiest to do this by attaching the first pin to the side seam of the tube and the circle base. Be sure you are pinning right sides together. Then, fold the sleeve in half and mark a crease directly across from the side wth the seam. Pin the opposite side of the circle to the crease.
Step 8: Line up the other two sides so they are positioned between the first two pins leaving you with 4 pins total which should be spaced in quarters around the circle. Make sure to line up your seams so they are even. Add at least 4 more pins between the existing pins to keep everything secure.
Step 9: Now you're ready to sew the bottom to the sides. Leave at least a quarter inch seam allowance and sew around the circle slowly and carefully to make sure you catch both the bottom and side pieces of the fabric as you are sewing. You will want to check often while sewing to make sure you aren't accidentally grabbing any of the tube sides in your bottom seam.
Step 10: Flip the bag right side out check the bottom seam to make sure there are no holes.
Step 11: Slide the bag it over a wine bottle to ensure it fits. Tie the top with a ribbon or twine to keep it in place. When you're done, repeat steps 5 through 9 to make a second wine bottle sweater gift bag.
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