Bicycle Handlebar Bags by ReSewn

Excited to share the latest design from ReSewn: bicycle handlebar bags. These bags are offered in two sizes, are sewn from repurposed and reclaimed textiles, are fully lined, and the D-rings at both ends of the zipper easily convert the bag to a cross-body or shoulder bag. The larger bag size, show in photos below, has four loop options to attach to your handlebars with double-sided hook and loop or other straps, as well as an option to attach to the stem. The zipper tape and pull are new #5 coil non-locking. Contact me if you have a favorite textile that you would like custom-sewn into one of these bags, and if you prefer a different zipper style or size. 

Daypack Alterations

This small daypack has worked well on hikes for several years, but I always wished it had a large mesh pocket on the outside and a small zippered pouch on the waist belt. Recently I repurposed portions of a discarded men’s hiking shirt to add the features to my pack. I was not concerned with affecting a warranty by altering my pack, as it was purchased so many years ago as a sample. 

Hand-sewed the mesh pocket to the pack after machine-sewing the pleats and clean-finishing the four sides. There is no easy way to access the area with a sewing machine due to the trampoline frame.

New outer mesh pocket is just right to stash my raincoat and a trash bag for small trash found along hiking trails. 

The prototype zippered pouch attached with loops to the waist belt works well for lip balm, a small map, compass, and snacks.

 

Lightweight Hiking Pants With Zip-off Legs

What to do when you are unable to find new hiking pants that meet requirements? Sew or alter your own. This pair needed to be lightweight, have zip-off legs, and be a black, stretch-woven fabric. A local store had two pairs of elastic-waist and elastic-ankle pants in the correct size on clearance, but they were too short for pants. I cut one pair to be the correct length for shorts, then cut the entire legs off the second pair, which would provide a good final length. The upper portion fabric of the second pair, including the waistband, will be saved for another project. Zipper flaps were cut and pieced from the legs of the first pair, so the zippers do not touch bare legs while wearing. 

Before adding the zippers and zipper flaps, I serged the bottom of the shorts and the tops of the legs to prevent frayed fabric.

Added side adjusters to the elastic waist using scraps of reused webbing and hardware from stash. Sometimes elastic-waist pants can be pulled down by a cell phone or keys in pockets, but the adjusters prevent that. 

 

Merino Knit Top Repair

This half-zip, long sleeve, merino wool top had a hole at the left shoulder. 

Located scraps saved after a prior refashion of a large merino knit polo into smaller t-shirt. The fabric is lightweight and relatively thin, but very durable. 

Cut out and pinned a double-layer of the scrap merino on the outside of the top. 

Sewed several times around the scrap edge with a wide zigzag stitch. 

Jacket Zipper Repairs

This old, lightly quilted LLBean jacket needed help with its three zippers. The front zipper needed to be replaced and the two side pocket zippers kept getting caught up in the thin nylon pocket flaps. First step was to remove the old front coil zipper and flap. When the flaps/wind guards are too thin, they are more likely to be a problem. Unpicking the multiple stitching layers to remove zippers is the most time consuming part of this.

Second step was to sew closed the front seam allowances, which previously encased the zipper and flap, and to wait for a new #5 molded tooth two-way separating YKK zipper to arrive in the mail. I prefer to only use YKK brand zippers for outdoor gear as they are reliably durable and replacement pulls are usually available from outdoor fabric shops. Molded tooth zippers often perform better than coil zippers if they get snow and sleet on them, and are more easily shortened for custom lengths. Two-way separating zippers are not necessary for hip-length jackets like this one, but I like them when hiking to have the option for increased ventilation.

Third step was to simply sew down the side pocket flaps. Much easier and faster than time-consuming pocket surgery on an old jacket that has invisible zippers for the pockets. Invisible zippers really should only be used in select dresses and skirts, because they tend to break easily and get fabric caught up in them. 

Fourth step was to shorten the new zipper. I removed excess teeth with needle nose pliers, added new top stops with the same pliers, then cut off the excess zipper tape at the top of the zipper. Finding a replacement zipper the exact length of the garment is rare, but shortening zippers is relatively easy.

Fifth step was to simply sew the new zipper to the inner finished front edges, folding in the shortened tape at the top between the jacket and the zipper.

Goodbye to this thin front zipper flap and the old coil zipper. The soft fleece at the top of the flap does protect your chin from a scratchy zipper, but the benefit was not worth it in this case.

Side pocket flaps sewn down.

Two new top stops installed.

Finished jacket ready to return to hiking trails and yard work.

Small Sewn Gifts

 

Have enjoyed non-facemask sewing this week and these two projects are good for small-ish pieces of leftover fabric. Hair scrunchies are much gentler on hair than elastic pontytail holders. Most of these scrunchies are drapey silk wovens, along with a lightweight knit, percale, and polyester woven print. The bean bag juggling balls are canvas and stretch denim, and are filled approximately 1/3 full with dried beans. 

Sewing Cloth Face Masks

The 2020 coronavirus pandemic forced a temporary shift in priorities at ReSewn. Sewing cloth face masks to give away for free has replaced sewing items to sell at craft markets. Thankfully, I had many yards of cotton fabrics in stash that were suitable. Have given away approximately six dozen masks over the past few weeks to family, friends, acquaintances, and their family, friends, and acquaintances. Will continue to sew masks until I run out of fabric, as it seems face masks will become a regular necessity of everyday life for the near future, and I much prefer reusable, durable, washable masks over disposables that contribute to landfill waste.