Wardrobe Refashion

A progress report

Well, i think it's been more than a week since I last posted. In the meantime,  I'd gotten very little sewing done, but There have been some cigar box purses in the works. I also found out how to make your own flip flops in crafts magazine... the same one that produces make magazine, and i plan to take huge advantage of that. flip flops these days are horrendously expensive for something you wear for three months. they either break, or go out of fashion. but this way it costs less than 2 bucks to make a pair of shoes. I plan to put up a step by step tutorial on the thread bangers forum when i get my first pair finished. All the posts i've seen today have been very inspiring, and everyone here is so creative. it's a great break from school and the endless hum.

Flea market finds

It's been too long since I last posted here. I have had my serger fixed and now it's working fine. Although I do not have much time to sew in coming weeks as I'm arranging a DIY-diaper-table for children's exposition. But in next month I will sew a lot and post it all here :)

Here is something I found in flea market. "A handiwork course for every woman". It was 4€ and came with original patterns and miniature patterns.  The book has in it about everything that anyone can ever hope to know about sewing (hand and machine), repairing, renewing, fitting and saving clothes and it has all basic clothes patterns and instructions how to sew them. All in 70's style :) It will be my handbook from now on.

This book has also instructions for this baby carrier :) Some day I'll have to try to make one.

 

Sidonie skirts and a new apron

New skirts for when i'm post baby.
Denim Sidonie with leaf appliqué:

Orange rice paper flower skirt with added in-seam pockets:

Read more about them in my column over on BurdaStyle.
I also took my favourite vintage apron which is falling apart and created a pattern from it to make a new one.
The vintage version:

The new version:

More details here and the pattern will be uploaded to BurdaStyle soon.

Old favorite to new favorite!

I'm enjoying a few days of lovely, lovely vacation.  My husband is away so I've co-opted the dining room and turned it into Sewing Central.  My daughters were in the mood to craft, so we've been cutting and sewing and generally making a crafty mess. 

I decided to finally transform an old t-shirt into something usable.  I made arm-warmers from the sleeves from a tutorial on Stitch Lounge and added fabric strips to the sides of the shirt, as well as along the armholes and neckline.   It's currently 5 degrees F here in upstate NY, so I won't be wearing this any time soon, but it's fun to think about spring approaching. 

I've also been debating re-signing for Wardrobe Refashion (this is my fifth month with no retail shopping) since I don't know if I can "be good" when all the spring clothes come out.  But I'm so pleased with how this turned out--I have several more t-shirts that are candidates for this cosmetic surgery--maybe I can just keep on sewing!   

Birthday party dress

Hey all! Last week, I made my daughter a little party dress for the a . Reconstructed from some tiny baby jeans, a fleece blanket, and a piece of star-flecked dark blue cotton left over from a quilt top material. Fun to make, fun to wear.

Stupid pink

I hate pink. But my Salvation Army (the best in all the world) keeps tossing up the sweetest vintage dresses in a dark enough fuchsia that I convince myself that I'll get over it. Or something. One time I bought an amazing orange gown I tried to dye darker and ruined it. Still scarred.
Anyway, this is the latest hot pink wonder. Look at that little guy.

Look at that glorious collar! Peer in closely and notice the little side pleat w/ covered buttons. It's wonderful wool boucle fabric, and the simple bodice has a diamond shape sewn in. Just for kicks.

Truth is, I'm so scared to hurt this glory, I'd rather someone else have it. I put it up for auction. But I can't stop loving it. And now that I have the patience of a woman older than the one who ruined the orange gown, maybe I can color this beauty darker. Can anybody out there recommend a dye for wool blends? Anyone confirm my suspicion that I shouldn't risk ruining this vintage wonder? More photos and details at the  ol' fitzfabulous blog.

Goods 4 Girls

All you big-hearted Wardrobe Refashionistas with equally big stashes of cotton flannel, please take a moment to visit Goods 4 Girls.

In many areas of the world, access to adequate menstrual supplies is difficult to come by. Many women and girls rely on rags, newspaper, camel skin or nothing at all for their menstrual needs. A lack of sanitary pads can be a big barrier to a girl's education.

It may seem difficult to comprehend for many women who have easy access to a varied source of supplies, but we can all appreciate how difficult life would be without them. Imagine trying to go to school or work without protection. For many, it brings life to a halt.

Providing disposable supplies creates an additional burden on some communities where solid waste disposal consists of burning the garbage. Since many disposable feminine hygiene products contain plastic, incineration potentially creates an environmental and health hazard.

Goods 4 Girls was started to seek out donors to sew or purchase new, reusable menstrual pads for donations to areas of Africa where these products are needed most. Providing reusable supplies not only provides a more environmentally friendly alternative for these young women (in areas of adequate water supply for washing), it reduces their dependence on outside aid organizations to continue providing for their monthly needs.

Sewing patterns and donation directions are posted at the site, along with donation directions.

Just checking in

No new pics but lots happening.  Our Babes visited the Grandparents for the Valentine's weekend, so the Mister and I did a mini-break at home...heaven!  I spent some of the weekend organizing my stash and workspace, so everything feels neater and more accessible.  I also FINALLY cut out two pair of pj pants for myself (will send along pics later) out of fabric I purchased last year and a top sheet we never use.  I'm hoping to stitch them up this week!
My "No-New" pledge for 2008 is moving right along.  You can read about it here.
This week I'm hemming a pair of jeans I got in a clothing exchange.  Here is a terrific link  to Burda on the hemming technique I plan on using.  I'll tell you how it goes...

t-shirts to diapers

We decided to cancel our diaper service after we survived without it on vacation.  We had some diapers from a friend, but needed a few more.  This tutorial was a great guide – and helped me use up some old  thread and t-shirts.  The results aren't my best looking work, but they get the job done.  T-shirt diapers are a bit stiffer than standard prefolds, but they are no less absorbent and seem to be just as comfortable for my son.

Vintage-inspired sweater

Hi everyone!  It's been a very long time since my last post.  I had been waiting until I had a finished project to show and tell.  Here it is:



The yarn I used to knit this sweater had previously been a part of two failed knitting projects.  I think I finally have a keeper!  Come by for a visit if you'd like to know more:  Involving the Senses.