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I bought this pillowcase from the Sally Army a couple of days ago. I wanted to make a light summery top from it so I used this tutorial as a base. I had to change the pattern a lot, mostly because there just isn't enough fabric in a pillowcase for all those pleats!
Here's how it turned out:
And some close-ups:
If you'd like more info, please visit my blog :)
The full-skirt version!
This is Burda 8090, my go to pattern if I want a fuller skirt without chopping up the pattern or dealing with --shudder-- gathering.
This was totally inspired by Christy's post, because I spotted that fabric and remembered I had some! Another total stash project! Yeah! More pictures and a little story about why I use Flexi-Lace on my hems at the blog!
i have been doing something, which is better than nothing. this is a wearable muslin of the weekend sewing summer blouse, in progress. i didn't have enough material to do the full sleeves but am otherwise OK with this . . . now it's just a matter of figuring out how to give it a little more shape and then hemming the bottom (you can see possible hems creased in the bottom). i had thought of trying to do some sort of drawstring on the bottom but it's shorter than i thought it would be. so i think i might have to bite the bullet and add some sort of vertical darts. i've never drawn darts before and i can barely sew the ones already marked for me, so this will be a challenge. on the plus side, i did figure out that i can maximize what length i have if I make some more bias tape and use that on the bottom edge, and i have more of the sheet i was using for the bias and placket, so that's what i'll do.
already i'm thinking to a) make one with a smaller placket and b) try the placket again, but fill it with little hooks and eyes. that could be kind of fun. i do like how it fits in the shoulders and it's roomy enough for my bust, so it's definitely going to be made again. i just have to figure out the darts first, lest this "muslin" become yet another UFO. no more UFOs!
The past few weeks have been so chilly my refashioning focus has been primarily around developing my crochet skills. It's a nice way to stay true to my pledge whilst relaxing by the fire on a winter's evening.
These little skirts pushed me over the edge... I have two boys, and the closest girl in our family is a second cousin who lives many miles away, but I just had to make one because they are SO darn cute! This one I gave to the darling little girl that I watch during the day, her personality fits this skirt to a T! I have plans to make more if I can find some little girls to give them to. The tutorial for these skirts are from one of my favorite blogs, MADE. I have used a number of her tutorials and there are many more I would love to try!
Check out more of my refashions on my blog!
my latest attempt at a refashion is so awful i refuse to post pictures. i should have learned by now not to try and do something like shorten a skirt and add a ruffle in a hurry. anyway, on a more positive note, i did make a dress for my 2-month-old grandbaby that i consider a smashing success! i found the tutorial at Joy's Hope. since the dress was originally designed for a 12 month old i had to modify it. I also added buttons at the spot the ribbons attach. i love it and i think it will look great on her. if you would like to read more about my crafting frenzy, head over to my blog. Now onto a slower and more patient refashion for me... i hope.
I'm not sure where all of this refashioning energy came from, but I've been busy! I bought these shirts at a garage sale last week. Each of them got a very different makeover. I'm just posting before and after pics with a link to the detailed post and more pics on my blog.
Shirt #1 was too small in the top and too big on the bottom, so it became a skirt. Details here.
Shirt #2 was made from a really beautiful fabric, but way too frilly for me. Details on the de-ruffling here.
Shirt #3 was so big it could have been a maternity top. The cute band around the middle was perfect for an apron. Details and more pics here.
This skirt used to be a pair of corduroy pants my husband was getting rid of. The cuff of the legs became the waistband. The skirt hangs pretty straight, but it has a lot of give. 
I didn't have a lot of material to work with, so I chickened out on buttons and used elastic in the waist. I pulled it all to the back and was a little worried that it would look like those elastic old lady pants, but it ended up sort of ruffly and cute. At the end of the day I took out a few inches of elastic for better fit, and set the ruffles more evenly in the back (they are a little wonky in this lower picture).
I also cut up a few mens shirts and made some great fitting shorts for my chunky boy (tutorial here). They are freakishly easy and fast to do. I had enough fabric and energy to make matching shoes. So so cute! 
More pictures and rambling on the blog.
Far from seasonally appropriate in the desert southwest, I just finished this lovely sweater! I bought the yarn second-hand from a fellow knitter, and the pattern was free through the ravelry.com website (it's called buttercup). I'm really pleased with how it fits, and I know I'll get a lot of use out of it when the weather cools down. For more details and pictures, come visit my blog, Involving the Senses. Meghan
Daughter made this last week from a camouflage shirt jacket. More pics on my blog. Next up on her agenda is a portfolio. Next up for me? More jam and fiddling with my new old sewing machine.
