Wardrobe Refashion

New from Stash: Not refashion

Just thought I would post something before this round was done...I have been very bad about not taking pictures or posting the things I have been doing.....First off, I spent a whole week working on clothing for a little girl who is a "little person". I have people in my family background who were, so when I saw a post on "Wish Upon a Hero" website and I just had to do something for her for Christmas. As soon as I have pictures and it is past Christmas I will post the clothes I made from stash and refashions from other items.....Anyway here is the picture of the outfit from stash scraps that was made for my daughter. It needs a different top. I don't like the way the reds are not the same as the tie, but we are working on it......More at my blog  on this number and what it cost to make. What do you think?

tiny shrug

I've been making tote bags for a Christmas market, together with my friend M. We're using fabrics which have been in her stash for ages. I made six simple bags from this mustard-y yellow knit, lined in strong cotton. Then, I ran out of fabric, or at least, out of pieces large enough for my bag pattern. Because I hate leaving large scraps, I decided to come up with something to make from the leftover fabric. 

 

I made this shrug using the body of my trusty t-shirt pattern, and made it up as I went along. I love the colour, and my wardrobe is shamefully low on bright tops, so it's very welcome.

In a Jacket pocket flap

So I bought this jacket from the thrift store a few weeks back, but hadn't worn it because the top pockets would NOT lie flat. Pain in the butt they were, no amount of ironing or steaming was getting those suckers to stay in place, so I resorted to needle and thread! You can see the jacket below, with the flipped up pockets.

Using some items from my sewing stash I now have perfectly flat pockets that I'm sure you'll agree look a million times better! Just having that one thing irritating you about a piece of clothing can really ruin the whole outfit. Nope I didn't sew the pocket closed! I simply added press studs!

Just sewing two on each pocket really made all the difference to the pockets and the jacket as a whole! Here's the jacket after the flap attack. Looks much better huh? Also looks better with a solid color underneath I think, makes all the difference :)

I think this shows that even the smallest change can really make a great difference to an item of clothing, or make you feel more comfortable in it. I know that had I worn that jacket as it was those pocket flaps would have driven me CRAZY!

Next project: Altering the hem on a pair of white cords. I picked up a pair at the thrift store that were 'long' but hey they fit in every other way, so I figure I'd just hack off the legs and hem them up :) Wish me luck!

Di

Pretty in Pink

I think I'm finally getting the hang of this refashion stuff! I have several big, slouchy sweaters from the '80s and '90s, so decided to see what I could do to update them. My first attempt was this pink angora, cashmere pullover with stains on the arms. I chopped off about 6 inches from the bottom and cut it up the middle of the front. I had to cut the sleeves off pretty high because of a stain, but that's OK. I hand-sewed all of the edges under so the stitching wouldn't show. Then I made two little pockets and a flower pin with the scraps! Next up is a beige sweater and a black one.... I need to make up for some lost time!

 
 
 

Stashbuster coat

I finished my new coat today. It's not extremely warm itself (I decided against interlining) but it can be worn over thick jumpers, jackets and cardigans. 

All the materials for it were already in my stash, exept the buttons. Of course that can mean two very different things: either I had some well coordinated combinations laid out, or I suffer from the dreaded 'stash exeding life expectancy'-syndrome... 

I guess I'm somewhere midway between those options. 

Go to my blog for more pictures, information and stories on how I made the coat.

Thrift store update

Well I've had a couple of Thrifting trips recently that I haven't blogged about, and I'm sure I'm missing some items of clothing in this update but what the heck! Lately I've been trying to get out of my usual t-shirt phase and get some other tops to wear. Well I certainly did that with these tops! The first one was one that was hung on the front of the rack at the thrift store, and initially I walked past it thinking it was a bit 'loud'. The pattern itself isn't bad it's the fact that it has rhinestones on it. But I figured no, try it on, push yourself outside your box! I actually like the fit, but it's a litte on the revealing side as I can't wear a bra with it due to the style. It only cost a dollar though ;)

*Ignore the jeans, I couldn't be bothered to put a belt on*

I have been looking out for halter style tops since I bought a brown one I loved a few months ago. This one I think it pretty springy but will also be good for summer. Really not sure about the softer color pallette, but again for a dollar I wasn't going to pass it up. I really like the length on this top too, and it's very comfortable!

The next one I nearly didn't buy. It's a barely there top by Forever21 and cost me $2. I like it but man there isn't much to it! Again it's braless, no other option with the totally open back! I do need another person to tie me up in it though as I can't seem to line the straps up properly myself, hence it's a little wonky.

This next pic is a two-fer. The stripey top is one I really didn't like that much when I tried it on, but for a buck I can wear it round the house. It's short sleeve with a hood. Not sure what's with that lately, I bought a pink one similar to it a few months back. The jacket cost me $4 but I like it alot! It's a light blue corduory jacket and looks great with jeans. My only beef with it is the lapel pockets which won't lie flat. I think I'll be sewing some press studs on there to keep them down. On a side note, don't think I'll be wearing this top and jacket together.

 

And finally a handbag I got just before I got the flu, it was $3. I've been looking for some black boots to match but no luck so far. Still that's an excuse for more shopping right?

Well like I said I think I missed a few items, especially stuff I plan on refashioning but you'll see those at a later date ;)

Di

A refashioned man's suit

This was a big refashioning challenge. A 50 cent suit from the Thrift Shop, with a request to transform it into something cool.

Here's me - pretending a have a clue about playing the guitar - wearing the original suit.

And here's my Mr with the refashioned suit.

There was lots of changes to the suit and lots of frustration. If you want to read about all the excitement and dramas, head over to my blog. I'd love you to stop by!

Drab coat to fab jacket?

I had a long dark brown moleskin coat in the back of my wardrobe. It's a nice make (Great Plains) and I bought it for only £10 a few years back but only wore it about twice because it was so drab.

So I cut off a load of hem, added some big and little ric rac braid round the hem (guaranteed to cheer up any outfit and not just aprons in my opinion) and some oversized green buttons that I bought on ebay for £1. I think it's cheered it up no end.

This is my first effort with the self timer that I've just discovered on my camera. Found it quite tricky.

More details and before pictures on my blog.

Added information

Did you see this refashion of mine? 

I posted it yesterday (another picture of it, without belt) and mentioned my blog as a place where you could find some more information about making this. Without the link... and as far as I can tell, I can't edit my old post here on WR

So here it is. My blog is www.petitmainsauvage.blogspot.com (I know of the error in my French, it should be 'petite') and I'd love it if you paid me a visit there. However, I didn't post a clear-cut how-to for this creation, so I'll add some more information here. 

The pattern for the body of this cardigan looks like this:

 

I used the neck- and shoulderline from a fitted t-shirt pattern (cutting 1 cm wider because this is a bulky fabric) but cut straight down at the armpit, instead of using the waist shaping. The front edges extend about 2 cm past center front on the pattern. I put this together using my serger and then started playing around with the leftover fabric. The collar is made from the jumper's sleeves, sewn together where the ribbed wrist band used to be. To sew it on the cardy, I just pinned it together, right side of the collar to wrong side of the body and serged along the neckline. This way, when you turn the collar right side out, the seam is hidden under it (I figured that this stuff would be way too bulky for facings etc.). On this jumper refashion, I just serged all the outer edges and left them like that. 

I hope this explanation is of any help, and you'll be able to find the blog now. Thanks, for letting me know ladies!

A new green sweater

Somehow in my last 2month commitment I missed blogging my green cardigan that i sewed. you can read more about it and my other crafting projects on my blog.

I did sign up for another 2months we'll see how that goes, i'm a little crazy getting ready for my sons 1st birthday and christmas, but most of both involves sewing so we'll see how it goes!