Top 5 refashions (and what's your favourite refashion?)

 

Hi everyone! 

I hope you're in for a throwback post and a dive into Refashion Co-op history with me. I wanted to share a few former posts with you. And not just any post... I thought it would be nice be to commemorate the top 5 refashions on Refashion Co-op: the posts that have gotten the most views since Refashion Co-op was launched in 2011. So let's enjoy some treasures from the past!

5. Too small dress now fits

A challenge most of us struggle with at least once: an adorable top or dress, but too tight (or we've become bigger:)). A recognizable problem, so that's probably why we love to read about how to fix it. Like in Saga's populair dress refashion in September 2014, and the post was viewed 35.000 times!

4. A cute fix for a hole in the knee of jeans

This funny fix by 'Resweater' really stands out for its originality. The refashion was meant for kids jeans, but I can imagine even grown-up refashionistas being tempted... So I completely understand why this fix was viewed more than 48.000 times. As one of the comments said: it's a whimsical fix! 

3. Anthropologie inspired T

Did you know that Anthropologie has been an inspiration for several posts on Refashion Co-op? Come to think of it, maybe an 'Anthroplogie inspired' throwback might be fun! But... none of the refashions was as popular as the 'Anthropologie inspired T' by Mary, it was viewed no less than 67.000 times. As far as I know the brand is not sold in the Netherlands, but I went to a store in Oxford last year and really liked it (if you're Dutch like me: it made me think of Sissy-Boy). 

2. Shirt redesign tutorial

Those sleeves! I loved it, and I'm not the only one. This elegant refashion by Beth, aka the Renegade Seamstress, was very popular and viewed more than 128.000 times! If you've been here from the beginning, you may remember Beth. She shared a lot of practical and creative ideas on Refashion Co-op and even published her own Refashion Handbook in 2014. 

1. A bow for a bow 

Finally, the post with the most views.... is a fun and simple transformation from a sleeve to a bow sleeve. You may remember the celebration of this refashion a few months ago, in March. It turned out that 2 authors shared the honour, because the post (248.000 views!) was inspired by an older post with the same idea, also published on Refashion Co-op!.

You may have noticed that the top 5 'best viewed' posts were published some time ago. So what do these refashions have in common? To me it feels all 5 ideas are still useful and/or modern today, aren't they? For instance, I've seen similar sleeve designs in (diy) fashion magazines this past year. And the bow sleeve tutorial, it's timeless, right? So maybe that's the strength of these refashions...? 

Since the posts were publishes some time ago, they were of course also able to gain more views than, let's say a popular post in 2023. I'm aware of that, and luckily I'm not from an official research institute:). Maybe we could check the statistics again in a few years to see what happened. But does it really matter? Enjoying the treasures of the past was the starting point of this throwback post, and I hope you did exactly that! 

What's your favourite refashion?

And ... of course I want to know your personal favourite! Do you agree with the top 5 or would you vote for something completely different? Is your favourite refashion a useful, more technical tutorial? Or maybe a quick fix, or a creative refash you're still planning to do yourself?

Please share your thoughts in the comments!

And if you're in for more throwbacks, we'd also like to know. A special inspired by (brand) throwback? (There have been some nice Chanel refashions here:)). Or how about theme throwbacks like seasonal transformations, or....?

Quick fix for a low or high neckline

Hi everyone, hope you all had a great summer! (And if you're in the Southern Hemisphere, summer is coming:)). This time I'm sharing 2 quick fixes. The neckline of one of my older tops was rather low and a bit overstretched. It looks a bit sloppy and at a certain age, too much cleavage is overrated:). But I'm also not a big fan of high necklines, which is the issue of the second top. I definitely need more air in that area. So I'm tackling 2 tops, with different neckline issues.

If you have been following my posts, you may have noticed that I love quick fixes. I've had sewing lessons for years and years, but it doesn't seem to have changed my approach (limited effort, optimal effect). And yes, I've had the occasional frowns from the teachers. So maybe this post is for the like-minded creatives among you:).

To tackle the issue with the low stretched neckline, I stitched along the lower half of the neckline with elastic thread on the bobbin.

For the second issue, I gathered fabric at the center front and simply gave it a few stitches with my sewing machine.

No, not this one. I found this kitschy sewing machine was found on a vide grenier at the Opal coast in France this summer. You probably love it or hate it:)?

No whirrrrrs...

As you can see on the 'after' photos, the new neckline on the left is a bit smaller, due to the elastic. And on the right you can see the created v-neck on the purple shirt. Both jobs took me less than an hour and it was worth the effort!

If you're interested in more details (Dutch and English) and/or a small recap of my cycling holiday in France, you're welcome to visit vermaakster.blogspot.com!

Dress to Apron to Shorts to Skirt

 Hello Refashion Co-op. I found this fun blue dress at a thrift store and it was full of possibilities.

I bought this dress because it was hand-made. When I see hand-made things at the thrift store I usually buy them. Someone put a lot of work into it. 

 

 I liked the color but it was too tight for me. 

I shortened the dress and opened the center back seam to make a cute apron. 

When I shortened the dress I had enough fabric to make a pair of summer shorts. 

I wasn't done yet. I liked the apron but I have an apron. I decided to take the top of the dress/apron off and shorten it even more. I could turn the skirt around and tie the skirt in front over the shorts. 

Thanks for reading along, for more details and pictures go to I Can Work With That.

Fabric Scraps to T-Shirts

 Hello Refashion Co-op. I decided to try and use some of the fabric scraps that had piled up in my sewing room. I needed some new t-shirts and went on a t-shirt sewing binge. 

 

I was able to make 10 new tops of all different color combinations. 

 

I used this Vogue pattern, 8062, for each shirt. I put the scraps together and used all the pieces I thought made a good color combination for each shirt. You can see more how-to details on my blog,  I Can Work With That.
 

2 Striped Shirts

 Hello Refashion Co-op. Summer is so hot and humid where I live. I thought these 2 matching shirts would make a great 2 piece set. 

Before and after.

I had a few mis-steps along the way but I made shorts to go with the shirt.

 

 

The outfit was light and great for the hot weather. For more details go to I Can Work With That.