A Tale of Two Tabards - Child's Heraldic Tunic DIY

Looking to enlarge my costumery portfolio and try a historical era about which I knew absolutely zero, I was interested to be asked if I could help with children's costumes for a local historical venue.

My first thought was I don't have any suitable fabric (is this even possible?) but I soon found an old curtain and an unused pillowcase which I could use to stitch the tabards.  The shield motifs were made from felt and fabric offcuts.

I have put together a tutorial on how to make the felt applique shield on my blog.

Shortening Sleeves

Hello Refashion Co-op. I liked this sweater and it fit perfect in the body but it didn't fit me in the sleeves.

I mean it didn't fit me in the sleeves at all. Does this happen to anyone else? My arms are so stubby and short, bell sleeves do not work for me. I can't even roll or push the sleeves up and try to pretend they aren't too long. They are too loose to push up.

I decided to cut the sleeves off. It was easy to cut around the shoulder seam. I left the seam intact because I didn't want the arm hole to stretch and get out of shape.

I cut the top of the sleeves off and tried to copy the shoulder shape as much as I could. I didn't want to shorten the sleeves at the wrist because that was where the pretty chevron stripes were.

 This was the important part that has changed. I can use my hands and do everyday things like drive a car safely.

I was happy the sweater looked just like it did before. Now it has 3/4 length sleeves instead of long bell sleeves. It was easier to put the sleeves back on than I thought it would be. The knit was easy to manipulate even though I have never done it before.

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

In The Pink 4

Hello Refashion Co-op. I made it to the end off my pile of pink clothes waiting to be refashioned. These two shirts were full of a happy coral pink. I liked the color more than the shirts themselves.

This little shirt was so extremely little. It is very cropped and also very low cut. I don't like either of those things on me, so this shirt was pretty worthless. But that coral pink was calling my name. I decided to cut the shoulders off, flip it upside down, and make it into a tube top to wear under other shirts.

I flipped it upside down so that the finished hem is at the top. Some shirts will stay up on their own like this. Or some thin elastic can be threaded through a hole cut on the inside of the hem. I pushed the elastic all the way around the hem and tied a knot. That's it. 

I decided I liked the fit and color of this plaid shirt but the front always came open between the buttons. That drives me crazy! I rarely wear button down shirts because they don't lay flat. I made some quick stitches right on top of the stitches already there. Now the shirt will lay flat and stay smoothly closed.

Here is a picture of me pointing to the changes in these shirts.

 It is a little bit of an awkward pose.

I Can Work With That 

Misaligned button on shirt dress

I found this ill-fitting but cute Talbot's brand cotton shirt-dress at a thrift store. I am a sucker for a shirt dress. I took it home.

The waistline was in the wrong place so I separated the top and bottom and repositioned them.

It worked, but I found that some of the buttons were misaligned with the button holes.  

I've run across this problem before when upcycling - here is the technique I use to fix the problem:

1) Align the packets exactly how you want them to be in the finished garment.

2) Use a pin to pierce the center of the buttonhole and into the placket underneath.

3) Very carefully peel back the top layer and see where the pin is inserted.   

4) The pin should be about the same distance from each placket edge as the existing button.  If not, the pin may have been angled when it was put in.  In the picture it seems to be skewed to the right a bit. 

5) Now you know exactly where to move the button!

Happy upcycling!  Michelle

scarf refashion

Hello

this time, I work with scarfs.

Before :

After

And a second one

Before

After

For more, visit my blog.