Wild Wild West

Since my last project was such an epic failure, I thought I would re-share a past refashion that turned out lovely. : )

I was invited to a Wild West Most Wanted themed Hitchin' (wedding), and needed a 20s style saloon dress. So I hit the thrift stores hoping to find something fun and glamorous to wear. Without success and time running out I decided I could sew something I found in the thrift store into something suitable to wear.

I started with an ugly velvet ruffly floor length skirt with lovely lace at the bottom. I pulled the skirt up above my chest, took it in a lot while giving it some shape, then I used the leftover lace from the bottom of the skirt to make a fun strappy back. Added some much needed accessories … and success!

The themed wedding was so much fun!

-alyrocco-

Epic Fail

This white shirt is super cozy and is actually a pyjama shirt, but after only two washes the silver lettering came off (I tried to zoom in to get a closer look). To attempt an update I decided to cut out a v-neck and use some of the remaining sparkles to add to the new V. I like how the silver V turned out, however the shirt is way too low cut now and quite flimsy at the neck line (or should I now call it the chest line? ha ha). This month’s project turned out to be an epic fail. 

Part of re-fashioning is learning. You win some, you lose some. 

On to the next project…

-alyrocco-

Bikini Bottom

I was recently on a holiday and had one of my fav bikini bottoms stretch out so it no longer fit tightly on top, the fabric was loose and didn’t want to stay on very well.

I really didn't want to toss it so I attempted to fix it. 

First, I folded over the waist for a better fit with the fabric sitting tighter along the belly. 

Next, I didn’t like always having to tie the sides every time I put it on, so I sewed the sides together and shortened the ties (this will allow for less blotchy tan lines). To give it some extra pizazz I added on a couple of navy buttons, which helped to also hide the stitching. 

It turned out okay, but next time I will try to hide the side stitching even better so that it doesn’t look handmade. But the fit is much better now. : )

- alyrocco - 

Accessorize!

I almost always carry various healing oils and ointments with me for headaches, sore muscles, etc.. I toss them in my purse in a Ziplock bag. I’ve been doing this for years and was all of a sudden inspired to change that. Just because it’s on the inside of my purse doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be fashionable as well. 

I started with some fabric. The green was thrifted, and the other is a small piece I bought new. The button was thrifted as well, but the zipper was bought new. 

I used the green as lining for the pouch, and added some ribbon and a button on the outside to make it super cute.

Pulling this adorable travel pouch out of my purse is so much better than a Ziplock bag. Why didn’t I think of this before?

-alyrocco-

Dress & Headband

I found this dress but it was too long for my body type, so I cut a large chunk off of the bottom to better suit my style.

(I forgot the before picture.. but here is the dress after the chop)

I decided to use the leftover fabric to make a headband. First, I sewed the material into a tube and turned it inside out, then to hide the seam, I cut a piece to cover it up and add some flare. To add just a little more style I sewed on a couple of large purple leather buttons.

- alyrocco -

Tablecloth Transformation

I found a tablecloth for $1.00 at a yard sale. I loved the thick fabric, the print, and of course the amount that was available for creations. Score!

For the first project using this fabric, I decided to make a sling bag. Admittedly this project took way longer than I anticipated. I wanted to remove the green stripes from the fabric (notice the original tablecloth and the bag end result). So I cut out the green and sewed the fabric back together in a few spots. I do love how the colors turned out in the end though. 

For the lining of the bag, I used a large red camisole top. I created a pocket on the inside lining using the bottom hem of the shirt as the top part of the pocket. 

I sewed the lining to the outside of the bag, and made a long strap to attach to the sides. Then I sewed in a thick red zipper.

I loved it as is, but since I already spent so much time on it, I decided it needed a little more detail. I used some matching purple fabric buttons to sew on to the side straps. I had six of them that I took off of an old shirt and sewed three on to each side. It just gives it a little more dimension. 

I am quite happy with the final product...

Now I just need to decide what to do with the rest of the fabric. I might make some placemats or a small entrance rug perhaps….

-alyrocco-

Gandhi Tote Bag

I was recently at a clothing exchange party and scored this t-shirt. It was too tight on top and very stretched on the bottom but I loved the statement it made. I had a freebie swag bag that was not overly fashionable with a company logo. So I decided to combine the two.

I cut out the text on the front and back of the t-shirt and strategically placed it over top of the Lexen Logo on the bag. I also kept the tag from the t-shirt to place on the bottom to make it look more professional. I then pinned the pieces onto the bag and found some bright orange thread to match the text color and zig-zagged stitched it on. 

I will now wear this bag proudly with the statement from Ghandi. 

Also, after cutting out the text from the t-shirt, I still had plenty of material left over. Trying to waste as little as possible I decided to use the rest of the uber soft material to make a cover for my heat pack. A few posts ago I made a cover for my meditation eye pillow and someone made a comment about using that same process for a heat/cold pack. I happen to use mine all the time and thought that was a fantastic idea.. thank you!

This time instead of making the insertion point the centre of the cover I decided to try making it pillow case style and keeping one edge long to fold over and tuck inside, it worked well. 

This old, unwanted t-shirt will now be enjoyed as two separate items. : )

-alyrocco-

Panty Fix

This might be a little strange but I decided to alter these cute little panties. When I bought these I thought they were cute but did not think about the comfort level of them. The back is a fish net stocking type of material and was not at all enjoyable to sit on all day. I didn’t want to toss a new pair of panties so I chose to update them. I also have never worked with elastic before and this was the perfect small project to start with. 

First, I cut the front part from the back. Then I placed the back cut out part on a black t-shirt, which is far too small for me now, and cut around the outline. Next, I sewed the new cut out t-shirt part to the original front part. I wanted to keep the original elastic to match the rest so I cut that out of the back piece and sewed it onto the new t-shirt piece. Last, I sewed the sides together and done. They are still just as cute but much more wearable.  

-alyrocco-

A Quick and Easy Update

I found a Frank Lyman dress/top at the thrift store that I thought was kinda funky. It didn't fit me well though so I took in the sides to have a more flattering fit. I paired it with some black tights and a bright turquoise necklace to bring out the colors. My original intention was to also alter the sleeves but at the end I decided I kinda liked them as they are. 

As a side project, I have decided that I need to get back into my meditation practice. So I made a cover for my eye pillow to keep it sanitary. Having a washable, removable cover will help to keep it clean. I used a shirt that I had, it was a nice shirt but had a couple of holes in it. Since the material was nice and soft I figured it would be perfect for covering my eyes in a blissful state of savasana. 

It was very quick and easy to sew. I cut the fabric into a rectangle and 2 squares, with the squares I used the bottom of the shirt to keep the hem as the insertion point. Sewed along the edges then flipped it right side out.

-alyrocco-

Office Capris for Summer

I had these grey pants sitting around for a long time. They fit too big on the bottom and I originally thought I wanted to just take them in to update the style… As seen in my only before photo pinned in (sorry I forgot to take a better one). However, as I was browsing the web for inspiration I found these cute office appropriate capris on style-advisor.com and decided to turn my long grey pants into a similar fit.

To begin, I cut the length to be about at knee level. I loved the bottom hem so much that I just chopped off the hem and sewed it back onto my new chopped length. 

I think these are perfect for work now. 

-alyrocco-

Minor Details

I found these three beautiful dresses which fit perfectly on top, however the bottom seemed a little frumpy and older looking. All I had to do to make these a little cuter and a little younger looking was chop off the bottom and give them a hem. I used a dress that I have and love the length of as a guide. I know it's a very minor detail but I think the result was a pretty big difference. I love these!

-alyrocco-

Vintage Fabric Market Bag

After a little break from Re-fashion Co-op I'm happy to be back. : )

For my first sewing project I was handed down some fun fabric that my grandmother had hidden up in her attic. I love it! I decided it was the perfect pattern to make a market bag with. I added a zipper and used the handles from an old reusable shopping bag that was falling apart and success! I love how it turned out.

-alyrocco-

SCARF TO PURSE REFASION

I decided to make a purse from my scarf. I took an old scarf I had lying around, an old shirt I had, and a zipper I picked up at a yard sale for pennies. I used the shirt as lining. I created an inside pocket, perfectly sized for my iPhone. I was left with hardly any scraps of the scarf. There was just enough fabric for the project. I decided to use some of the frilly end pieces to make a little design on the purse.

Capris Pants to Little White Shorts

This refashion was super quick and easy. I was no longer liking the fit of my capris pants (which I have loved for years). So I decided to turn them into well fitted shorts. I'm happy with the result.

OM Tee

OM Tee

I had a surge of creativity and wanted to alter my plain purple shirt to be a little more fun.

To do it I:

- free hand drew an om on tracing paper.
- pinned the material from the white shirt to the inside of the purple shirt.
- pinned the tracing paper to the outside of the purple shirt.
- sewed over the tracing paper and both layers of material.
- then I cut out the purple material in between the om symbol.
- lastly trimmed the inside of the shirt to get rid of excess white material.

I love it!

Funky Pants to Scarf

I found these crazy pants at a garage sale for $1. They have really pretty beading at the bottom which I thought would look great as a scarf or head band. So I took them home and chopped off the legs, sewed the ends together and ta-da. A really quick and easy scarf.  : )

Vintage Hippy Dress to Fun Apron

Here is my third re-fashion. 

I really wanted an apron and decided the print on this hippy dress would be perfect. I started by sewing the front and back of the dress together to thicken the material as well as have the bright colors show on the back side of the apron. I used an old white t-shirt for the straps and pockets. I found the dress at a yard sale for $1 and the t-shirt was from a run that I did. Here is the before and after:

Wild West Hitchin'

Here is my second refashion. I was invited to a Wild West Most Wanted themed Hitchin' (wedding), and needed a 20s style saloon dress. So I hit the thrift stores hoping to find something fun and glamorous to wear. Without success and time running out; I am a very last minute person, I decided I could sew something I found in the thrift store into something suitable to wear.

I started with an ugly velvet ruffly floor length skirt with lovely lace at the bottom. I pulled the skirt up above my chest, took it in a lot while giving it some shape, then I used the leftover lace from the bottom of the skirt to make a fun strappy back. Added some much needed accessories … and success!

The themed wedding was so much fun!

: )

Alyssa

My first re-fashion!

Hi there, my name is Alyssa. I am new to the Refashion Co-op. You have all inspired me to re-fasion, so I bought a sewing machine and got to work. I really wasn't sure how it would turn out but I loved the end result so much I think I'm hooked. Why buy new clothes when you can create them?

To begin, I found a second hand XXL dress so that I had a lot of material to work with. I loved the material so much I new I could make something wonderful from it.

Here is the before and after picture: