50's jacket and my refashioned copy!

I found this jacket at a vintage fair. It fits me really well, which is sheer luck, as anyone who looks round these fairs will know that finding one that fits is a rare occurrence!

I really liked everything, the print, the shaping and particularly the collar shape.

And above is the before and after. So once I'd copied the jacket I managed to squeeze the pattern pieces into the fabric from the trousers, only just!

For a bit on copying the pattern, cutting it from the trouser and a few close-ups, have a look at my blog here.

Pink vintage pattern and a pink refashion

I often use the fabric from a garment, rather than refashioning the actual garment, but I like working both ways and the latter does so much of the work for you. This time I managed to do both!

The before and the after

This time I realised I could use the sleeves and cuffs as they are, the buttoned cuff is what made me think of double buttons for the front and I only had to recut the sleeve to match the length of the vintage pattern piece.

I love the illustrations on this pattern, which was a free gift, many years ago from a magazine called The Peoples Friend! For the full story on how I cut out the blouse and then had to redo to avoid the frumpy look! visit my blog!

A jumpsuit refashioned into a blouse

It's a very nice jumpsuit, but not for me!

 So I refashioned it into a blouse, inspired by one of the many necklines I had seen in the film Brooklyn.

 And finally managed to match these vintage buttons to a fabric that they really sat well with.

At the same time I was also experimenting with sleeve shapes, although this one was far too splayed out in its shaping?

 So I manipulated it into becoming a feature, working with the styling of the blouse I was making! For full details have a look at my blog!

Faux fur scarf refashioned to faux fur scarf that stays fastened!

Now it's colder here I'm glad I made this! Over the years I've collected many faux fur collars and scarves, but the problem with most of them is that they don't fasten well.

This is a faux fur scarf, a simple strip, cut up the middle and ready to sew with bits of leftover lining. This scarf needed a remake because the fabric was so soft and shiny that any form of tying just slipped out?

This is a selection of a few of the other scarves I have

And the different types of fastenings they have, which I have tried out, and decided the best one is.....

this one! A faux fur, lined scarf with a loop for the tail to sit through. It stays in place always. For a look at alternative fastenings and a tutorial on how to make this scarf, have a look here!

A sleeveless blouse with a self fabric belt from 2 playsuits

This is one of those finds that I really enjoy, I had admired the print on this playsuit but knew I would never wear it! Forgotten about.

But during a visit to Glasgow I found it, reduced to £1 on a sale rail. I was thinking there may not be enough fabric in just 1 of them to make anything!? So luckily there were 2 for me to buy. 

The challenge of this refashion was figuring out the cutting layout for the pattern pieces? It was just like a big puzzle. For a look at how I did this, have a look here!

If I had been fortunate enough to have found the playsuit in my own size I would simply have removed the shorts part and resewn the bottom band, leaving the top part as a wrapover top.

A pattern hack, a how to and a three garment outfit refashion!

Sometimes a refashion is the most satisfying form of sewing of all. I had said I would take part in a sewing challenge, but as a refashioner!

The moment when you spot the fabric that you want, usually, for me, in the form of another garment, and you know what your entire outfit is going to become, is just such a thrill!! This 70's curtain inspired print was exactly what I'd been looking for!

Each of the three garments of this outfit is a refashion, some to a greater extent than the others, for the full story on each piece visit my blog 

A refashion, an old pattern and how to make your pattern narrower

Oops! Did it again, in my rush to get cutting I forgot my before photo but it did look just like this.

This refashion is based on an old pattern and my blog includes a tutorial on how to make a simple pattern narrower.

 I had to make my pattern narrower to fit into the restricted scarf width, the checks had to match so this also determined the length. With the leftover pieces I managed to fit in the collar and welt pockets. My compromise was having to have a false hem. For all the details visit my blog!

Kimono remake

I remade this one earlier this year, and I really like to wear it with jeans.

 I had already slimmed down the sleeves and shortened the fringing on this kimono, wore it for a while and then decided to give it another new look!

 Often I enjoy a bit of an obsession with collecting buckles, brooches, buttons and in this instance I'm going to use one of my old buckles. I always wear the cardi with the belt, it's a really flattering shape! For how to create this cardigan, have a look at my blog here!

A refashioned neckline or maybe not!

This is a top from my wardrobe, in need of a refashion. I decided to simply shorten it and use this extra piece of fabric as a tie to give the neckline a bit of a revamp!

 But look at how the new neckline feature disappears into the print? I'm not happy with this! So if you give it a try - beware the busy print!

So I haven't quite decided yet, but I may revisit this top and remake it into something else. I often mock up ideas before I get happy with the scissors... so I might remodel the top into this faux fur edged cardigan. 

 For details on how simple it is to create this neckline feature, visit my blog here!

A Shirt to Sweatshirt

This was a quick refashion as it was an easy one to do! Below are the front and back views of the original shirt.

 I made several simple changes to this top and if you are interested in how I did this visit my blog here!

This refashioned sweatshirt has become one of my favourite tops!

An accidental Christmas jumper!!

I had been given this scarf, after it was rejected by my son! Now these scarves are huge, and rather than being able to wear it nicely, I was fighting with it? I had recently self drafted a pattern for a jumper and thought, I'll use the scarf to test the pattern.

By coincidence the Love Your Clothes campaign had asked me to retweet their Christmas jumper upcycle competition and then the thought was planted! I decided to give it a try, with the self inflicted condition that I would only use any bits and pieces found in the house, and buy nothing!

I used a piece of net from an old underskirt and jewels that I'd unpicked from the collar of a shirt and made a mess cutting out snowflakes, the old fashioned way.

For the full story have a look here.

A remake of something new created item number 2

I don't often buy new full price, but this was for a very special occasion, and it was inexpensive enough for me to buy 2. It was exactly the print I wanted but not in the style, so even when willing to buy RTW I can't usually find what I want! Visit here for how to create the new neck tie!

This refashion, created pieces for another refashion including collar, cuffs, front stands and bits of body. I had used most of the body pieces for the neck tie.

 I knew where I'd seen a good contrast print... on a sale rail!

I self drafted the 2nd top basing it on the Sewoverit vintage shirt dress and reused the leftover pieces from the 1st refashion. For details on how I hacked the pattern look on my blog!

A reshaped furry coat

It's windy and wet here which is not the best weather for a faux fur coat but I wanted one in wine or plum regardless. This is the monster coat that I started with

I like the shape of this faux fur jacket that I bought several years ago so I'm going to use it as the basic shape for the new one.

For details on how I changed the coat from double to single breasted and the alterations I made to it have a look at my blog. Here's the finished coat, very cosy and just what I wanted!