Textile bead necklace (early idea for Christmas gift?)

 

And now for something completely different... A textile bead necklace made from fabric scraps. There are a few important advantages of this fun project: you get to dive into your stash of fabric scraps / you finally put them to good use / it's a lovely gift (for yourself or someone else:)). I made the necklace for a friend of ours who turned 60, and chose colours that match her colourtype (autumn).

I made textile beads from pieces of fabric (7 x 4cm) and filled them with batting.

A sleeve of an old shirt from D. was perfect for the 2 straps. I like the idea that scraps from both of us are used since the birthday girl (do you still say that when someone turns 60 by the way???) is a mutual friend. 

The necklace required mainly handwork, but I kind of love fiddling with needle and thread!

You can find all sorts of inspiring examples of textile beads on the internet, big, small, embroidered, round etc etc. The beautiful textile jewelry by Canadian artist Alison Dawson inspired me to try my textile bead necklace. I simply loved using scraps for it and ere are many more scraps in my fabric stash, so I might just make another one for myself!

If you also want to make someone/yourself happy with a textile bead necklace: you'll find the detailed steps on vermaakster.blogspot.com. 

Until next time!

Make a Coat From a Blanket

 Hello Refashion Co-op. It is fall and getting colder where I live. It is time for cold mornings and jackets. I found this throw blanket over the summer at a thrift store and knew I wanted it to be a jacket or coat of come kind. Wool is warm and breathable and I knew it would make a great light-weight coat. 

I used the Bog Coat Pattern from Matchy-Matchy Sew Club. It is a simple pattern and is zero waste if you follow the directions. I did my own thing as I made the jacket but the initial plan was thanks to this pattern.

Here is the beginning of my coat and the tie for the waist. 

 

I wanted multi-colored buttons in the front of my coat. 

 

First I made a long style coat. I was not sure I liked the length on me. 

 

I realized that I could cut off some length and use that to make a matching scarf. I love how it turned out. Thanks for reading along. For more how-to details and pictures go to I Can Work With That. 
 

 

 

Floral print dress to top and skirt (when the pattern is too much for you)

 

When I tried on this second hand dress I first saw the print in the mirror, and then me. When the pattern wears you instead of you wearing the pattern, it's never good. What to do, because I really loved the colours and flowers? 

I decided to transform the dress in a blouse top and skirt, so I could wear them each separately. And combined it with something a little more plain.

When I started this refashion a while ago, it was still warm here. I just hadn't gotten around to posting it. But I'm sure it's still warm somewhere, maybe where you are, right? 

So I cut the dress in two and started with the blouse top. I took off the lower button and the 2 belt loops.

Then I pinned and sewed elastic on the outside of the bottom hem. 

Folding the elastic nicely away in the corner.

After that I simply turned the elastic to the inside and topstitched the hemline. 

On the right you can see how the new hem looks at the outside, with small gathers from the elastic. 

And this is how the blouse turned out. I'd probably have to combine it with a warm longsleeve now, it's around 12 degrees (Celcius) here. But I have already worn the blouse a few times, back in the sunny days:).

So how's the weather where you are? Warm enough for this blouse?

If you want to find out more about the skirt, please visit vermaakster.blogspot.com. 

Enjoy your sunday!

Barcelona denim pleated skirt

 

Hola everyone, this week we're having sort of an Indian summer in Holland. 20 to 25 degrees (Celcius) is not very common here in late September. Great weather to wear a skirt with bare legs before fall arives. Like this Barcelona jeans pleated skirt!

In the last couple of years I've often been inspired by the Spanish brand Desigual because of the bold use of colours and fabrics. Not everything is my style, but I regularly see interesting fabric combinations and funny twists in their garments. 

A while ago, my eye fell on the skirt below on the right and I immediately loved the idea, a pleated skirt with a denim hip piece. I had a pleated skirt (check) and a pair of old jeans from my better half D. (check), so I was ready to get started with my own interpretation of this idea.

I cut the hip piece and ripped the seam on the front below the fly. 

Then I placed the front pieces a little diagonal on top of each other. I had an extra button added (so I would still be able to actually put it on:)) before I closed the front seam again.

Finally, I attached the hip piece on my pleated skirt . As you can see on the photo below I styled with an asymmetrical top, also fabrication of yours truly. The fun part of this top is that I can pull up both shoulders with a strap and snap, or just one, or none:). I tweaked a pattern from the Dutch magazine Knipmode for this top. 

The braided belt was also an 'own make', an upcycle of fabric scraps in 2023. Hope you liked this refashion and hommage to Desigual.

If you're interested in more details on this refashion you're welcome to visit vermaakster.blogspot.com. 

It's also the place to be if you want to know more about the diy for the braided belt and the pattern I based this top on. 

Thanks for reading along!

Dress to Peplum Top

 Hello Refashion Co-op. I have had this dress for quite a while and did not wear it. It felt too light and too thin. I decided to cut it off and make a top. 

This was a quick and easy refashion. The dress already had an elastic waist. I just needed to cut and re-hem it at a shorter length.

I cut most of the skirt off. 

 

My new shirt was ready in no time. Thanks for reading along, for more pictures and details go to I Can Work With That.