Silk Button Up Refashion

This refashion isn't mind  blowing - I simply cut up a large man's shirt, flipped it backwards, and cut out the Grainline Studios Scout Tee pattern, and sewed it up again. But, I know sometimes I'm inspired by a certain fabric or look so hopefully this refashion will do that for you!

The before!

The after!

Button in the back :)
See more pictures on my blog at Swoodson Says.

Large Men's Shirt into a Retro Dress

Hello again! This is my second contribution to this blog, and once again my refashion has a retro theme to it.
I started out with a large, over sized men's shirt that I can be seen sporting in the photo on the left.

It looks more like a robe on me, but because there was so much material to it, I was able to fashion it into a retro style sun dress! I did add a slither of plaid fabric to it from my collection to brighten it up and give it some detailing.

I utilised the button and hole strip that was already on the shirt to act as the fastener for the dress, and I used the sleeves to add volume to the skirt part.

The full tutorial can be found on my blog Lola Nova.

It comes up quite short on me as I'm rather tall so I'd probably wear it with leggings.

Until next time,

Jeni

a tee shirt become a shirt

I'm so late !!! Sorry !
Ths is a very simply refashion for my little girl.

Just on cut ! But it's very cool ... because of the fabric.

Visit my blog HERE.

Blue Polka Dot Dress

This handmade 1980's little number had several things going for it... the navy blue color, the tiny white polka dots, the sheer, cotton fabric, I could go on. However, the length was all wrong and it was a frumpy mess! 

I removed the sleeves, took up the length by about 8 inches, and used the scrap to make a nice sash. Now I have this!

I love the inverted pleat in the front as well. It's light and airy and perfect for Summer! 

To see more vintage refashions, please visit my blog at Love Street Salvage.

-Kristal

Eyelet Lace

This is another of the pieces I picked up in the bag sale recently, and was therefore only $.27. :) It's an eyelet lace skirt with lining, by GAP, and being 100% cotton is a perfect summer piece. But I don't wear white skirts, or even this style of skirt...they're just not my thing. But the beautiful eyelet lace is what this piece is all about.

I used another top as a template and transformed this skirt into something I'll be wearing for years to come! Stop by my blog to check out the process, how I got two pieces from one, and a closer look at how I finished off the arms (tried out a new decorative stitch!) :).

Hope you like this update, it's definitely one that can be repeated with many types of skirts for very different effects! Happy Refashioning :)

Peace,
Andrea

Give me Liberty

About 12-15 summers ago, I admired a short sleeve denim top my Mom was wearing. She promptly took me to her favourite Marshall's (she lives within three, lucky duck) and I got one quite similar in style but a different brand as they were out of the one she'd bought. It always made me think of her when I wore it. I'm so happy it -- and EVERYTHING in my USA size 14 box -- fit me once again.

It is quite comfortable after so many years of wear and wash, but slightly UN-comfy when worn in hot muggy humid weather therefore does not get much use except for vacations where the weather and climate comply.  I removed the pockets and sleeves

then went swimming through my Tana Lawn scraps. It has been a LONG time since I worked at Liberty, but I am nowhere near running out of fabric bits. I don't think there's anything more than a fat quarter up in the studio now so I'd have to hit up a few folk I still know there to get me lengths for clothing. The IWOM don't pay full price for Tana! Not after so many years of getting it 60% off -- and even more on remnants. Hate me if you must.

I patched together some bits for pockets and made binding with one and half inch strips for the neckline and armholes -- no two fabrics the same! I put a little more room into the armholes so it is layer-able, but not so deep as it shows anything I'd rather not when I wear it as is. Must send picture to Mom, she who tweets and Facebooks -- unlike her Luddite daughter the IWOM.

I'd already processed lots of my Tana from previous quilts so had plenty of one and a half inch bits to make those bits of binding for my denim top...aaaaand...these!

These were bought for tangling purposes (my CZT would be proud) but I've not got round to that yet. I just knotted the ends of my laces after passing them through the holes: I've seen some  heat shrinky plastic tube stuff with which you can make tips but tightly wrapped tape or zig-zag  stitching over the ends seem to do the trick just fine. How do I know this? I, uh, got a little obsessed with this tremendously easy project so have NOT moved on the to next refashion in the rather large stack. Naughty IWOM. 

These will be a great item to make for charity next time I'm asked to provide something to sell -- and I'll have a few less to make as I sorta made eight pair once I got going....

FYI - my laces started their lives as one and a half inches by forty four inches for a USA 9/UK 7 sneaker/trainer. 

IWOM

refashioned extreme

2 years ago, a friend broke and dislocated his shoulder, and all that pregnant too! Everything here to go get something for my daughter in her car ... I can not tell you the guilt ... Anyway, that day for him free his arm, firefighters cut her coat she liked. Her mom has treasured to recover between other padding (for stuffing pillows or comforters!). Then, when moving this summer, she finally told me what was left of the garment, to do a few things:

For his birthday, what was left of his coat is then converted into bag, specially designed for the recipient:

       

All that comprises the bag (unless the sewing yarn!) From the mantle.

I offer you the pattern and explanations (in French sorry!)

Click here!

Séléné

First No-Sew Skirt to Dress Refashion

I found this plus size skirt a few weeks ago for a mere $1.98.  It was a bit too big for me, but I loved the color and pattern.

I had every intention of ripping off the waistband, replacing it with elastic, and shortening it to a more flattering length for my short frame. Then inspiration, or perhaps just laziness, struck.

I realized that when worn as a dress, it was the perfect knee length. However, it was a couple inches too loose at the top. 

Wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.

So I safety pinned a pleat in the front to take up the excess fabric.

Popped on a belt and Voila! Nearly instant sundress.

Cover-up to Shirt

I got this at the grocery store, of all places. The tag said "sundresses/swimsuit cover-ups."  My cover-up does a lot more covering up, and this was way too short to wear as a dress.  It was also see-through.  But I liked the polka dots, so I decided to make it into a shirt.

It had elastic smocking at the top that I removed, and it gave me a ton of extra fabric to work with.  Basically I made a tube, shirred the sides, and made straps out of the excess. I can now wear this without any special bra, which is nice. 

The amazing transforming pullover

Some years ago I refashioned a turtleneck pullover (no before picture) by removing the turtleneck, and edging the neckline with biastape.

But it was not quite right.

So I refashioned it into a cardigan. Better, but the ribbing at the bottom of the pullover/cardigan was pulling in a way I didn't like. Also, the neck opening had become a bit too wide.

So, now I have refashioned it again.
I removed the ribbing and added it to the neckline ((blog post here). And hemmed the raw edge.

I like my new cropped cardigan very much and the neckline is so comfortable.

Blog: http://www.sagaifarver.dk

My favorite refashion EVER!

I'm going to show you my favorite refashion EVER!

Okay, so this sundress had potential, but a few problems!  One is the hole in the hem near the hand that is holding the skirt.  Another is the length.  When you are 6 feet tall like I am, often clothes end up looking too short!  And then there's the shape of the dress overall...makes me look pregnant.  Which I am not!  Good thing I love to refashion!!

Ahhhh, much better!  So why is this my favorite refashion?  First of all, it's a no-sew!  All I did was literally cut off the top and fix that little hole!  (Okay, so I sewed the hole, but you could find a similar sundress and do the same thing and it would be no-sew!!)  Second, it's loooooong enough for my looooong legs!  I wear it all the time.  

Now I want to know what is your favorite thing you've sewn so far in 2014.  And if you link it up to the sew-along on our blog, you have the chance to win fabric from Mapology!  Also, you really should come over to our blog this week to support Lauren, (one of our editors here on Refashion Coop) as she is a competitor this week in Mystery Fabric Swap Week!  Come on over to Skirt Fixation to see what it's all about!

Floral Blouse

This flowered, polyester skirt set me back a whole $1.50, and as you can see, I'm sucking some major gut to squeeze into it.

I used my go-to tank top pattern as a jumping-off point. I raised the neckline a bit and added a Peter Pan collar. Strips of fabric from the scraps were used to bind the edges.

For more details on the process, come visit me at CarissaKnits!

Floral Pants

Enough with the florals, already, right?! WRONG :) I love me some florals and have yet another new piece to add to my ever-growing floral wardrobe. I started off with these pants that I thrifted last month for $3.

Hop on over here to see how they went from "full-of-potential" to my FAVORITE PANTS EVER!!! ;)

Peace,
Andrea

10 minutes refashion

Some time ago I refashioned this dress, simply taking it in at the sides.

But the shirring/smock was too high up my chest, and it would often rise to above my bust, which looked silly.

When I refashioned this brown dress I finally found a solution to the problem
I simply turned the dress backwards and lowered the former back neckline to become a boat neck.

It took 10 minutes and the dress has a completely different look now. I like that it is very minimalistic, allowing me to accessorise it with basically anything.

Blogpost: http://saga-i-farver.blogspot.dk/2014/07/ny-kjole-pa-10-min.html
Blog: http://www.sagaifarver.dk

A maxi to wear to a wedding

This weekend I went to a wedding, and I refashioned an old prom dress to wear.
Here is the dress before I worked my magic:

And here it is after:

For more on how I made this transformation happen, visit my blog here. Thanks for stopping by!

Positif / Négatif

J'ai transformé un pantacourt blanc en jupe noire. Voici l'objet du délit avant :

Après coloration et recoupe voici le résultat : 

Pour plus de détails vous pouvez venir me faire une petite visite   ICI 

A très bientôt, 

Elisa Elisa

2-for-1: Stripes & Floral

I snatched up these striped pajama pants at a bag sale yesterday...they set me back a whole $.27. Now, the problem with these is that they are size XS (which I am not) and absolutely wouldn't work as they were. But there's a pretty simple solution...and this process works with many kinds of pants! (Jeans, slacks...even sweatpants)

Love me some stripes!!!

After all was said and done, I've got myself a new hi-low stripy skirt :). I like how this came out and the high-waist makes it much more flattering on me, imo. One little quarter, and about half an hour is all it took.

Wanna see the step-by over on my blog? Check it out here.

Here comes another one! I had cut off so many scraps from my striped skirt that I had to do something with at least part of them right away. I've had this floral maxi dress for a while now and haven't been wearing it because it is too clingy on my waist and the thin fabric is a bit unforgiving. So I'd brought it out thinking I'd make it into a maxi skirt but had no wide elastic for a waist band. In comes a scrap of striped stretch fabric...

Stripes, meet Floral ;)

With a bit of chopping, sewing, and 15 minutes, I was victorious. This was incredibly easy...but that's kinda what I needed in the effort to get my sewing mojo back. And hopefully I have! Here's the final before & after shots:

Want to see how I did it? Hop on over here. :)

So, what do you think? I'd love to know what you would have made with each of these pieces! Sometimes I go with the most obvious choice, out of habit I'm sure, but maybe getting a different perspective could help me broaden my vision for refashion possibilities! Happy Refashioning :)

Peace,
Andrea

Oversized Top Refashion

Aloha!  I hope all of you are having a relaxing, lovely summer. Mine is almost coming to an end. 

Fortunately, I was able to get a refashion in before I head back to work. 

You can find details for this refashion at www.feelingkindathrifty@blogspot.com. 

DIY SCARVES: Better and beautiful

So, I've had these simple scarves that I had crocheted a few years ago during my big crochet kick. I'm not sure why I don't wear them more often because they are nice, comfy, and warm. But the bigger question is: Should turn these crocheted scarves into infinity scarves? I'll answer that question with a question: Why not? Maybe I would wear the scarves more often if they were simple infinity scarves.

So, I took my two favorite crocheted scarves: a lovely dark brown with colorful specks and a black-white-green striped one. The obvious fix was simply sewing or crocheting the open ends together. I'm sure I could've figured out a way to crochet the ends together, but I didn't want to take the time to do that. I opted for the easier and faster method -- a straight stitch with my handy dandy sewing machine (completed before sewing machine kicked it).

At this point, I could be done with the project, cleaning up the new seam and making sure the stitches won't fall out. But I had a brilliant and beautiful plan. I took a few inches of the section containing the new seam and carefully wrapped matching brown yarn around the designated area. I briefly thought about crocheting a simple two or three line strip to wrap around the scarf, but I decided against it. 

I wanted a different textured or pattern look to make this small section stand out a bit. So, I tightly wrapped matching yarn around the designated section, simply tying end pieces. Once I find or make the right accessories, I'll probably add them to the scarves, but for now, I'm pretty happy with the minor fixes.

To read more about the process, click here and take time to check out my blog -- jenniferelliott14.com.

Jennifer Elliott