Blouse expansion

Whilst rooting out some clothes for warm weather I found this blouse that I refashioned last year then put away for the winter. I bought it in a sale some years back, it's a very cheap construction, but a nice cotton/linen woven fabric, and I liked the ruffles on the front. It was stitched up the front with a false fastening and pearl buttons. The opening was at the side with a concealed zip. It fitted when I bought it, but after a couple of washes had shrunk (really!). No before pic, but it looked a bit like this.

I cut it up the front and turned a small hem on the edges, thought I might wear it open over a camisole, but because it's fitted round the bust it didn't hang too well, and I didn't want an extra layer for hot weather. So I cut a section from an old Tshirt, using the hem at the top and hemming the bottom, stitched it into the 'gap', making it slightly shorter than the shirt.

Easy peasy!

Dress to top

I bought this dress at a jumble sale to make my small daughter a dress, she's 33 now, and it 's still waiting.
It's been homemade, with  two pockets in the front seams and nicely finished, but at least 2 sizes too small for me. The back was completely button through using a number of badly matched ugly buttons. On inspection I discovered why it was at the jumble sale, there was a stain on the front that had been removed, but had left a paler patch. I love the fabric, a quality weight cotton with a lovely spriggy print.

The top was so fitted and seamed I just cut it off, and let down the hem. Cut away the buttons and buttonhole bits and sewed up the seam.
Then I removed the large inset pockets from the 2 front seams and stitched up the seams, at the same time taking out the stained panel and restitching it inside out. No one will notice with all that sprigging.
I used an old worn top as a pattern and cut out a back and front, using all the length I had. Joined it at the sides and shoulders, and put a dart in each side to remove some sag at the armholes.
None of the bias binding I had was right, so I made my own by joining strips cut from the pocket pieces.
Finally I made a small hem, and because there was a line where I had let it down, stitched on a row of cotton lace.
I'm really pleased with this top, and rushed to finish it to take on holiday, it's lovely and cool.

The front has a scoop neck, told you you wouldn't notice anything with all that sprigging!

Trouser expansion

Made these cotton trousers many, many years ago, I love the batik-y print. I only had a remnant of the fabric, not even enough to make the pockets, I had to use a contrast fabric for those.

So here we are many years later, the trousers are a size too small now, but I still love the fabric.

To expand them, I used an offcut from my stash cut into strips, opened the side seams, and inserted the strips. Replaced the elastic as it was perished after all those years, and hey presto, a now fashionable pair of trousers!

Showing the strips down the sides, they are an equal width, just hanging at an angle!

Dress expansion

I bought this dress in a sale many years ago. It was maxi length, made of linen/silk, and I wore it on a couple of holidays, felt very glamorous. Anyway, during the time it spent at the back of the wardrobe, it shrank (!!)

I opened the side seams in an effort to make it wider, but had to admit defeat and back it went again.
Eventually I decided to cut some of the length off to make inserts for the sides, but that didn't work either.
Finally, I decided on a lace insert, as I have done successfully on a previous refashion.

So, this is the sorry dress with the seams open  and the bottom chopped.

I cut a strip of lace, backed it with a strip of the dress fabric from the hem offcut, and inserted it down the sides. Then it looked like this.

Close up of the lace insert.

Still need to finish the hem, but the dress is a lovely fit now, and quite fashionable.

Tunic from T shirt

I started this refashion last year, but couldn't decide how to complete it and stuck it in the cupboard. However, new year new ideas, and half an hours work finished it off ready for Spring.

There's no before pics as the pieces were chopped up some time ago, but I started with a  v-neck chiffon tunic shaped blouse bought many years ago in a sale, which I had done various adjustments to and still wasn't happy with the fit. I had cut the back off to do something else, then decided it would look nice as the front of a T shirt.
 Found a suitable T in my collection and refashioned the sleeves to make them a better fit. Cut away the front neckline as it was too tight. And then stitched the back piece of my chiffon tunic over the front of the T, the sides and shoulder by machine, and the armholes by hand.

I have successfully used this technique several times before. It's a good way of incorporating a nice piece of fabric, or a pretty scarf, and T shirts are very easy to get hold of.

scarves from offcuts

I've been very busy making non clothing things and cards for Christmas, so although I have a couple of refashioning projects on the go, I've not had time to finish them. Also I find that I prefer to work in natural daylight, and we don't have as much of that at the mo'.

However, I thought I would just show you these scarves. The fabrics were just offcuts of jersey left over from shortening hem projects, about 2 metres x 350mm. They had been thrown into the scrap bag. Then when I was searching for some other fabric, I pulled them out. Because they are jersey, they had rolled up with the long raw edges tucked inside. So I just wrapped one round my neck over a plain t shirt, didn't need any other stitching at all.

When I get fed up with them, I'll make some brooches from the fabric.

The black one is actually striped with silver, so will enhance my Christmas wardrobe!

Skirt refashion

Rooting through my wardrobe, I find a selection of clothes which although I am still wearing them, they are not the most flattering fit. Or is it that my shape has changed?
A number of skirts are an unflattering length, midi may be in fashion but it doesn't suit me. This one I plucked out first is A line and needed shortening, no before pic I'm afraid, but the main difference I made is in the length.

However, it's not just a quick shortening job. I carefully cut about 10 cm off the bottom, keeping the circle whole, and rehemmed the skirt.
Then I ran a gathering thread round the top of the offcut, and stitched it above the new hem as a ruffle, easing it slightly beforehand.
Thus achieving three things. A shorter skirt. A flattering ruffle just above the knee. And the spare piece of fabric parked where I can find it in case I need it in future.

Summer trousers

Bought these pants cheap in a sale to use in the summer or on holiday. They were a size too big round the waist but I loved the ticking effect of the fabric. The legs were very strange, a bit sailorish, flaring slightly but short, and when they were rolled up and fastened with the parachute tabs, they drooped on the inner side.
I took the waist in with a couple of simple tucks and wore the pants on holiday.
Couldn't wait to come home to alter the legs! I let the hems right down and narrowed the hems by about an inch. Rehemmed them using tape to get the maximum length.

This is before

After, don't look so different, but fit and wear so much better.

Skirt to summer top

I started this refashion before we went on holiday when it was lovely and hot. Now we are back, and it's freezing cold! But I finished it anyway, ready for next year.

I bought this skirt in a sale many years ago because I loved the colour, the linen mix fabric, and the patches of embroidery and sequins.
However, it is bias cut, an unflattering length, and never fitted very well, though I did wear it a bit.

Because of the bias cut, I was reluctant to start the project, however it was cut or sling!

Using a top of the type I wanted as a pattern, and retaining the skirt hem, I first marked how much below the waist to cut off, and stay stitched it round to stop the fabric falling out of shape. Then cut across the skirt above the stay stitching.
Cut off the elastic waistband and cut down the side seams to leave 2 equal size pieces.
One piece I folded in half and ironed in a length of vilene to stop the band stretching. Fitted it onto the front of the top as a yoke.
The back I hemmed to make a casing and inserted a length of elastic to take up some excess fabric.

The other offcut I cut in half lengthwise and made each piece into a shoulder strap. Tidied up the underarm section to fit.
I'm really pleased with this and hope to get a lot more wear out of it next summer.

Front and back. Please excuse the stripped wall, I should be finishing that instead of sewing!

Culottes from elastic waist skirt.

I had a number of knee length elastic skirts in the loft, no longer flattering to the mature body! But with the recent hot weather I needed something cool to wear in the house and garden. So having worked out how to make the skirts into shorts, here it is. I have no before pics, they were just, well, knee length elastic waist skirts that fitted me round the waist and hips.

Choose a skirt that is at least 25cm longer than the final length required, this is for an average size.
Also, the pattern will be turned at right angles, so bear this in mind before cutting!

Cut 25 cm from the bottom of the skirt for an average size. If it has a hem, let this down first, or cut it off if it's worn. Bigger sizes will need to cut off a bit more, very small sizes will get away with less.

Make any adjustments to the width at this point by stitching up the seam/s from waist to hem.

Decide on front and back, and mark the centre lines.

Using a comfy loosish pair of your own  trousers, measure the length of the back crotch seam, subtract 12.5 cm, measure down the centre lines of the new shorts and mark.

Cut up the centre line to the mark, or undo the seam if used. Turn inside out.

Take the strip you cut off the hem, turn at right angles. With right sides together, pin then stitch one long side of the strip up the front side of your cut and down the other, flattening it out at the top. Cut off when you get to the end.

Pin and stitch the other edge of the strip to the back cut. This forms a gusset which goes up the inside of each leg and across the crotch.

Hem the 2 legs.

showing the gusset

Cool culottes to wear with a camisole or T shirt for the house and garden, or as summer pj's.

Can also use a longer skirt, the principle is the same, but you will have to be a bit clever with the measurements.

Vest top and sarong

A couple of summer refashions.

I've had this halterneck vest top for a long time, but it was never comfortable, too short and I'm not keen on halternecks. (Why did I buy it then?)

So I stitched the halterneck into  normal camisole straps, and added a strip cut off an old T shirt to the bottom to lengthen.

Much more comfortable now.

Second. I had this skirt in my stash, but at some point the waistband had been removed.

At first I thought I would make it into a top, but once opened out and pressed, it just felt it needed to be a sarong. I just completed the hem round all 4 sides, dead easy!

Just in time for the heatwave we've been having!

T shirt updates

Bought some plain T shirts in a sale, but they were a bit boring and also a bit short in the waist.

To lengthen them, I cut a strip off the bottom of a suitably coloured old T shirt leaving the hem and side seams intact. Pinned the strip on the inside of my T shirt starting at one side seam, making sure the length of the strip is even all round. Take up any strip excess width at the second side seam. Machine round on the outside of the T shirt following the existing stitching. This gives an authentic layered look. No need to finish the inside upper edge of the strip unless you can be bothered.

Then I rooted out some pretty buttons from my box and trimmed the necklines.

The finished T shirt

 and a few more

and

The next T shirt already had the frill but needed to be longer.

With the added strip

Another reason for saving those offcuts of T shirt.

Shoes updated

Whilst finally getting my summer shoes out of hibernation, I found this pair of mules I've had for longer than I
 can remember! The soles and inners are still perfect, but the pale denim uppers are now shabby. Those spots are silver paint 'splashes', very last century!

I searched through my bag of leather bits, and found some pink croc offcuts, nice and fine.
I cut a paper pattern from the blue denim, then patched the leather onto the pattern, it took 2 or 3 pieces for each shoe, overlapping them. Used flexible glue to stick them onto the denim, trimmed off a couple of tiny corners.

Winter trousers and skirt

Just in case you were thinking I'd been idle, I thought I'd post the last bits of winter clothing I refashioned during the long cold weather we had last month. Desperate for more warm clothes I rooted some fleecy things from the back of the wardrobe, 2 pairs of baggy joggers, and a midi length stretchy skirt.
No before pics, but the refashions were so simple, they made the unwearable wearable.

All I did to the trousers was stitch up the inner leg seam to make them narrower, more like leggings. Then they tucked cosily into my boots.

I shortened the skirt to knee length to make it a bit more trendy. It has a slit up the back which I managed to leave about 2 inches long so it looks as though it was meant to be there.

Sometimes it just takes a very simple change to make a garment wearable again. I wore these constantly until about 2 weeks ago!

Handbag embellishment

I've been fancying a tweed handbag for simply ages, but in the end decided to make my own.

I had this offcut of fabric, from Aunties stash, was apparently wool and reindeer hair! Well it is a bit hairy!
Unfortunately not really big enough to make a suitable bag.

So decided to just fasten a piece on part of a bag.

Spent a long time deciding on how to do it. Eventually cut a piece to exactly fit the front flap, edged it with bias binding, added a button and home made leather tassel trim, added a lifting tab to the bag flap.

And changed this

into this

Waterfall cardigan tales

Last summer I decided I needed a waterfall cardigan to wear instead of a coat. Looking round the shops, there were lots with printed mock inserts, but then you'd be stuck with just the one print, wouldn't you? And it wouldn't be a cardigan to pop on either. So eventually I found a lovely grey cotton one, and decided to make my own print tops to wear with it.

I rooted through my stash and found 2 paisley print offcuts.

I had more of the blue fabric, and considered making something simple like a tabard, as it was solely for wearing with the cardigan. However I managed to cut out a front and back T shirt shape, stitched it up and hemmed it round.

And here it is with the cardigan.

But those cap sleeves aren't warm enough for a nothern spring, so for my second top I started with a plain black round neck long sleeve T shirt. I also only had a small piece of the red paisley print.
I cut a rectangle, as long as the T shirt from shoulder to hem, and as wide as I could, which was not quite as wide as the front.
Stitched the bottom edge by hand on the wrong side, then pinned the fabric up the front. Zig zagged the edges to the T shirt, then cut and finished the top by hand to fit around the neck and shoulder. This was much simpler than cutting a piece out of the front of the T shirt and joining the edges, and adds an extra layer of fabric for warmth!

And here it is with the cardigan.

I have another top on the go as well, see it next time.

Skirt to tunic 2

This skirt was made from the same pattern as the one on my previous post. However this time I was unable to find any leftover fabric to use in the refashion, so I had to be a bit more careful with the bits.

This is the skirt.

Lovely fabric, isn't it?

I cut off the hip yoke and removed the gathers. Narrowed the skirt leaving pieces wide enough to make sleeves. Used the hip yoke to make 1 back shoulder and 2 front shoulder yokes. Gathered the skirt onto the yokes, leaving gaps for armholes. Cut new sleeves following a T shirt and fitted them. Made a v neck at the front, and a smooth curve at the back. Used scraps of fabric to face the neckline.
I made a tuck at the centre front to take in a bit of excess fabric before facing. Might take a bit out of the back too, it's a bit baggy.

I'm really pleased with this, it's a useful addition to my wardrobe, to wear with leggings and boots.

Skirt to tunic 1

Years ago I made a couple of skirts from the same pattern but with different floral material. I loved wearing them, the fabric is brushed and cosy. Alas, they shrunk (!) and have been in the loft for many, many years.
 I thought they would make nice tunics to wear over leggings.

Here is the first one.
The good thing about making your own clothes is that you sometimes get useful leftover pieces of fabric, which I never throw away. Sure enough, I found an offcut of this one, which I used to make the front and back yokes.

I removed the skirt from the hip yoke, removed a section off the width, enough to make sleeves, and left the top of the sides open for armholes. Cut a plain back yoke, and a v-shaped front yoke from the spare leftover fabric. Gathered the front and back onto the yokes and joined the shoulders. Cut sleeves using a current blouse. Set the sleeves in
The hem is straight, it's just hanging a bit funny!

Look out for the second refashion soon!

Another sweater gone

Flushed with the success of my first sweater to cardigan refashion, I did another one.

This jumper has shrunk over the years, but I still love the colour, and the design is back in fashion again!

My photographer was out and I couldn't wait to get started, but it looked a bit like this.

I went for the denim trim this time. Found a couple of discarded short sleeves with cuffs. Cut off the cuffs, snipped the underarm seam, and opened one seam to make a flat strip. Cut the sweater up the centre front and pinned and stitched the strips to enclose the raw edges. Made buttonholes and buttons. Tidied the top and bottom by hand.

Close up of the buttons.

Much more wearable than a sweater!