adult to toddler jeans, keeping the worn out look..

Heya! It's been a while since my last post, I've been busy packing and unpacking because we were moving house. But now everything is settled and on their places, I can start sewing again and recycling my old clothes and posting in Refashion Co-Op again. YAY! 

At 98cm, my daughter is quite tall for a 2,5 yo toddler, and I found it's hard to find a perfect jeans that fit her because shopping/trying clothes on the store was not fun for her and she'll grown out of it so soon. So, I'll just make one for her. I was going to make a tutorial on my blog but turns out it was hard to take pictures between the sewing process so I just put whatever I have for now.

I started with my old Billabong jeans, it was well loved and I wore it to death (approx twice a week in 7years) and as the result, it got frayed patch on the crotch. I love it because it became so soft, perfect for her because she hated hard/stiff fabrics, and I intend to keep the worn out look on the side seams so the jeans looks not new.

prepped the pieces.. 

finished product. 

You can find my other projects on my blog.. 

-=G=-

my first time making accessories..

Hi again!

It's golden weekend here in down under, from Good Friday, today is ANZAC Day and I still got one day left. During this looooong weekend, I managed to learn how to make accessories from a thrifted blouse. The garment was made from beautiful fabric, 100% cotton, sheer and flowy and thin (thinner than cotton voile) and I just loooooove the print (cream base with red butterflies and grey flowers, girly without being too girly). The blouse was made with complicated pattern, but sadly there are pulled seams everywhere.

I chopped one sleeve, cut 7cm strips, sew it like a long tube, put in a bead, tie, another bead, tie again so on and on and I got this interesting necklace because the print on the fabric I got each different fabric beads.

Then I tried to make two covered buttons, both with 5cm diameter. It was easy and fun, not as hard as I thought it would be. One became a pendant and I put the other one on a hairclip.

I still got plenty of the fabric, I can make another fabric necklaces and accessories with covered buttons from the remaining fabric.

Oh yeah, this is the original blouse, panelled bodice, a bit ruffled hem and ballooned sleeves. Sorry for the crappy pic. The bodice is still intact, I love the squared neckline and those covered buttons but because it's size small and needs reinforcement on the seams, I might take it in a bit and make it as a summer/ boho vest for my 2,5 yo girl. I'll be happy to get any advice from you gals!

Thanks for bear with me!

dameglendamade

Skull Bag, refashioned from skirt

Another refashion project, skirt to bag.. 

I like skull images, and when I saw this H&M skull skirt on a thrift shop, I snatched it right away because I got a premonition that the skirt will be reborn as a messenger bag. It was a teeny tiny skirt, medium cotton with 2% elastane. I use this bag as inspiration but I added width and pockets and lining to make the skull bag more interesting and sturdy.

Here's the before photo : pleated skirt with skull pattern all over 

Prepped the pieces : black canvas for interior and pockets, bias tape, cotton webbing strap, hardware for adjusting the strap, magnetic snap and keystrap. At this point I have sewn back the H&M care label to the lining.. 

Finished bag : roomy bag with heaps of pockets! Not bad for my first attempt making messenger bag/nappy bag without commercial pattern.  Too bad the original skirt was too short and the unpicked pleats still shown on the flap and gusset eventhough I have washed/ironed/steamed the fabric over and over :'(  

I made two extendable pockets in front of the bag (covered by the flap), I can put my coin purse, mobile, candy, even AVENT 260ml bottle fits in there.. I also sew keystrap and 2 pockets inside the bag, suitable for my wallet, pen, mobile or pocket camera. 

Can't wait to showcase my new handmade skull bag..

-=G=-

Saving my (thrifty) Hungarian bag

Hi everyone!

I'm so excited to be a part of Refashion Co-Op. I'm Glenda from Perth, Western Australia. I have passion for refashion since college, slowly teaching myself sewing simple clothing/refashioning by hand until my husband bought me a brand new sewing machine as Mother's Day gift on 2010 and I become addicted to sewing eversince.

So far I have made clothes for my self and my daughter (mostly refashion), bags, bedding and home decor, also mending my husband's clothes. I also love thrift shops where I can find great vintage item or fab material for refashion.

Here's my latest project, saving my dying thrifty Hungarian Bag, purchased on a flea market for 60 cent on 2000. The labels sewn inside says "Made in Hungary", "Hand Embroidery" and "55%wool 45% cotton". Even the labels was handwritten! I don't have picture of the original bag, but it was something that looked like this :

I got bored with tote bag and on 2004 I change it to a sling bag with cotton webbing strap. But the bag looked uneven due to stretchy woolen material the bag was pulled to the north a bit and the bag never seen the day again.

Until last week, I was tidying up (switching our summer clothes to winter clothes) and I saw this poor old thing. A bit snip in here and stitch in there, I got a brand new bag which I really really love. I can wear it as shoulder bag or sling bag.

The complete Tale of the (thrifty) Hungarian Bag can be read here.