Another newbie intro

I'm so excited to be a contributor, finally, after lurking since this site first began.  I'm always inspired by all the ideas here and hoping to get my "sew-jo" back too (some else invented that earlier, definitely a word that's needed). 

I've been sewing and refashioning forever, much to my mum's dismay when I was young due to a tendency to cut up "perfectly good clothes" and not always reassemble them in a useful format afterwards - but if you don't make mistakes, you're not learning, or so I tell myself.  Given I'm still making mistakes, I must still be learning.  Currently I need to learn (again) to be brave and cut the fabric, even the good stuff...

I could do a real bio but it's the sewing bio that's really important here, right?  And, in lieu of a finished project, here's a sample of some (nope, not all) my UFOs and proposed projects:

Somehow I feel if I organise things, the sewing is half done (haha).  That's enough to be going on with... and next time, progress!

Mimi

Christmas Onesie

Firstly, hi.  My name is Danya.  Pleased to meet you!

I live in Sydney, Australia.  I am mum to two lovely little girls - my sweet 2 year, 4 month old "JJ", and brand new almost 2 week old "Bee". I blog at Danya Banya, and would love to see you over there some time.

As a young girl I used to love to sew and craft, but these interests had been abandoned to drunken debauchery and other hedonistic pursuits that I loosely refer to as "my twenties". Now that I am older, (but not necessarily wiser), I've found my love for the craftier & prettier side of life has returned. I bought my sewing machine about a year ago, and am doing my best to re-learn all the tricks I used to know, and learn a ton of new ones along the way.

Anyway, on to today's refashion - a Christmas onesie for your new baby or perhaps as a gift for someone you know who is expecting.

Here's the front:

Front: before and after

 And here's the back:

Back: before and after

Using an existing plain onesie, I added the Christmas tree and holly designs on the front and back, using fabric and ribbon from my upcycle / scrap fabric collection. Essentially I cut out the shapes, pinned and then sewed using a wide zigzag stitch in a pale green cotton similar to the colour of the onesie, or white cotton on the white ribbon "tinsel". I didn't use any iron-on adhesive in this instance, but you could also use that if you didn't want to pin. (Although, I'm not sure that I like the idea of the glue on newborn clothing...)

I liked how it turned out so much that I made another one! Now I have one for my friend's newborn and one for my own. Come Christmas time, they can couple dress. :)

Second version: front

Second version: back

For more info, check out my original post here.

xx
Danya

Introduction + DIY Painted Tank

Well, since I missed introducing myself on the first post I made, here is a little bit about me.

I am deeply in love with my husband of 1 1/2 years. He is the one who encouraged me to finally start a blog when I would blog-stalk all my favorite fashion bloggers. We love being active and playing sports, but lately we've also realized how much we love staying home and spending time together watching Grey's Anatomy or just reading. 

I am also one of nine kids. Yes, nine. No, my parents were not Catholic and contrary to what many socially inept people have asked, they did know what caused children. :) Aren't my siblings gorgeous? I love being in a large family, most of the time. 

My husband and I recently moved to a Chicago suburb, AND we went and saw the Bean. I was thrilled about that. I think I was excited about it because of the scene in The Vow where they went and took pictures. It was beautiful. My recent blog is called SecondHand Couture, and I would be absolutely thrilled if you fellow refashioners checked it out and followed me. Leave me a comment that you're a new follower and I'll follow you back!  

So, I will leave you with this project after my long introduction. On the Fourth of July, I couldn't find a shirt that I wanted to wear, and after trying on approximately 1/4 of my clothing, I decided to just paint a shirt. That's right... paint a shirt. I wasn't sure if it would work or not, but I loved it!

 It was simple to make, and if the lines aren't even, you don't have to measure anything, and it looks offbeat and great. I love how it turned out!

The shirt was incredibly simple to do, but if you would like a more detailed tutorial and notes, here's my original post.

I hope all of you guys have an incredible Saturday!

EDIT: On my blog in the Read It section, you guys can link up your blogs. You should do it!

An Introduction

Hello fellow re-makers! I'm a long time reader and can't help but be very excited about being able to share my creations with everyone here. Just as an introduction I wanted to show a few things that I remade (no before pics for these, I wasn't documenting the process yet).

 I had gotten a brown cashmere sweater from goodwill that had already been felted. I didn't bother washing it specially and it had shrunk. Again. I decided to save it so off to Goodwill again, this time for another sweater in a different color. It was a really pretty blue, but in a smaller size so I had to piece the bands for the stripes a bit. I also added two stripes to the sleeve to balance it. I cut the bottom of the sweater where I wanted to add the bands and then used my serger to attach them.

The skirt I'm wearing is also a refashion from a 70's style dress that was too small for me. I really like the drape of the skirt so I chopped it off, make a simple yoke and attached it to my new skirt. it was pretty sheer so I wore an under skirt with it at first but it kept pulling the skirt down.
A friend gave me a brown jersey under skirt she cut off of one of her projects so I added it to the yoke of the skirt. No more pulling down and it also makes it supper comfy.


The last project I'm going to share today is a restyling of an old straw sun hat. Again, no before pictures, but it was a light brown and looked like a baseball hat with a HUGE bill. I trimmed down that huge bill to a size more flattering, spray painted it blue, glued ribbon on the cut edge to keep it from falling apart, and added an old cut up belt for a special detail. And ruffles. lots of ruffles. Now I have a new bonnet any steampunk would be proud of.

Men's XL to Maternity Tshirt

Hey everyone!

I'm Mikelina from Mikelina Makes

This is my first posting on refashion co-op. I've been spending so much time here getting great inspiration that I thought it was time to reciprocate!

My first baby is due in November and we couldn't be more thrilled however I am so disappointed with the selection of maternity clothes. What's wrong with women feeling sexy and awesome while bumpin'? Nothing!

And that, my dear friends, is what sewing machines are for.

This is one of my favourite maternity tops now. I wear it all the time!

Men's XL to Women's Matenrity Tshirt Tutorial

Baby Pants From Pillowcase With Pacman Kneepads

Hello! This is my first post on Refashion Co-op, and I'm so excited to be apart of this fantastic community! I really love sewing, and it's even more satisfying when I can turn something unwanted into something new and fun. My name is Heather, and I go by Heather Feather over at Feathers Flights where I blog about sewing, tutorials, refashioning, and family. I started sewing in high school for fun and then went on to study clothing construction in college. I worked at a tailor shop to put get me through school, and it is where I learned all about clothing alterations and refashioning. I have a sweet baby with BIG blue eyes and a great husband. My husband is currently in law school, so I do lots of refashioning to save us money.

The first refashion I have to show you today is a fun little pair of pants for my son. I made some basic blue pants out of a pillowcase using the existing hem for the pants hem. Then I added some faux leather kneepads in Pacman shapes.

It's great for this busy little crawler.

The Pacman shapes are really basic and were easy to cut out.

 

If you want to see how I made these Pacman pants, check out my baby sewing tutorial.

A New Shirt From an Old Skirt

Hello.  I am so excited about my first post on Refashion Co-op!  My name is Mandy, but my superhero name is MysticMandy. I recently started a blog I call Mandy Made.

Do you ever look in your closet and think "I have NOTHING to wear!!"  Well, that happens to me.  All. The. Time.  And since I'm broke, I try to change the old things into new things.  This shirt, for example, went from being a skirt that I NEVER wear, to a fun summer top... In FIVE minutes!

Here is the skirt I started with.  It's a stretchy knit.  It looks innocent enough, but the waistband (which is SUPPOSED to fold over) always manages to unfold itself throughout the day, adding an additional few inches to my waist.  Who wants that?  Not me.

To learn how I made this easy-peasy shirt, head on over to Mandy Made.  I am always happy to meet new refashionistas, learn about fun projects, read comments and attract new followers.  Thanks for reading my first post :) 

Shiny Dress to less formal top

Well here goes ... Firstly confession time, not only am I new to Refashion Co-op but I'm also new to refashioning. I refashioned my very first garment today. Firstly I suppose I'd better say a bit about me. I'm 44, married with three boys (10, 7 and almost 4) My oldest has very severe ADHD and Aspergers Syndrome.

Sewing is my solace, my sanity. Enough about me, you're not reading this to find out my life story so what have I been refashioning. I bought this dress around 3-4 years ago to celebrate my wedding anniversary. I really like the style, its bias cut and fairly classic in style but I've always been disappointed that it wasn't silk, its also very shiny so only really suitable for quite dressy occasions of which there aren’t many in my life .....

So I grabbed my scissors this afternoon whilst ds1 was at a birthday party and cut off the skirt. Then I resewed the seam that I'd ripped open, after I'd searched high and low for matching thread, then I hemmed it. Quickly snipping the threads whilst wearing it before I collected DS1 from the birthday party I snipped the hem I'd just made .....

So here is my refashion, finished albeit for a mistake I made whilst rushing. So at some later date (tomorrow) I shall re-turn the hem and re-sew it covering up my snipping mistake (which of course is right in the front!) 

Hello's :P

     Hello there, to be quiet honest of never really blogged before, so the issue of what one says alludes me lol.
Firstly, I want to say that it is my luv of clothes and creating that brings me here, you no idea how happy i am to possibly be contributing. To me who has had low self esteem for a good majority of life my clothes had become more than just something i wore, but my armor, accessories my weapons, makeup my war paint, and while my out looks gotten better, my view on the importance of a sense of self style remains the same. Dress for yourself, whatever represents you that day , weather it's that extra boost of confidence you need, or just something that makes you happy, and lets face it, it's not always found in your closet, or the racks at the store but you can come rather close.
      My problem lies in the fact that one, I desperately need to stop buying new clothes, and two, I'm a procrastinator. I originally came upon clothing refashioning through thread-banger, and stalked the old site wardrobe refashion, but alas it came to an end. So I took to visiting this site from the gecko and finally got the nerve to put in a contributor request in the hopes that this will give me the boost i need to finally get my many projects under way, and stop with he needless shopping. plus if i ever were to get my skills down I'd like to eventually have my own store :)
     i have literally two dressers, and four garbage bags full at this point of material and clothes that need to be refashioned, and so to end this ridiculously long intro, here's to hoping for my first project post soon - QueenOfNothing  "cuz i can'ts get nothing done" booo.

Introduction

Hello, I'm so excited to be a part of the Refashion Co-op! My blog is oh sew fantastic!, I've been sewing for decades, but I've just recently started refashioning so the blog is a little sparse right now (only one post), but not for long... : )

Intro and few recons

Hi ladies! :)
First of all thank you very much to the blog staff for letting me post, I'm very excited. I've stalked this blog for a very long time and it was about time I gained the courage to complete the application.
Anyway, I think you'd like to know a bit about me now! My name is Elisa, 23, from Italy. I own a blog called "Rock 'n Roll stops the traffic" where I share my crafty projects (or favourite founds around the web) and a bit of my personal life.
My first reconstruction date from 2009, when I did this:

yup, an umbrella refashion XD It was just the start to several other surgery (you can click on each pictures to go to my posts and read more about it)..

Lately I've been working a lot with different materials but the constant inspiration from other bloggers and the tons of refashionable stuff I've lying around my place are a huge spur that can't be ignored, so I decided to get some work done.
I also have some other refashions ready to get posted and I hope in your suggestions and criticisms that I'm sure will help to improve my work.

Lima :3

First Post - trousers to shorts

Hi, I'm Ravs. I live in Brisbane, Australia and have loved sewing since childhood. My 21st present was a Husqvarna sewing machine! I found this site via Reana Louise at Curves, Patterns & Pins. It is very inspiring.
I don't get as much sewing done as I would like (who does?) but hopefully that will change as soon as I get over this 'flu. My second (& final) has just started school and I only work part-time.
Anyway, here's a little refashion I did just before succumbing to the dreaded lurgy.

From disreputable, worn out (and too short) jeans

To a pair of 'cool' (according to Mstr 7) shorts.

If you want to see more - come and visit at ravscreations.blogspot.com and ravsrecreations.blogspot.com (I've just recently separated the sewing etc blog from the garden / environment blog).
All the best
Ravs

Wedding Dress Transformation...

Hi, I'm Pam from Threading My Way. I discovered the Refashion Co-op via Charlotte, over at Sew Far Sew Good. I just had to come and take a look and of course wanted to sign up. So, here I am, writing my first post for the Refashion Co-op.

Today, I thought I'd tell you about a wedding dress I transformed. Yes, that's right! I cut into a wedding dress and made it into a formal day dress, complete with a matching clutch.

Here's the wedding dress, the first and only time it was worn as a wedding dress.  After that day, it sat, carefully wrapped up, in a wardrobe.

I wish I could say that I made this gorgeous dress, but I didn't.

It wasn't easy making the first cut, but once I started, the nerves disappeared and I was away.

The new skirt is made from a lightweight, stretch denim.

Here's the finished dress in action at another wedding, but this time, not as the bride.

And complete with a matching clutch made from the original dress.

I was extremely pleased with the results and it certainly attracted many compliments. You can read the story behind the transformation here...

Hello all Re-fashionistas! This is my first contribution to this great community, I hope you like it. I'm into reusing and remaking and use to call my stuff for "beauty reborn" 'cause there are so much beautiful things just waiting for new users. Already Cinderella was a reuser/remaker - remember her gown...but her shoes were new (!?). So here are Cinderellas new shoes - old pumps, newspaper, lace, crocheted flower, voilá :-))

Mostly I reuse clothes and make different kinds of bags under my own label Mirkka. If you are curious you're welcome to visit my webshop at www.mirkka.com which is in english also. I also blog, but the blog is only in Swedish.

Have a nice day, we have a sunny but cold day today, -9° C.
maritta

This is my first post to the Refashion Co op, and one of my first efforts in refashioning! More details can be found on my blog : http://charlottesewfarsewgood.blogspot.com/2012/01/making-effort-with-refashioning.html

The dress was far to big and a terrible length, such a nice print was worth saving.

So here we are a lovely top, not too exciting in refashioning terms but now very wearable!

Well, Hello There!

Hey everyone!

Hellabella here--long time refashion co-op reader, first time contributor! I'm so excited to be a part of this fantastic community of creative people! I love all aspects of creation and crafting, but sewing is definitely my first love. Since I was in middle school I've been rummaging through thrift stores and altering what I find. Bed linens are a particular favorite resource of mine.

Today I thought I'd share my most recent transformation. My sewing machine is in the shop, but I've really been itching to make something, so I decided to jump in and do my first completely hand sewn piece. I think it came out pretty great!

I started with this shirt, which was buried down at the bottom of a drawer--it's comfy but had lots of small holes in it and a few discolorations.

I made a pattern from another skirt that fits me really well, and cut pieces from the shirt. I had to get creative to avoid all the holes and stains, but being forced to make do gave me the bright idea to play with the placement of the stripes, and (hours of hand sewing later) I love how it came out! I saved the bottom hem of the shirt for the waistband, and luckily the fabric had enough stretch I didn't need to add a zipper :D