Peace. Out.

Now that I am well on my way toward a capsule wardrobe, almost all the sentimental items I've kept aside to refashion have been sent to charities after a picture was taken or snippet of fabric taken from an unobtrusive spot.

This sleeveless dress was the last thing I bought as a single person. I haven't worn it for years and years, but I have started wearing aprons in the kitchen and studio so the choice of what to do with this dress was an easy one.

I used a pattern I drafted a while back (I made the original apron from a curtain so it doesn't qualify to be shown here at RFC)

but did not cut it exactly as I figured I could take advantage of the finished hem.

I used the rest of the dress for the neck straps

and the side ties of the dress for the, um, side ties of the apron.

Pockets from processed-for-crafts jeans (Little Sis needs sturdy cushions and quilts for her new beach house, so my enormous denim stash is pretty much spoken for) and a belt loop for my reading/close work glasses

made for a quick finish.

IWOM

Why reinvent the wheel?

Himself gave me his latest set of airline PJs. He never wore 'em. Just packed them up after removing them from the plastic bag knowing that I'd want them. What a nice guy!

(Imagine that said by Maddy Kahn in 'Blazing Saddles' -- it's a lot funnier). 

I've made one of these tops before, so see here for the link to my post on Refashion Co-op, which also contains a link to the very simple -- and free! -- tutorial I followed at Wobisobi. Mind, hers uses a short sleeve T but the directions work just the same for long sleeve.

Bit of cutting, two seams and these extra large BA PJs became a top that can wrap all round your waist and tie in the back

 or front

or you can tie the tips of the ends into a knot

  

so the loop you just made flips over your head. That last option shortens the top considerably. 

Old pyjamas everywhere -- beware! 

IWOM

Two of two

Cowl Neck Refashion Number Two -- or should I say the final one as I only had two cowl neck tops in the fall/winter clothes tubs. To recap: I can't recall wearing either at the start of the year so that means refashion or give away.

I'm going through a tough love episode with my clothes these days....

Gotta say, it was a messy unpicking, but my new Janome 9200D neatened up those edges in no time flat! 

I took a two inch strip from the removed cowl

then stitched it to the raw edge of the neckline. I messed around with a few ideas but settled on this

nice neat turned under and handstitched option. I don't lack for cool necklaces to wear with it

but last month's efforts to empty my knits and jersey tubs will work as well (plus keep my neck warm). 

IWOM

We aim to please

Carissa wanted to know if my butterfly cut out was going to hold up in the wash, so I thought I'd let everybody know!

We're going with: 'Not that bad.'

Even the bit between the two shapes cut for the body held up! If I were to try the technique again I'd make sure not to cut my shapes too close. The only thing I'd advise other that that is to make sure to use a good quality slightly heavier than average T -- and of course use very sharp scissors! Click the link above for the step-by.

As for Gema, who wanted an up close shot of my last project posted here, well

like I said, your happy wee editors are here to please!

IWOM

I'm over it

Cowl necks, that is. There were a couple in the fall/winter tubs that got unpacked recently and since I don't recall wearing them all that much during the first several months of 2015 they will now enjoy life as refashions.

I sliced this plum heather Gap top right up the centre through the cowl neckline then put a narrow lettuce edging on the cut ends with a mix of purple and grey thread. Each cut edge had three rows of zig zag stitches at the same width but different lengths. I also alternated the sides of the fabric so that the outer edge had some purple and some grey.

Couple options for wearing: pin it closed and pull the neckline over the shoulders or just leave it open and all drapey. 

I may yet unpick the sleeve and lower edge hems to lettuce but for now I'm just going to put it on and go make some coffee while I think about what to do with the grey one.

(And read some of TWD Compendium 3 which was delivered bright and early today!).

IWOM

Dusted

The knits/jersey fabrics/old Ts/Airline sleep suits tub is empty, save for one carefully chosen pile of large scraps for some belt and hair accessory projects to keep me occupied some cold bitter snowy day.

(Which could be only weeks away. Marrying a guy from a Mediterranean climate was unfortunately something I never considered...).

The final two projects, completed yesterday when the rain kept me from garden work for most of the afternoon, took less than two hours. I wanted to make at least one color/colour block item so chose Simplicity 1698 view A, the rest of the Qantas sleep suit top (sleeves used here) and a very worn T of Himself's which has been in the tub for a couple of years.

                      

It was easy enough to add three inches to the lower pieces. I'm leaving the edges raw for now since this falls under a Coffee Drinkin' Refashion and is only for the house/sunroom/garden. Plus, I need some things on which to practice rolled hems once my overlocker/serger arrives!

                      

As for the last of the black dyed items, I was all set to do a Wobisobi lattice back T (even re-calcualted her math to eliminate that spare length on the left side of her design) but mere moments before cutting 

                       

I said to myself 'IWOM, this simply isn't your style. It's a wonderfully cool idea but really, where are you going to wear this?'. 

I went for another simple T vest for over Ts and tanks.

                       

The spring/summer to fall/winter clothes changeover is scheduled for this weekend and I have no doubt I'll acquire some more Ts from Himself which I can use just to have some fun with too-young-for-me designs that can go right to a charity shop to find a home on the back of a money-saving hipster. I've made dozen and dozens of quilts in the past nearly thirty years and only kept two, my very first and my most recent. For me, the fun is in the doing, not the owning. I feel that way about refashions especially. 

For the whole (pretty darn impressive IMHO) collection, starting here on RFC September 13, click here. 

On to the cottons tubs, but not before a good clear up in that messy sewing room. 

The Jean Luc tug

Stand up: tug on the hem of your top. Does Starfleet lack for tailors? I've always wondered.

Of the three tops I dyed black on Sunday, only one needed significant work. There's a sliver of skin showing between the bottom edge and my jeans which The Tug can't fix. That dog don't hunt.

                 

Some leftover fabric (bought in Paris in the spring of 2014) went back and forth

                 

before being chosen for the middle ground. Literally. 

My quilt fabric cutting strips have come in handy recently, haven't they? I cut straight across two inches down from the underarm seams on the top then created a tube of two pieces of feather fabric (slightly wider at the bottom edge, which is hard to see but trust me on it),

then set it between the two shirt halves, 

and ended with top stitching. Got a few options for wearing

                

including with the scarf already made of this fabric. 

                

The pale grey top which went to a lovely charcoal in the black dye lot just stays as is (sorry Debbie)

                

which leaves the XXL men's T for something to play with this evening while waiting for Himself to get home from a very late night flight. I'm thinking something silly -- so long as I can drink coffee in it....