Re-defining successful sewing

Thanks fellow re-fashioners for your posts where things didn't go quite as planned!  I'm glad I'm not as alone as I thought.  I haven't posted as I've had a series (and I'm not counting how many) of refashion fails.

And I kept trying to make them work, but sometimes you just have to call it a day, or your sewing time is sucked away for weeks (or months).  Here's a couple of fails (and I was a bit erratic with the before photos):

Looks okay right?   You've no idea how hideous the refashioned t-shirt really is on me - and there will be no photographic evidence.  I forgot to take photos of the three t-shirts I used making this, but I'm sure you know what t-shirts look like anyway.  But I did get a lot of practice on my overlocker (serger) and even followed the instructions in the DVD to make really neat circular seams - see how tidy that looks?  There's a join in the middle of that sleeve insertion.

I also copied a sleeve from a RTW top and it's very flattering, at least at the bottom - but turns out you can't put a shaped sleeve-head into a straight armscye and end up with something without weird folds...   Maybe it will be just right for someone else but if not, I still learned a lot.

Part 2 - that scarf.  It started out as a skirt that just needed a lining and a new zip, but then something about it started bothering me.  See if you can spot the problem (it's disassembled here already).

I thought I was just being picky, so I asked a few friends and family if it was obvious and turns out even blokes could spot it.  The fabric had been cut out without considering the nap - all hearts except for one back panel that's upside down.  No problem I thought - I'd since found a very similar skirt with the pattern right way all around so I could repurpose this one into an infinity scarf.  I love the way they look - but then I forgot how much I hate having things close around my neck.  I can't stand wearing it and it's too short as a standard scarf which I do wear.  But it's useful to know what you don't like as much as what you do - I'm putting this on the "not for me" list with bolero jackets, polo necks and raglan sleeves.  Sew and learn eh?

Until next time - happy (and successful) sewing!

Mimi

Dye hits and misses

So I bought some dye to do a pair of jeans that had faded but were in great condition, navy to get them as dark as I could. And the jeans turned out great! I tried a little ombre effect on a couple of other pieces just to see how they'd come out...one, I knew wouldn't take the dye very well as it was a cheap rayon piece...the other was 100% cotton but still didn't achieve the depth of color at the bottom that I was looking for. So, I may need to rerun that through a navy and black dye bath to see if I can achieve the look I was going for. Well, here a few pics of the pieces as they were and now are!

This is an identical of the before of the now sleeveless jacket.

Taking a dip!

Another dip!

The rayon...you can see the gradations...sort of ;)

The jeans are super dark! Love it! (the darkness of the photo helps add to that, hehe) but they really are dark!

 I've got an XL denim top to jacket coming up in the next couple of days, so stay tuned :) Here's a sneak peak of the before...

Hope you all are well and keep up the refashions, because I love seeing everyone's ideas and the creations that come out of those ideas!

Peace,
Andrea

LittleDidYouKnow

Cut first, ask questions latter.

I've had a few camisoles in my remake pile for a while and have experimented with ways to make them more wearable for me. Two issues: the lace in the front does not do a very good job covering my feminine qualities which is the reason I wear these under lower cut shirts in the first place. Also the thin spaghetti straps do not cover my bra straps if I choose to wear the shirt on its own, or if the shirt I'm wearing has any sheer quality (such as the acid burn shirts that have parts of the fabric thin and almost gauzy). Out came my scissors.

Before scissors (different shirt but you get the idea)

Basic pattern for replacement yoke. Just traced around what I cut off.

After the offending top of the shirt was removed I used it as a template for a new yoke for the top, accounting for thicker straps. I cut out two of the front and back pieces that I drafted, sewed them together at the sides and top, and flipped it inside out before reattaching the bottom of the shirt.

First attempt with a lobster print. The straps tie into bows at the shoulder. This fabric LOVES to stretch. Top-stitching helped to keep it under control a bit, but I'll need to do some tweaking to get the fit perfect.

Second attempt with a pretty floral. Not much stretch so I'll need to tweak the pattern to be a bit bigger for the next one if I use a similar fabric.

Overall I'm happy with the results. I have a few more in my pile waiting for their make over.

And the final touch!

I realised I didn't really share here in this blog, what I first have made out of two shirts, then I used the leftovers and did this here too. But since I wasn't happy with the fabric left going to garbage, I realised something else, so the outfit for my baby G. would be complete. Here's her latest top. 

Read more of it, here!

"Iris In Bloom" Denim Jacket

I love denim jacket refashions and they are so easy to do.I first became interested in this style of refashion when I discovered Anthropologie's Kunstenaar denim jacket. I was blown away by how amazing it was and the key to it is creating a stunning visual focal point.
So my project begins..... 
The hardest part is searching for the perfect panel which is going to be the centre piece of your jacket. Denim jackets are cheap and abundant in thrift stores. This denim jacket refashion cost a total of $5.00. On Saturday, I had spent my morning at a workshop run by Erica Louise which was inspirational.Following that I trotted off for my usual thrift shop escapades which resulted in success. I had finally found the perfect panel for my denim jacket refashion.

So I started with this $3.00 thrift store denim jacket.

Added my Saturday purchase of a $1.00 Irish linen tea-towel.

And here is "Iris in Bloom" Pretty good for a $5.00 outlay and cheaper than a bunch of flowers.

To see how easy this refashion is visit me @ my blog

My pants to tunic turned out like this.

Here's the final results of my latest refashion as promised.

Check out my blog: House of Estrela.

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

Puff-Sleeved Chambray Shirt Remake

This is a recent chambray shirt remake I featured on my blog last week as the second instalment of my new Refashion Friday feature. The whole garment is based on a fairly standard commercial blouse sewing pattern (see below). The centre front of the pattern was lined up to the centre of the button stands when cutting out so the existing button stand, buttons and buttonholes would be retained in the final garment. The bust darts were stitched but the waist darts were omitted to make a looser more casual fitting garment.

I retained the original shirt pocket and used the original hem in the final design. Using the existing hem means that the pocket gets pushed up higher than on the original garment. Personally I like that because it's a cheeky reference to the origin of the blouse. If it's not to your taste, any original patch pocket could be removed and either repositioned and reapplied it or discarded altogether.

I drafted the Peter Pan collar for this creation myself because I didn't like the blouse sewing pattern's collar design. I wanted it to stop either side of the button stand. The top collar is embroidery anglaise and the under collar is cut from the chambray harvested from the sleeves of the original shirt. I really like how the anglaise has been left unlined on the puff sleeves though so you'd get a hint of flesh through the holes. The sleeves bands have been made from more of the harvested sleeve fabric. I hope this shirt remake provides a little bit of inspiration. 

Happy Refashioning,

Zoe xxx

yet another granny silk top refashion

So, I don't have a before photo on this one, though I could have sworn that I took one...It's a size 16 long sleeved silk top in a beautiful orangey red color. I seam ripped the sleeves, took in each side about an inch and finished off the sleeve edges. I also gathered the fabric in the back to give it a bit of shape. Here are a couple of photos of how I styled it...casual, which is how I'm wearing it today, and a little more dressy with a hi-low skirt and some previously refashioned wedges. Hope you enjoy and I promise I'll be back into a weekly posting schedule :) Gotta catch up on some after shots!!!

Peace,
Andrea
LittleDidYouKnow

Another Anthropologie Inspired Denim Jacket

I love denim jacket refashions so I have created the "Little Dame Denim Jacket". You can turn something that is plain and sturdy into an amazing statement piece. This jacket started it's refashion life in a thrift store. It is a H & M jacket that is sized euro 98 which is a regular size 3 kids. It is in fantastic condition so I wanted to turn it from plain to designer. Although it is a child's jacket, this concept can easily be applied to an adult jacket. My first denim jacket refashion was based on an Anthropologie denim jacket. See my Well Travelled Rock Chick Jacket to see a similar refashion on an adult scale.

So start with your plain denim jacket

I don't like wasting any of my vintage fabrics. This beautiful 1960's-1970's linen tea towel was originally used in my Anthropologie Inspired Tote refashion.I had some left over fabric so I cut a piece fabric and ensured that the rose was central. The back of the jacket had three panels. I cut the fabric with pinking shears to sit in neatly in the central panel. This I then sewed into place.

Okay I will admit that these fabric roses are new, but they are just divine. I pinned these over the central rose panel to cover the edges and to create a cute border.

So this is the back of the jacket as modelled by Penelope Hanger who has now started up her own refashion Facebook Group. 

Love the red roses border. I think that it really lifts the jacket.

This is a close up of the back of the jacket. Very individual and unique.

Kids Refashions - From tops to skirts.

I thought I would share a couple of other kid's refashions I've recently completed for my daughter. They were so easy and she loves them.

The first one is a wrap skirt made from a ladies singlet that I purchased at a thrift shop for $2.

I was going to make an a-line skirt from this but once I cut the top off there was so much fabric I thought it would be cuter as a wrap skirt. I left the elastic around the top so it's really comfortable, and I added a cute button from my stash.

The second is a sweater refashion to skirt and legwarmers that was also from a $2 thrift shop purchase.

You can see these and other crafty projects I am completing as part of my 365 creativity project at http://365crafty.blogspot.com.au/.

Seven Seas Tee

"Seven Seas" Tee started with a bit of imagination and a lot of figuring out. I wanted to turn a plain teee into something that was whimsical and evoked a retro feel. So I started with this......


Before

And ended up with this......


After

For full story please and tutorial please visit
http://recycledrepurposedrenewed.blogspot.com.au/

Ragbag Dress to New Blouse

Here's another project I shared today on my blog, Seams Sustainable.  I found an old button up dress at our local Salvation Army.

I liked the drapey rayon fabric, the cute floral print, and the faux pearl buttons. 

So I turned it into a blouse I could wear with jeans, or with a skirt for a dressier presentation.

Please feel free to let me know what you think, and stop by my blog for more details!

Another silk top refashion-two ways

Hello and happy hump day!

I found this lovely silk top yesterday at one of the local thrift stores for $3.

I liked the pockets but knew the sleeves would have to go!

This is what I did. I seam ripped those sleeves and collar right off! I then took in the arm holes by about 2 inches and took the sides in just a bit for some shape. I finished off the sleeves and around the neck, then decided I'd like to wear it as a v neck sometimes, and buttoned all the way up other times. I found the bottom of the v and tacked it with a few stitches. Now I have to put this on over my head, but it allows me to wear this 2 ways without showing too much!

Gotta love my face in these! I was simply planning to crop my head out, but then decided, hey, let's keep it real. I can show my greasy unwashed hair and un-made up face to my fellow refashioners ;) We all have those days...now, it's off to the shower! Hope you like it :)

Peace,

Andrea

LittleDidYouKnow

Go thunder-cats go

So, my husband got this t-shirt from good will just a little back, and I have successfully stoles it.... with his permission :P I had seen Corrine's summer tutorial on a crop t-shirt she had done and wanted to try it. So turned this

and this head bands metal... I forget the name...

into this

     I pretty well hand sewed everything, when I went to use the sewing machine on the material i was working with things got ugly real quick lol. happy with the results, though I plan to go back and sew the little straps on as well to reinforce it. went to the store and started falling apart lol. well ttyl- QueenOfNothing.