Frankendress

Three garments that I couldn't wear became one that would:  That's a burgundy skirt for the main section (I knew it was too small when I thrifted it, but I loved the color, the beads and embroidery and fringe at the hem); part of a sheer sleeveless blouse for the yoke (I liked that for a while after I found it at a flea market, but one of the pockets got torn); soft printed cotton inserts below the armhole (can't see those too well here, but they're pink and floral).  Plus crocheted sleeves using whatever cotton was handy. 

Pintucks in corduroy?

This skirt was waaay too big, and dull. You can see where I had put a box pleat in the front but I didn’t like it very much so I unpicked it and started again.

I saw this idea in Sew Subversive and thought it might work even though the cord is very bulky.

I kinda like it. I sewed the pintucks down with contrast stitching so they face the middle and yeah, it is a little bulky but I much prefer it to how it was before. I might dye it a more chocolatey colour too because it is at the mousey grey end of the brown spectrum.

Beccy from Wipster 

The Bookshop Bag with PDF pattern download

I know I haven't posted anything in a while and that's becuase I haven't really made anything in a while!

I decided to make a bag out of some fabric salvaged from an old men's suit jacket that I bought at an estate auction. Actually I got an entire closet of handmade vintage wool suits for $2.50. lol I used some scrap for the liner, two free buttons and some trim that a friend gave me. I'd say maybe the whole thing ended up costing about 60 cents.

I liked it so much that I made a free downloadable PDF pattern. You can get it on my blog!

Kasia skirt number two…

I should really make use of the iron more before I take photos! And I know we all say this, but it honestly looks much better on. I’m just camera shy.

This is the Burdastyle Kasia skirt I started an age ago, made from some of the fabric from these curtains I found in a charity shop for £6. I made Burdastyle’s Coffee Date Dress from the same fabric ages ago and decided to try and use it all up. That £6 is stretching far and I’ve got loads of the fabric left. Matching hat? Scarf? Coat? :) Maybe not, the look might be not so much Scarlett as the Von Trapp family.

  

This is my second Kasia, but I don’t think I’ll make any more. I just about managed the waistband first time round (but I was so involved in getting it right, it didn’t actually fit and was too big), but this time I lost my mojo and botched it together (but it fits). It’s an arse. Consider that a warning chaps! It’s probably easier to just do it the way you think it ought to go together. You’ll probably be right, it’s just the instructions that are confusing.

More info and chattiness on my blog, Wipster.

Beccy

Thrifty man’s shirt refashion with a mini tutorial

I made this cute shirt-for-that-meeting-with-HR-I-have-next-week…

…from this big old man’s shirt.

If you’d like to see how I did it pop by my blog, Wipster and say hello!

Beccy

A tool from the 1950's that still brings joy in 2010

I've just acquired these:




See the price tags? Yeah, you saw it right, $2 and $1. They go online for $69.95 and $34.95 here.
Yeah, I'm jumping for joy. Come read about it on my blog.

Sonya from missbossypants

Doona to a dirndl and thrifty red skirt

Hi and thank you so much for allowing me to join this community. 

I'm so glad to meet you all and look forward to this being the 'sew retro' of the refashioning world !

My name is Lore and i blog over at sew red hot.   I sew clothes / aprons / quilts / potholders / bags.   You name it.   I'm obsessed!

I have two things to share today.  My refashioning of a doona cover found in a charity shop.  

Into a cute summer dirndl:

Total cost $3.75.

Blogged here 

I have a whole side of the mauve/lilac fabric from the doona cover left over.  If you live in Sydney visit me and it'll be yours.   If you live in the United States -  hey there's a big drive on to come to Australia for a holiday - pop into Sydney and I'll take you and show you the sights and you can take home half a doona in your luggage!   If I get no takers, I suppose it will be good material for a toile/muslin for a tricky pattern.

And my op shop fabric find for $2.50 some great red cotton and lilac lining.

This is blogged here.

So that's my introduction.   Again, nice to meet you and hope to be seeing a lot of you and your creations.

And a big thanks and congratulations to Ninjaeema on this Garde Robe baby and also the upcoming baby!

lore
x

Kimono PJ's and an Appliqued Dino

I managed to finish the pj shorts I was planning for my son. I bought the fabric originally to make him a banner for his birthday. I bought a little extra, but I wasn't sure what I would make out of it. I revisited my kimonos thinking about summer pajamas for my boy. The ties/trim were some bias tape I bought at the thrift store. I used a thrifted pattern for the shorts and cut out the pieces last week. Being the airhead that I can be sometimes, I didn't realize they included pockets (not really important for pj's), so when I went to sew them today, I had to cut the pockets out of an old t-shirt. Plus, I used my serger for the first time! I did pretty well, and now I'm motivated to take it to more adventurous projects. Oh, I used the blind hem stitch for the first time using my regular machine. Stay tuned for some more pj's and a robe, too. (I've started them.)



The dinosaur shirt was a 75cent find at the thrift store. I added the applique. You can see a pretty lame tutorial I did for them here. Fun! And, they're great for covering up spots on your kid's clothing.

Peace, Tamara

Quick Fix!

I love "Bag Sales". Where I live there are two local churches that have rummage sales every spring and fall. All you can fit into a brown paper grocery bag for 3 bucks! Here's a super quick fix I did on a top I found at the sale for my daughter, Ruby. The top was a children's size 10. Ruby wears a size 6. I thought I'd have to do a little cutting and sewing till I realized there was old stretched out elastic in the back. So out with the old, in with the new!

I simply put in a much smaller new piece of elastic which gathered up the extra fabric wonderfully. In the future I'll be able to replace the elastic with longer pieces till Ruby does wear a size 10.

I did angle the straps slightly to prevent them from slipping off her shoulders but that required only a few hand stitches on each strap. I love it and so does Ruby.

Jeans too small and the Garderobe!!

I couldnt pass up these Wrangler jeans at the market for 2 bux.....when i got home i tried them on, they fit great if i choose not to walk or sit.. WAH!!! so this is what I did

I cut a seam down the middle right through the waistband all the way down  to the hem

Found some black lace and sewed it to a strip of recycled denim,  the length of the jeans

While the seams were open I 'graffiti stitched" the legs

and now that ive added about 7cm 3inches i can move!!! and sit and jump!!!!

,

YAY yur welcome to come look at my blog ......the dodgy pics are there lol.....  http://bluemarvell.blogspot.com/
I was googling some medieval terms for a friend who is writing a book....and guess what I found
check out what a "garderobe" really is.... OH MY!!! LOL
http://www.castles.me.uk/rooms-in-a-medieval-castle.htm

Another Vest Dress

Yet again! another vest dress. This one is made from a vintage vest in black and silvery thread. Its got a lovely stretchy shirred waist. To this I attached a silk ruched skirt that has hankie hem. Both have the same diamond pattern on them and the skirt is lovely and swishy. Slowly but surely im getting some things to list in my etsy shop 'fluffnnonsense'.............watch this space!

Here I am!

Thanks for doing this, and I'm glad to see such a strong response.

I'm pretty much a constant thriftshopper--it's cheap entertainment with my kids, and it's how I get raw materials for my art purses, so I can justify it (kinda). Recently one of our local shops had a ton of yarn, including a big bag of vintage Italian mohair--all "tangerine"--for $1.99. This hat was made from some of that, and from a skein of even brighter orange acrylic yarn I found at a yard sale. I've been wanting to play with hyperbolic crochet more, so.... I think this will be the start of my Halloween costume -- I'm planning another crocheted creation, like last year's garden, but this year I'm thinking "wearable coral reef." Stay tuned.