Three dress to skirt refashions, 1 failure, 2 okay

I got two almost identical XL dresses in India print at a TS for a couple of bucks each, thinking they would fit my foster daughter.  They did fit but were not flattering.  So I decided to try to make something for me.  I only took a before pic of this one, but there is also a red print which is the second refashion in the post.

Another sewist who posted at the Refashion Coop had added a skirt to a pants waistband and top so I thought I would try that with the top of these old linen pants which have never fit me well.

So I cut the skirt off the dress at the gathers and attached it to the pants top.  

Then....  disappointment!  What was I thinking.  I have no idea what to do with these now.  About all I can say for this skirt is that it fits.  Too much pant part and too much gathers, I think.  The trouble is the pockets of the pants go low.  I may try to redo this (later, much later).

Ok the red dress is next.  I had seen a cute skirt in Anthro with a similar print and a dropped waist.  So this time I cut the skirt off above the gathers, just below the armholes to leave room for a casing and have the gathers drop to the hips.

And put some nicer buttons (that I got at the same TS, later) to replace the plastic wood look standard cheapo ones that the dress came with.  There weren't enough of one style so I used two cute small ones at the top and the larger ones you see for the rest.

Turned under to make a waistband and put elastic in elastic.  I sewed up the button up front, tho I kept the look of it.   I think its ok.  Not sure I like how I styled it in this photo, but you get the idea.

I wish I had made it a bit longer.  Still could I guess!

Finally, I found a wild colorful too large print dress at a TS.  It was a sleeveless pull on.   I cut it off under the arms, took in the sides (with my new serger - love it so much),  saved some fabric when I took in the sides at the bottoms for the side vents.

I like it, and its a nice length.

So I'm not really thrilled with even the 2nd two which I have worn and will wear again.  Even so, one of the wonderful things about refashioning is that I am improving my sewing skills and trying styles without spending much money.

I'm linking up to Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple and What to Do Weekends at Crafts a la Mode. and Refashion First Friday.  Check out the amazing other projects!

Thanks for looking.

Kathy

Refashions: stripey tank & shorts to shirt

I've been sewing lately.  Here's a couple of more or less successful refashions.  Let me know what you think, especially about the skirt which I have mixed feelings about.  Sorry I can't find the before pictures.

I bought this stripey top at a TS from the 25 Cent rack.  I knew it would be too long, but I'd been wanting to do some form of the ruffles on striped tops that I've seen others do.

Here's how it ended up:
 

Or it could be worn like this:


How I did it:  I marked the length I wanted with a pin and cut it so I would have enough for a nice hem.  Zig zagged the raw edge of the shirt then hemmed.

Then I took the piece I cut off, zigged the cut edge, made 2 lines of wide stitches along the cut edge and pulled the top threads to gather.  Then I had to hand sew to gather more!
 

Finally I got it as small as the center would go.  I looked for a button or some thing to cover the gathered\cut edge center, but didn't like anything big enough that I liked.  So I made a little yo yo from a circle of  b&w fabric and put a small button that I liked in the middle and sewed them in the middle of the large floppy piece. 


I decided that the big flower/ruffle should be washed separately so I attached it with snaps, one on each side of the neck edging.  I had planned on putting one in the middle as well.
You know what?  I hate sewing on snaps.  So I only did the 2 and attached the top middle with a safety pin.  Removing the safety pin allowed me to do the flop over alternate look too.



OK the shorts.  I bought them on sale a long time ago, but have never worn them  They were supposedly talls, but actually the back rise was not long enough.

I wanted to do something else, quickly. I used my seam ripper to take out the inside seams.
I was nervous about the measuring so I used a skirt that fits to make sure. 


Well unfortunately the sewing wasn't as simple as I thought because the seams have top stitching. So I had to tear apart my first attempt at a new front seam, and redo it with by creating a top seam with the iron, front and back.  See the top stitched seam bumpily disappearing into my regular seam?

Plus the seams had turned out really off. 

So I was glad to rip it out and do it over.  One of the cats and the dog both helped:

I used the iron to get the front and back seams how I wanted.  I had to go right up to the zipper in the front.  Then I top stitched.
I also tightened up the waist by putting elastic in the back (more zig zagging):
I measured on the outside then pinned the elastic on the inside on either side of the back middle to avoid the belt loop, stretched and zig zagged out form the middle twice on both sides.  I like the waist being more snug.
What do you think of the skirt?  The cotton is lovely and soft.   I'm more likely to wear it than the ill-fitting shorts, but I'm not sure how I feel about it!


Thanks for looking.

Kathy

I'm linking up to Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple.  and the Made With Love Link Party at Sew Chatty .   Check out the fun ideas and crafts!

My first Men's Shirt Refashion

I've been wanting to refashion men's shirts for some time.  I have some very pretty ones that I just can't bring myself to cut into.  So I got this one as a practice shirt for a couple dollars at the local thrift store.



 Yikes my hands look like I'm a ghoul.  See what happens if you don't have a dishwasher!  Anyway the problem with a practice shirt is its not very inspiring. 

I cut off the collar, making a scoop neck, and took it in at the bust.  I tried to put darts 3 times but it never came out right, so I gave up and took in the shoulders at the top to make the armholes smaller.  Then I cut smaller armholes out of the sleeves, and cut off the cuffs.

Here it is with the neckline unscooped because I raised the shoulders. 



I thought about leaving it long as a tunic, but it looks like scrubs to me.  So I cut it short.




I cut the sleeves to 3/4 length, and the button worked out perfectly.






I think its ok, but I don't love it.  I'm going to do the next one with the buttons down the front.

Thanks for looking.

Kathy

Quick skirt refashion - adding length.

I need skirts to wear to work.  I am 5'9" tall and its very hard to find pants to fit me.  I won't go into details.

This skirt was the exact wrong length.  Since I am no longer young, just cutting off some length and making it into a cute above the knee was not an option.  So I used my 50% off coupon and bought some dark blue blanket binding. 



Quick and easy, though perhaps not the most elegant!

Kathy

Shoe Refashion

I thrifted these shoes some time ago. They are very very comfortable with the perfect size heel for me. Plus its hard to find size 10's used in good condition. But I never wore them because I don't really like the look. I only have one for the before pic because I'd already started working on the other shoe before I remembered to take a before pic. Inspiration: Somewhere on the internet I saw some heels with realistic pansies fabric on them. I really like them and they were very expensive. Can't find them now of course. I looked at tutorials on how to glue fabric on shoes. Here is one. Tho next time I will do it more like this one from Burda. I love the idea of making a plain cloth pattern and then having a perfect fit including being able to sew a small hem for the bottom where the fabric meets the sole. Unfortunately I couldn't find my tacky removable spray adhesive, so I just winged it making patterns from tissue then newspaper. Once I had a pattern for the fronts, I more or less centered a pansy on the toe. I also chose to cut more or less on the bias, not sure what difference that made here. BTW, label your patterns. You can flip them over and you have the pattern for the other shoe. When I glued with Aleen's Fabric Fushion I used a brush mostly but occassionally my fingers. First I brushed it on the shoe on the front of the vamp, except near the sole where I planned to turn the fabric under. I glued the Pansy down first working out and up so at least the pansy was smooth and complete, turning clipped fabric to the inside. I did turn the fabric under about 1/4 inch where it meets the sole. If I do another pair, I think I will make the fabric pattern first. But I'm still happy with how they turned out. I think I will probably spray them with Krylon crystal clear (stuffing the shoe with paper so the spray doesn't go inside.) But I haven't totally decided yet. I can't wait to wear them! What do you think? TFL Kathy ps I also posted at the Refashion Coop (tho a shorter post). But if you like refashioning check it out! there are so many talented people there. I have linked up to Restyled Sunday, Sunday Showoff at Twigg Studios, Marchia's "Minutes for Me" Linky Party and Thrifty Things Friday at The Thrifty Groove. Check out the fabulous projects there!

I joined the refashion coop blog!

I've been wanting to do more with refashioning the clothes I have, or remaking thrifted ones rather than buying new. So I joined the refashion coop blog. The rule is that I have to post 1x/month at least, so that will help me to complete sewing projects so I can post about them. There are so many talented sewists there!
Check out my first post if you're interested in such things in which I refashion a blouse to wear to a job interview. While you are there look around!

TFL

Kathy

My post on refashion coop