Green Velvet

Need I say more? These cotton velvet pants were a very recent thrift score and though they weren't a perfect fit, I knew that it wouldn't take much effort to make them into my favorite pair of winter pants. First off, they're green...deep emerald or forest green *sigh*. So pretty! And they're pants, which are super functional for work, home, whatever! And don't forget velvet.

Now, these are a size 6 petite, which meant I knew there would be a length issue, and though I wear a size 6 in some brands, these ended up being a couple of inches two large around the waist and hips. They have no belt loops, which means they're meant to fit well (i.e. they don't slide down) and they didn't...fit well, that is.

I put the pants on inside out and marked with chalk how much I needed to pinch in on each side...but here's where it gets interesting. The zipper closure, for some reason, sat slightly off center. So, I ended up taking in both sides an even amount initially, then unpicking the side that the zipper tended towards and just took them in on the opposite side. Does that make sense? Essentially I centered the zipper while taking them in the necessary amount. I took the one side in from the waist down to the top of my thigh, to start. Then I tackled the the bottom of the pant legs. I marked how much I could take in on each side of each leg, giving them a skinny fit. Once I'd marked, pinned, and then finally sewed everything in place, I cut off the excess and finished off the insides. Sorry, no pics...I was transitioning from one phone to the next and did all of the sewing while I was without a phone/camera.

Now, I feel, the fit is much better and much more flattering in the legs. I still don't like how these pants look on my butt, however. They have pockets and I'm considering sewing them shut and trimming away all of the excess fabric to see if that helps them to look better, but it may be an issue of the cut and type of fabric of the pants and I'm not sure how I'll fix that. Or its my butt....... nah! ;). If I decide to play around with that I'll let you know and post an update with pics. And hopefully better quality pics with better lighting!!! Winter is so dreary.

Anywho, this is how I wore the pants to work on Sunday, and I got compliments on both the pants and my cropped kimono jacket!

Thanks for stopping by! Stay tuned for another post on making your clothes fit better...

Peace,
Andrea

Cargo & Polka Dots

Today I've got a refashion, and an alteration. Let's get started with the refashion! I found this polka-dot blouse at my local thrift and picked it up for $2. First things first? Cut out the shoulder pads!

As I am a major 'wing it' kinda gal, I got down to it. I turned the blouse inside out, chopped off each sleeve, put it on, then pinned where the armholes would need to end. As you can see, I not only removed the sleeves but cut halfway down each side at an angle, and I needed to close the sides back up.

Now, as I was just 'winging it', I ran into a couple of small issues...I decided to finish off the arms with bias binding. My first time ever! Aaaand it went well until this happened (notice the shoulder). I redid it three times...yeah, and this was the last cause then I thought, "It's my first time finishing off this way and it should look like it was my first time." ;) I was basically done trying to fix it. To 'make' the bias binding, I simply cut a section of the cutoff sleeves that was long enough to finish off the armhole. Oh, and did you notice the bust dart? Yeah...didn't realize I needed one until I'd already done with the bias. So, I thought, "Screw it! I'm gonna add it after and not care...again, its my first time."

The alteration comes into play with this pair of pants I thrifted while in MI last month. They're a size 8, and I normally wear a 4 or 6, depending on the brand/cut/style/etc. I could have simply always worn them with a belt, but even for that they were a bit saggy. And without a belt, they created 'droopy crotch'...not. good. So, what method did I use for taking them in the required amount?

First, here's the after:

Starting just above the cargo pockets on each side, I took them in by about a half an inch (measuring from the waist in). I also ran them through my machine 3 times to get a super strong seam. Because I only took in a small amount on each side, I didn't trim the excess fabric. It doesn't create any extra bulk and isn't uncomfortable. And if I ever gain weight I can simply undo the process. ;) Not planning on that!

 I decided to wear the two pieces together, and added a faux black leather jacket I got for $30 at Uniqlo last year, a yard sale statement necklace ($2), and my thrifted cognac leather booties ($6). I'd prefer this with black booties...but I haven't had any luck in finding them at the thrift store and I seldom find myself at any type of shoe store. They're on my thrifting wish list :).

I feel like I might like this top better under a jacket or cardigan as long as I'm wearing a belt...seems boxy. But that could just be me. Here's the before and after of the top:

 Happy Refashioning!

Peace,
Andrea

Floral Pants

Enough with the florals, already, right?! WRONG :) I love me some florals and have yet another new piece to add to my ever-growing floral wardrobe. I started off with these pants that I thrifted last month for $3.

I really liked the floral print, but they were obviously big on me. I'd been keeping a lookout for floral print pants (either to resize or that miraculously were just right) and when I finally came across these, I snatched them up.

I started by putting them on inside-out and pinning (roughly) along the outside seam and the inseam, avoiding the hardware around the pockets.

I set my sewing machine to the longest possible straight stitch and basted along the pinned lines (after taking them off, of course). I tried them back on, readjusted a bit at the hips and calves, then reset my stitch length to something shorter and resewed the outer and inner seams. I went back after and unpicked the basted stitches. The crotch area gave me a bit of trouble on my initial go, so I unpicked the newly sewn seams, unpicked the original seams and did some readjusting there by taking it in at the front seam just below the zipper then closing everything back up. I think it's referred to as taking in some of the ease? Once I had the fit just right, I trimmed off all of the extra fabric, overlocked my raw edges and tried on my new pants one final time!

Aaaaah!!! I heart them so much!!! OMG! ;) Hahaha, okay, but for real though. I really like how these came out and only wish they were a bit longer....may have to play with the hems and see if I can let them down a bit. Taking them in as I did makes them high-waisted (which I love) and because there isn't any stretch to the fabric I had to leave them a bit looser at the knee (which I don't love). But that's just being picky. I styled them with a fitted chambray top that I bought on one of those rare forays into the mall a couple of years back, a pair of animal print kitten heels from DSW, and a yardsale necklace I picked up for $2.

Gah! I'm dying over how excited I am that these actually turned out! I was so sure that the crotch would totally end in failure and I'd be on the hunt again for another pair of floral pants...which I may or may not be anyway ;).

Hope you like this one, as its fairly obvious that I do. Oh, and I found that floral silk scarf hanging in the background last week and need your ideas on what to do with it!!! I need to be able to wear it (I simply don't use this type of scarf as a scarf) and don't have any qualms about chopping it up! So, let me hear 'em...all of your best ideas. TIA!

Peace,
Andrea

2 for 1: Stripes & Floral

I snatched up these striped pajama pants at a bag sale yesterday...they set me back a whole $.27. That's a rounded number as the actual price breakdown carried the digit out several more places, but for our purposes, they were just over a quarter. Now, the problem with these is that they are size XS (which I am not) and absolutely wouldn't work as they were. But there's a pretty simple solution...and this process works with many kinds of pants! (Jeans, slacks...even sweatpants)

Love me some stripes!!!

 I'm going to make a skirt, so I started by cutting out the inseam (you may want to unpick the seams rather than cut them out if you're worried about having enough fabric to reach around, but I had plenty and am lazy). I then put on my would-be skirt and pinned the front and back where new seams would be sewn.

It's hard to pin on your backside!!! I need a dress form, asap!

 Next, I ran the front and back through my machine, trimmed off the excess fabric and overlocked the raw edges. Now, this fabric is a polyblend and the new skirt was a really weird length on me (ankle-length is not my thang!) so I gave it a chop...or three ;). I kept trying it on and not being satisfied, but I finally figured it out.

Hmm, maybe this length, no shorter...ok, a bit shorter!

Final step was to overlock the raw bottom edge and hem it up! Oh, and press the hem and new seams (makes a major difference, folks). And I've got myself a hi-low stripy skirt :).

No, I did NOT clean up my sewing space, but it IS on my list...that counts, right?

 I like how this came out and the high-waist makes it much more flattering on me, imo. One little quarter, and about half an hour is all it took.

Long post...cause here comes another one! Well, I had cut off so many scraps from my skirt that I had to do something with at least part of them right away. I've had this floral maxi dress for a while now and haven't been wearing it because it is too clingy on my waist and the thin fabric is a bit unforgiving. So I'd brought it out thinking I'd make it into a maxi skirt but had no wide elastic for a waist band. In comes a scrap of striped stretch fabric...

Stripes, meet Floral ;)

 I took the widest section of the bottom of the skirt, folded it over, cutting straight across the top and along one end to create a yoga-style waistband. I sewed up the side (having measured the width I wanted) and set this aside.

Cut, cut, and sew!

 Next, I folded over the top of my dress where I'd already marked it to be cut, and made the chop.

1...now 2!

 Then, I put my waistband wrong side on the outside (right side) of my newly cut waistline and using an overlock stitch, sewed the two together stretching the striped fabric as I went. It was cut smaller than the floral so that it'd create a snug (but not too tight) waistband.

Finally getting the hang of these overlocking stitches on my sewing machine!

Folded over, here is how my stripes-meets-floral maxi skirt looks. Oh, and I even have the cropped top of my dress to play with for later ;).

This was incredibly easy...but that's kinda what I needed in the effort to get my sewing mojo back. And hopefully I have! Here's the final before & after shots:

So, what do you think? I'd love to know what you would have made with each of these pieces! Sometimes I go with the most obvious choice, out of habit I'm sure, but maybe getting a different perspective could help me broaden my vision for refashion possibilities! Thanks for your patience as I enjoy the beautiful weather with my family...but I've missed sewing and posting and hearing from you all! Happy Refashioning :)

Peace,
Andrea

#MMMay14: Day 13

Day 13: Repeat wear on the gray 'skinnified' thrifted pants. I threw on my favorite tank top and a cardigan in my favorite shade of green (consignment store find). I was actually wearing black chucks today, but these slip-ons are what I wear around the house. I'm busy packing, cleaning and taking breaks to breath in between. Michigan, here we come.

Peace,
Andrea

#MMMay14: Day 2

Today was all about laundry, dishes, and cleaning....at least the first half. But I tackled all of it this morning so that my son and I could go out and enjoy the afternoon. Here's a snap he took of the me-made outfit I am wearing today.

My first refashion of 2014, this Anthro-inspired top, paired with 'skinnified' gray pants (super comfy) and some coral colored flats from UO. The top and pants were thrifted. I accessorized with my son's backpack and water bottle... ;). Why didn't I actually accessorize? I think I've gotten out of the habit as I don't wear much jewelry during the winter. Time to break out the collection and start playing with some pieces to go with my me-made outfits!

Hope I get to do some sewing this weekend, and then share some new creations with you!

Peace,
Andrea

Healthfulness: Workout Wear "Quick Fixes"

So, for the past couple of days I've focused on 'healthfulness', and in particular, working out. Thursday, I shared a bit about my struggles to stay motivated in this post. Yesterday, I posted some great thrifted workout wear finds that are perfect as they are. If I feel good in my workout wear then that's one less barrier between me and keeping at it. So, to follow that train of thought, I'm taking some great thrifted finds and making them 'feel good' to me.

These refashions really are some of the easiest to accomplish, I think. Similar to taking a pair of bootcut or flare jeans and making them skinny, I 'skinnified' these workout leggings that I found at the thrift store.

This first pair is so cute with the patterned band and the fabric is incredibly comfortable and a great thickness. I paid $4 and will be getting TONS of wear out of these.

My t-shirt just so happened to match perfectly ;) 

But, as I'll be wearing these running, I have an issue with the leg shape. I don't like extra fabric flapping around or the hems brushing together...nitpicky, I know, but that's what's so great about being able to personalize your clothing to your exact 'needs'. ;) I simply laid them out, put another pair that I already own and love the fit for on top. They'll serve as my guide on how much to take off. I ended up taking these in from the inner seams and used a tiny diagonal zigzag stitch that allows a bit of stretch but is super strong as well. Much better!

This next pair is just plain black with a drawstring at the waist and the Everlast logo at the bottom of the left hem. I paid $3 and again, will get so much wear out of these in the next few years.

I repeated the same process, but this time took them in on the outside leg seams. Now they are fitted and I was able to completely eliminate the logo on the leg. Score!

Now, I'd planned to leave it at that, but then I popped in the thrift store for hangers this morning and came across another activewear top.

It's cute and fits and was only $3, so I brought it home. However, I'm not loving the sleeves...they look fine but they feel a little weird, and if they feel weird now they'll feel weird running. So, I chopped them off cutting as close to the seams and neckband as possible, then removed the hem of the short sleeves and cut them each in two pieces.

These, I pinned to my top creating a total of three thin straps to see how I'd like it. It's good! And it takes care of the little gap that was happening after removing the sleeves.

Next step was to sew the straps on, and I did so using white thread to match and a ladder stitch. Last step was to trim off the extra bits nice and close to the stitching.

And there you have it! Short sleeves gone, and now a strappy tank top for running and other workouts :).

I love the refashions that I do on the fly that come out so well :). The only bit of advice I'd add with refashioning activewear is that if it's fitted, then you'll need to sew with stretch stitches so that the clothing moves well with you. Reinforcing seams with decorative stitching is also helpful, again, as long as it allows for stretch. Now that I'm all geared up, I'm biking to the park where I'll watch my husband and son play then go for a run before heading home for supper! Hope you're having a lovely weekend...the weather here is incredible!

Peace,
Andrea

Black Silk Tent: Refashion #2

Talk about the pair of pants that just keep giving! This is the second of three refashions that I've made from this pair of black silk 'pants'. Number three is in the works and will be posted another day, but let's focus on the middle child, shall we? 

So, quick refresher, I found this pair of silk pants for $4 at the thrift store and snatched them up. I then made them into a pair of pretty shorts. But what happened with all of that extra fabric after I cut out my pattern pieces for the shorts? Well, notice on the right, I've laid them out on the floor along with a tank top I'd initially planned to copy. I definitely have enough for two refashions...one from each leg! The scoop was the crotch, the notches on the sides are where I cut out the shorts crotch and the bottom is the remainder of the leg (which means its a loop of fabric). 

I decided right away that the shape lent itself to making an easy top. So, I grabbed one of the legs, pinned the 'straps' over onto the backside of the 'leg' gathering one of the straps and leaving the other wide. I wanted to get an idea of what I'd prefer.

Not bad from the front...a bit loose, but definite potential! The back made me realize immediately that I'd go with the gathered strap. What you can't see in this picture is that under my arms are huge gaping openings because I pinned the straps more towards the center back seam. I'll be adjusting that.

I gathered each strap, pinned them, then folded the top in half to make sure that each 'notch' was equal...a little overlap was fixed by a quick snip. Then, I repinned the straps, but this time I did so making the arm openings much smaller and leaving more space between them in the back.

Ok, definitely better from the front...from the side, not bad either...but the back is a little too scandalous for me ;).

So, I pinned the back to see how that would help...I'm liking how its still low, but not too revealing.

Up to this point, all I've been doing is pinning, trying it on, adjusting, pinning, trying on again, etc. Now I need to start sewing. My first step was to finish off the raw edges of the outer 'strap' and all along the new back over to the other strap. I wanted to challenge myself with learning how to do a nice baby/rolled hem without needing a special sewing machine foot for the job (cause I don't have one). So, I googled it and came across this tutorial that showed me how! There are actually many ways of doing this and various tutorials (super helpful), so I could have tried many of them and gotten similar results. This is just the first one I came across. First step was to straight stitch all along the edge of the fabric about 3/8 of an inch in. Next, you fold that over along the stitching and sew as close to the edge as you can. Trim away the excess as closely to the stitching as possible, and then fold over one more time (tiny fold) and stitch as close to the edge as you can. Here's how mine turned out sans pressing. It actually is beautiful how even my hems are and how tiny, though without pressing them its hard to tell ;).

Next, I sewed along where I'd pinned the back in (my measuring tape shows the line as you can't see the stitching). Then, I zigzagged the ends of the straps, folded them over and straight stitched across.

I finished off the raw edges of the new back seam with a zigzag stitch and the neckline with a double straight stitch (just ran it through my machine once, close to the edge, and again 3/8 from the edge) since it's edge was already finished and folded. Remember, the neckline is the previous crotch...or maybe we should forget that! Haha, oh well, I'm not worried cause it's been laundered and the crotch showed no wear at all (being as it was so low hanging in the original garment).

Next, I sewed the straps in place. I had marked where they'd be attached, and a simple straight stitch does the job.

My final step was to repeat the process for a rolled hem on the bottom of my top. That edge was much easier to finish off as it wasn't quite as curvy as the straps. And here's the final product! I love that its nice and simple in the front and a little bit sexy in the back. I want to start creating different bandeau tops to wear under this from my scraps :). Now, into the pile to be ironed! And hopefully out soon to be worn...if our weather would move past cold and now, rain. But at least its not snow!

I'm really pleased that I went with the initial shape of the piece of leg instead of cutting and trimming to get a specific shape. The process felt very organic and that's cool when the remnant determines its own outcome, so to speak. I'm excited now to see how the other leg will turn out!

Here's a final look at the before and after:

Hope you enjoyed this one!
Peace,
Andrea