// #thriftstylethursday // Stripes

So, it's definitely NOT Thursday, but seeing as I've been wearing thrifted stripes for the past 4 days (not the same clothes each day, mind you) I figured it was high time I document with photos and post even if I'm tardy. 

By now you've already jumped around to see what all the other ladies were wearing, but I'll include the links at the end as usual, in case you're also running a few days late ;). 

This outfit is a favorite. There's an equation to a great outfit, in my opinion, and this is it: 

The bottoms can be any basic that fits AND flatters, the top should have some interest, and then the completer piece. It could be a denim jacket (this one is by Pilcro from Anthropologie), a cardigan, a cute blazer...tons of options! And this is by no means the only equation, but its hard to go wrong when you use it. Now, I wore this with my new Toms today, but for the pics, I threw on a pair of thrifted polka dot ballet flats.

Minimal make-up, a quick side braid and my vintage sisal market bag, and I ran some errands and fit in a bit of thrifting as well! Super easy, so comfy, and perfect for a spring Saturday. Apart from the denim jacket, everything else was thrifted. The t-shirt was an XL that I sized down, and I wear it weekly. The thrifted part of my outfit cost under $20 (the bag being the most expensive piece).

Here's a look at how I wear my thrifted stripes as shared on Instagram (notice it's the same top in both looks):

Click on the pics to hop over to see some more stripes!

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