One By One

Flip-flops, altered

After stumbling across this tutorial from alisaburke, I knew that I just needed to make a pair!

 

I used up some scraps from this bag, in addition to picking up a "scrap" bag from Starry Night Hollow (for $3!) that coordinated perfectly.

These are really simple to make. I used some sample fusible batting that I picked up from a quilt show ages ago, and fused the fabric pieces to it prior to machine stitching. This made the process even more simple!!

Pretty cool, huh? DH thinks they are so awesome that he's even requested a pair. Who knew?

Oh, and I picked up the sandals from Target a couple of weeks ago, just in case you just have to make one too. I know I will be.

Skirt from a dress, the finish

Using 2" elastic, I wrapped it around my waist where I wanted the skirt top to sit, stretching the elastic a wee-bit tight. I need to make sure my skirts aren't going anywhere - I have a toddler that likes to pull at them! Then I added 1" for a seam allowance.

After sewing the two ends of the elastic together, I marked the elastic into four equal sections, using pins.

I also marked the skirt into four equal sections (the side seams are the first two!).

 

Putting the elastic and skirt right sides together, matching the pins on the elastic to the pins on the skirt, I serged along the top, stretching the elastic to fit the skirt.

Then pressed this serged seam down, towards the skirt.

FINISHED!!

 

Such a simple refashion! And so easy to do!!

Skirt from a dress

Around our house, 2010 has become the year of losing the baby-weight. For both Andy and myself.

We've had great success thus far - Andy's lost 30 pounds, and I'm at 20 pounds. Quite an accomplishment!

The bad news is that we are quickly out-shrinking our clothes.

I have a handful of knit jersey dresses that I just love. Most of them were used as maternity dresses while pregnant/nursing... I bought them in pretty large sizes. I literally swim in them now, but love the prints. What else to do, but refashion them!

The easiest thing I could think of was to make an elastic-waist skirt. Here's the first part of what I did!

 

There it is - the uber-big dress that no longer fits!

 

I cut the bodice away from the skirt portion. 

I think the most difficult part of this project was making the top even. I decided to fold the skirt in half (side seam to side seam), and cut along the top making it curve up just a bit at the side seam edges.

All even!

Coming up next - attaching the elastic.

Pillowcase Smock

I made this one up over a month ago, but trying to coordinate with Andy to take pictures of me modeling is like nailing jello to a tree. So, please excuse the lack of a modeling shot :)

What started out as a 50-cent vintage standard pillowcase from the thrift store...

Was transformed into a very cute tank smock top for me...

 

I kept the hem of the pillowcase intact and added some scrap fabric inserts to increase the bust width to form the "yoke." The body of the smock is gathered in the front, but not on the back. The tank straps are also from the pillowcase fabric with added ruffles. Then, to add to the overall cuteness, I sewed white rick-rack along the bottom and gave it grosgrain ribbon waist-ties.

My favorite detail though are the vintage buttons that attach the straps to the top. Andy's mom gave me a huge bag of buttons that belonged to his grandmother. Quite the treasures have been discovered in that bag!

 

I like to where a crew-neck tee underneath this top - both long sleeve and short sleeve. It just adds a little cute something to the boring ho-hum mommy-wardrobe! And if it gets stained or splattered with food, that's okay, it was only fifty-cents after-all.

T-Shirt Refashioning Debut

The last time I mentioned the shirt I re-fashioned with shirring, I needed to make a decision on whether or not I wanted to do some machine embroidery. I opted to give it a whirl after poking around on the Urban Threads site (they have some really cute designs!). Anyway, here are the modeled shots:

 

I just love this shirt. So easy to wear, I'm not worried if Jake leaves his marks (because it was only $2 after all), and it's cute! 

I have a blue one on the cutting table now that I hope to get finished here in the next day or so. I also plan on putting a tutorial together for it to :)

Thanks for stopping by and reading!

Sheet Refashioning, Shirring Inspired

I have really been on a refashioning kick lately. First the t-shirt (which is finished, by the way, and will get it's own post soon), then an embroidered sheet circle skirt, now this one inspired by a conversation I had with Cora:

The sheet for the outside of the circle skirt was passed onto me by Erika. So sweet! Thanks E!

Because the sheet was on the sheer side, I purchased another sheet during one of my thrift store visits to use as a lining. I think it put me back a whopping $3. 

The waistband is a separate piece. I took my own waist measurement, added 6" and made it about 6" wide. After pressing it in half width-wise, I top-stitched it near the fold to create a finished edge.

Then, using the same shirring technique as the t-shirt recon (I really love this shirring thing!), I attached elastic for about 2". In order to enclose the raw edge of the waistband, I sandwiched it between the outside skirt piece and the lining piece, and stitched.  And then top-stitched it near the seam line. Pulled the elastic in to fit, tied off, and ta'da, finished!

I just love circle skirts! Thanks for stopping by and reading.