70's Style Tunic Refashion

                 I purchased this for a whopping $3.99 at "Goodwill."

     The tags were still on and it had never been worn!  Retail value $32.00

                                               BEFORE

                                             

This garment was a size large, :(  but it was from a junior manufacturer.  This means it was not meant to fit a 53 year old mother of two LOL!

      My solution?  Add some gussets on the sides.  That gave my curvy hips more room while giving the illusion that I am a little skinnier.  Love the magic of color blocking!

  I have paired it with my retro bell bottoms ($9.99 from "Old Navy") and a necklace I made myself.  (See below)  The purse is a long ago purchase.  I can't even remember the price or where I got it, but it is a denim friendly shade of blue and a basic barrel style.  The boots are the brown version of what I like to call my "faux stillettos."

                                        

AFTER

Check out the accessories and the tutorial below 

Necklace of my own design made from an old bracelet, chain, and a variety of of blue white and clear beads.

I adore these boots.  I am trying to find them again on line or in the stores.  They were a steal at $30 by "Nickels"

 

70's style Tunic Tutorial

 Cut the side seams open and let them fall naturally around my dress form so the top will skim (not vacuum seal) my body

Add a matching brown panel piece to the side.  Once I fit it to the size I wanted, I  cut another one for the other side.  This took a while to shape and fit.  Once I was finished,  I hand basted and checked the fit before sewing.  From there it was just a matter of hemming and seam finishing and I was done in about 2 hours total.

Hope you like this one!

As always, happy thrifting and refashioning!

Mary

 

 

Shrug+ Chiffon =Sweater Refashion #3

This refashion all started when my friend Shannon came to work in a beautiful pink sweater with a high low hem that had a surprise in the back, a beautiful coordinating chiffon print floral.  It started me thinking how I could refashion sweaters using chiffon.  Hmmm!

I had this basic black shrug sitting in my closet that I never wear anymore.  This was my most likely subject to try something…but what? 

                                                                         Before

Enter this chiffon nightmare and then came the idea!  Why not combine the two?  I knew it would work when I saw it.

Here is the result of the mix!  The tutorial follows right after.

                                                                            After

First I cut off the sleeves of the chiffon top making sure to leave enough to fold over and finish the insides.

Pin the front and back to the chiffon blouse.  Luckily, the lines of these 2 garments matched perfectly!
Sew the edges down, cut off the button,  sew up the buttonhole,  and I am almost done!

The last step is to baste and finish the inside sleeves to the seams of the sweater. 

I love the outcome! When I wore it to work and out on my errands for the day, I had so many compliments.  Refashioning is a passion and an addiction. I just love it!  I have not shopped in the mall since,  well, I can't remember the last time.

Over spring vacation I want to hit some thrift stores further away like Burbank and Huntington beach. I need more subjects for my fashion laboratory! FUN :)

Happy Easter and Happy Sewing and Refashioning!

Mary

Thrift Shop Slip Dress to Refashioned Maxi Skirt!

Hi Everyone!

I know it has been a few weeks, but once again it has been report card time!  Finishing report cards is an exhausting, time consuming process.  But...Fear not! Report cards are finished, and I have been squeezing in precious moments to sew and refashion.  I just haven't had a moment to put it all together for you until now.  Take a look at my latest before and after...

                                             BEFORE

A rayon slip dress with a great pattern!  I just zipped off the top and made a foldover 3/4" elastic waist.

 

AFTER

I feel pretty and on trend.  All of this for a $5.99 dress, about $0.50 worth of elastic and about 20 minutes of time!

  One thing about using a slip dress to do this:

  Make sure you are able to take it into the dressing room and check if it is big enough to fit you properly over the hips as a skirt.  If I am going to a thrift shop with no dressing rooms,  I will wear leggings and a tunic so I can slip things on without fear.

 

Well, that is all for right now.  I do have more projects to do and homework to correct.   So see you next time.  I would love to hear your comments.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY and HAPPY REFASHIONING!

Mary

Sweater Refashion #2

Hi Everyone,

I had such fun with the last sweater refashion that I had to do another.  The biggest problem with this refashion was that I accidentally trashed my picture of the BEFORE and I was already too far into  the refashion to go back.  Check out the transformation and the final product below.

 At this point you can still see the BEFORE.  It was a never worn, 100% cotton sweater that cost me $4.99 from Goodwill.  It had long sleeves, a button front, and a fold over lapel collar.  Very boring!
I wanted to make it into shaped cardigan  with a scalloped edge and 3/4 sleeves.

So, I purchased some cotton lace in a matching color and applied it to the sweater with a chain stitch.  Once the lace was set, I used the serger  to take off the excess and crocheted down the raw edges from the inside to give it a finished look inside and out.  I also shaped the side seams to fit using the same technique.

Chain stitch application

                                                    Here it is before I cut off the sleeves.

 Here it is finished! I am really happy with the way it turned out and  I am ready for more...
I would love to hear your comments.

Happy Refashioning!

Mary

My First Sweater Refashion!

Before

This sweater started out as a 1X beauty. It cost $4.99 at Goodwill and appeared to have never been worn. 

After!

 I took off the sleeves and cut a significant amount out of the body.  Then I crocheted it back together.  Finally, I crocheted lace around the bottom and the sleeves. Check out some close up images of the transformation below.

 

As I mentioned, I took off the sleeves first.  Then I pinned the side seams to fit.  After I took off the excess with the serger, I used a chain stitch to crochet the sides back together.  

I have bags of lace from my former days as a sweater designer (long time ago) and fashion designer for a number of children's manufacturers.  I was and still am a fabric and trim collector.  After all, I could use it all someday! LOL!  This choice was a perfect fit.  

This sweater goes well with leggings and jeans.  Yesterday I wore it with leggings as you see here.  For the outside, I wore it with a jean jacket and a black and white scarf.  

Well, onto my next project coming up soon!

Happy Sewing...Mary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One 90's jean jacket +thrift shop collar =Refashioned Jacket

Hi everyone!

The finished project!

A close up!

Meet my new favorite jean jacket.  It started with and old mandarin collar  jacket from the late 90's that had very little shape.  I have been holding on to it for a long time hoping the right chance would come along to make it new.  I think I found the right mix.  Here is the finished project.  Then,  I'll show you how I got there.

Take off the collar from here

Add it here!

As the picture states, all I did was add the collar.  My second step was to  take in the sides, under the armholes, and slightly slim the upper sleeve.  From there I was done!

I am not done with the tapestry jacket.  I have plans to use it for several other projects!  More on the way...HAPPY SEWING and REFASHIONING!

Mary

Thrift Shop Refashion of Mens Dress Shirt

Hi Everyone!

                                    This is the After!  
 

Here is the Before:

This project turned out great, but it wasn’t an easy battle.  I get very picky about fit and getting the darts and pleats in all the right places took me a lot of time.

Step 1:  Cut off the sleeves

Step 2:  Take in the side seams and pin the new darts and pleats in the front and back

Step 3:  Fill in the armhole gap with a gusset and redraw the armhole

 

Step 4:  Cut a new sleeve using an existing pattern out of the old sleeve

 

Step 5:  Set and sew  the sleeves

Step 6:  Final fittings on the body and permanently sew the changes.

Step 7:  Press!  Now it is ready to wear. 

I paired it with a pair of leggings and my cap toe, ballet flats.  Proof positive that a "fifty something" can wear leggings.  My rule is the top must cover the bum and be long enough to cover the widest part of your legs.  In addition, this top can be styled in numerous ways.  I can see it with skinny jeans and black pumps.  It would also be cute with capris and sandals for summer.

What do you think?

Happy sewing...Mary