T-shirt refashion (handsewn edition)

In the age of electric sewing machines, hand sewing seems like a thing of the past.  It is alive and well my friends.  Hence this project.  At least the first part of it anyway.

So, I needed a project for a three hour car ride to and from the airport.  And because children’s clothes use less fabric, I decided to make something for none other than Curly Cutie.  I am determined to use every piece of clothing given to me by my neighbor before she moved.  Remember the first t-shirt refashion I completed from said clothes?  Ha!  Actually Curly Cutie is wearing the shirt today.  She loves it.  On to our next subjects.

 

 

Armed with a pattern, these t-shirts, scissors, and pins I was ready to take this project on the road.  I decided to use the floral print and solid red t-shirts to make CC a dress.  I thought I would use the white shirt to add ruffles or something, but I nixed that.  I completed the project in well under the three hours.  There were some things I didn’t have to do since I used finished garments.  No hemming or finishing seams.

 

 

I removed the sleeves from original shirt.  Cut those down to size and reattached.  Left neckline alone.  Cut off bottom.  I sliced the floral print shirt right underneath v-neck and just used bottom portion.  There was only one problem.  When we got home and CC tried it on it was way to big.  She also made a request to have it sleeveless.  So much for ALL my hard work.  Lol.

 

 

That’s what I get for trying a new pattern and not sticking to what is tried and true.  Using a piece of nice fitting clothing as a pattern.  No need to fix a method that’s not even broken.  If CC would be able to wear this, I had to go back in and fix it.  It was kinda sad having to pick through those hand stitches.  Since I was at home, you already know I hopped on my machine to get the job done.  This in no way took away from my appreciation of hand stitching.  I learned that if I needed to do it, I could.  Being that I don’t have to right now, I won’t.  Lol.

We both really like the final product.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not all that comfortable just yet with finishing knit armholes.  For this project I just used the hem of the original sleeve and added it to the tank part.  Turned out great.

 

 

And this is another way we are doing clothes for CC the easy (inexpensive) way.

 

 

 

Sophisticated romper

Soooo, I decided to join in on Project Run and Play‘s Season 6  sew-along.  Why did I do that?  I really have no clue what I have gotten myself into.  This is a new world for me folks.  Deadlines can give me the heebie-jeebies at times.  I can be too easy going, so this is just the fire I need to kick start a new year.  I am a firm believer in starting where you are with all of your abilities and available resources.  And that’s just what I plan to do.

The theme for week #1 is a pattern remix challenge.  The party dress from The Cottage Home was chosen to be remixed.  Very cute.

So, basically we take the pattern and revamp it in some way to make a new design.  I made it a personal goal to use items I already have in my home.  I remembered a pair of jeans I had in my fabric stash and thought they would make great material for Curly Cutie’s outfit.  Fabric is a combo of cotton, them twins “poly” and “ester”, and elastane.  It has a nice subtle stretch and is not too bulky for an active girl.

I chose to remix the dress into a romper.  I consider my daughter to be a “tall drink of water” at the age of 5.  I just knew her long and lean body would be so cute in a sophisticated romper.  I had to get busy on the pattern.

I’m so glad I decided to make a mock-up of this outfit.  One, because my first pattern was too short.  Two, because I taped the bodice to the pant pattern backwards.  That thing looks hilarious, but it did what I needed it to do to get a good fit.

Changes to the pattern

–          Added length to bottom of bodice

–          Dropped the skirt and added a pant

–          Took a little more than 5/8” off of shoulder seam

–          Omitted the sash and added an elegant removable collar

–          Used thin black elastic for button loops

–          Used faux pearl buttons in place of fabric covered ones

–          I did not line the garment

For the collar, I used remnants from a curtain and a piece of lace my daughter so generously gifted me.  She’s beginning her own fabric stash and people actually give to her cause.

And for the full view.

I was so grateful CC allowed me to snap a few pics.  Most times she is so not a camera girl.  Although it seems as she’s getting older snapping pics is a little easier.  I do mean “a little”, a teench easier.  I was able to leave the original hem on the pants which was cool.  This is the beauty of refashioning clothes.  No yardage = no problem, just use what you have.  I also added a slight flare to the pant legs so they wouldn’t be straight up and down.

I had nothing to do with the crossing of the legs.  Lol.  I just go with what she gives me.

And as for The Party Dress…I rompered it.