Shirt redo - From sloppy to stylish- Multi color plaid

So, I have been on this re-do, up-cycle kick.  Recently, I have been remaking old sloppy shirts into ones that fit me just right!  Here is an example of a shirt I recently remade. 

Before:

multicolor plaid front

multicolor plaid back

 This shirt had some good bones, the collar and front tucks were a step in the right direction.  I removed the sleeves and cut out the excess on the sides.  I then took the tucks that were already there and took them all the way down, front and back.

Shirt back, tucks running the length.

To give the shirt more interest, I made the tucks in the front into Mexican tucks. (Which means the are sewn opposite to give a wavy illusion to the fabric).

 

After that was done, I cut off the sleeves to make them short, but I retained the cuff.  Why do more work than necessary.  I finished all of the seams and tacked down the collar. 

I wear this one all the time now. 

Lil' Grey sweater - makeover

This little girls sweater was $3.74. My little girl needed a longer sweater than what she had, but finding one was a trick. I saw that there were many people "fixing" sweaters to meet their needs. So I thought it was a great idea and did it too. It is an easy craft idea too. I took the sweater and sewed two zig-zag stitches down the middle, next to each other. I then cut between the stitches. I added a button and small string to hold it closed. Also, I rolled the sleeve cuff up about three inches.

....... New knee length sweater for my little beauty girl! As she was getting out of the car to go to school, I heard one of the teachers comment to her, "Cute sweater". That did my heart good!


-Tara




Here are some shots of my beauty girl in her sweater.

Slippers on my feet

I have been wanting some comfy slippers.  I have been cold!  Last year I found a pattern for slippers and made them for every member of my family (except me).  The pattern was difficult and did not work, so  I started from scratch and made up my own pattern.  (I call them new years slippers).  This new pattern worked out so much better.

 I used left over fuzzy fabric for the insides (which is why the fluff at the sole and sides do not match).  

These boot slippers can be left up to make a tall boot, 

or folded over to make booties.  


Either way works well and I love them. 

Fashion - Dollar Dress

Dollar Dress

Now here is something that finally worked!
I bought this sheet at a thrift store on a sale day. I payed one dollar. I then preceded to make a dress out of it. It is a pullover with elastic at the waste. I made up the pattern.   It is all cotton, perfect for Arizona! No zippers or buttons! The only thing that I had to spend extra on was the rick rack on the edge. Other than that, I did not spend anything. I used up supplies I had (thread, elastic)








The sleeves were gathered up (because they were too long) which ended up looking pretty cool. I made a few changes. I moved the rick rack from the neck to the hem line. Here is a close up of the sleeves and hem.

I get comments on it every time  I wear it.  

Fashion Design - doll dress day

My Beautygirl decided that we needed to make doll clothes for some of her dolls.

I did not have any patterns, so I suggested that we call grandma and see if she did.

I was thinking "quick trip".

--Go to grandmas
--get doll clothes pattern
--go home and begin project...











When I got to grandmas, she was already in the midst of one doll dress for another granddaughter. Grandma accused me of getting her involved in a NEW project. I told grandma what my plan was and then.... I discovered that my Beautygirl had set up a very different event. Little did I know that Beautygirl did not just call grandma, but she arranged that grandma would be making the doll clothes for other cousins at the same time. And Beautygirl had talked to the other cousins and told them the plan as well. It was to be a day! Not only that, but Beautygirl had brought some of her fabric scraps to make the doll dress.

She set up a project day at Grandmas--without my knowledge.

Hmmmm.....

So, this time, I figured "What the heck! I am already here."

This could be an opportunity to teach a little sewing.
I let Beautygirl design the dress.



I then made up a pattern (because after all that, the patterns at grandmas were WAY to complex for a doll dress)
I showed my Beautygirl how to pin the pattern to the fabric and how to cut it out.



Well, that was about all she could handle. (After all, she does have a hyper-focus issue that we deal with often)

So guess who made the rest of the dress? You got it...ME!




However, I did require Beautygirl to sew on the buttons.







In the end, The dress turned out pretty darn cute.

Red Dress

What once was two shirts,

has become a red dress.

 

I got two shirts on clearance and loved the color and flounce, but I did not want a shirt,  I needed a dress.


So, I cut one of the shirts off and attached it to the other and made my Christmas dress.