One of my favourite things is seeing the before and after pictures of a good refashion, so I've been gleefully watching the fabulous refashions rolling in on The Makery this month. So good!
This year the Refashioners refashion must use jeans. I've already done a jeans refashion this year and have worn the dress so often, that I thought another denim dress was in order.
The idea for this dress came to me one night as I was drifting off to sleep. I always think about sewing as I go to sleep...
This year the Refashioners refashion must use jeans. I've already done a jeans refashion this year and have worn the dress so often, that I thought another denim dress was in order.
The idea for this dress came to me one night as I was drifting off to sleep. I always think about sewing as I go to sleep...
Enter the Mondrian-inspired denim dress AKA the StyleArc Charlotte Dress
I raided my old jeans drawer (after I remembered I had an old jeans drawer) and found three pairs of my old jeans in different coloured blue denim. It took me an entire day to work out which colour to put where, how I was going to fit the pattern pieces on the jeans and then to cut out the dress.
Annoyingly, when I opened up the side seams to get larger pieces of fabric, the jeans wouldn't lie flat due to the curved bootcut seams. I had to unpick and resew areas of the seams to get a flat piece for my large front and back pieces and even then I had to insert a couple of sneaky darts.
Where I could I used features of the jeans to add some interest. This was the original back pocket and side rivet.
I cut the front and back dress pieces so the original seams were as symmetrical as possible up and over the shoulders. Where I could I used the original hemlines and frayed them above the hem band.
Once the dress was sewn together, I harvested labels, pockets and buttons from the jeans (my unpicker was working overtime) and sewed them to the dress.
One of the labels got an upgrade!
Back pockets.
A button fly and coin pocket on one side.
A label overstitched to the back shoulder.
I am thrilled with the end result of this dress. I am hoping that I've retained the simple and classic look of the Mondrian design and that the added jeans features add a bit of refashiony coolness. Whatever, I'm going be wearing this a lot and washing it often to get more fraying and fading happening.
Thank you to Portia for the fantastic Refashioners series and competition and to the celebrity refashioners for the sewing eye candy and inspiration.
Chop chop everybody!
27 comments:
Absolutely fabulous! Oh, that reminds me - where's the bolly darling? I also think about sewing when drifting off to sleep, but if I get a really good idea (like this one) I wouldn't sleep at all!
Love it!! Perfect pattern choice (I've been eyeing this one, now it's in the cart). I love how you used the little details, too- the button fly, the pockets...
This is so creative and I can see the joy you had making it. Love all the jean details you added. Karen
that is fantastic, love the design you have created. And I also think about sewing ideas as I drift off to sleep - nice to know I'm in good company :)
WOW ! How nice and inspiring ! Love it!I also think about sewing as I go to sleep hoping to get dreams about sewing ....:)
So creative ! I love all the little details.
This is really amazing! Just Wow! I have the Charlotte pattern sitting waiting for me to find some coordinating fabrics, but this really takes the cake!
You are so great at this! Another amazing refashion and I love all of the details you added to the dress.
I LOVE this dress! Excellent!
I also think about sewing as I drift off to sleep.
Very cool. Love a Mondrian dress and made of jeans, fabulous!
We need a bolly session darling - with nibbly things xx
Thank you. I wasn't sure if it would be too much with the details, but I couldn't resist!
It's a rare bit of sewing that isn't a joy for me. Thank you!
It's a great way to relax. Thank you x
I don't think I've ever had a dream about sewing. That is now top of my to do list!
Thank you!
I was waiting for fabrics for this pattern too, then The Refashioners came along and suddenly I knew what to do!
You are too kind. Thank you so much x
It looks like it's not just me that does that. It's a great de-stressor!
Thank you so much x
Meg, this is utterly fabulous! I can never get past how clever people are who refashion. It's just not the way my brain works. But clearly yours does. Fantastic!
Brilliant! Just brilliant! (I fall asleep thinking about things like pattern placement and neckline finishes too haha!) Have you entered this onto the comp or are you planning to?? Deets are on the blog if you are 👍. Px
Brilliant! Just brilliant! (I fall asleep thinking about things like pattern placement and neckline finishes too haha!) Have you entered this onto the comp or are you planning to?? Deets are on the blog if you are 👍. Px
Fabulous refashion. I love the Mondrian look.
Love it! Although I had to smile about having to unpick seams (which presumably you would have preferred not to unpick) to get the fabric to lie flat. It's terrible when a simple idea suddenly becomes complex. Good on you for seeing it through!
I love this dress! Classic Mondrian plus just enough whimsical detail to keep things interesting.
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