Showing posts with label Refashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Refashion. Show all posts

Friday 31 August 2012

Last day of Restyle - Day 31


Well, I've gone a whole month wearing at least 50% op-shopped or refashioned items every day and I haven't bought anything new!

This last outfit:

  • Coffee coloured top - ombre dyed in blue by me.
  • Denim jacket - refashioned sleeves by me.
  • Jeans and shoes - my own.
I've enjoyed this challenge. It has forced me to look deeper into my wardrobe for op-shopped clothes that I hadn't worn much (or at all). It has also inspired me to rummage through a rather large stash of clothes kept for refashioning, that were really just taking up space before. Now I have some 'new' (refashioned) clothes that I'll actually wear. On top of that, I've used some pieces of op-shopped fabric to make a jacket, top and jeans that I'm very pleased with.

Here's a quick overview of the month:


Thanks for coming on this ride with me. I already have some more things to show you, including an exciting refashion. I will post some more things in the next few days :)

Thursday 30 August 2012

Restyle Day 30


Today's outfit:

  • White top - op-shopped last year and refashioned from a straight t-shirt by adding a band of shirring at the hemline.
  • White cardi - op shop, $4.
  • Jeans - ebay.
  • Neon shoes - my own.
That's the second-last day of the Restyle challenge.


Wednesday 29 August 2012

Restyle Day 29


Day 29. Only two days left of the Restyle Challenge - and counting!

Today's outfit:

  • Grey top - refashioned from two Metalicus tops by me.
  • Black cargo skirt - shortened from a long skirt with high side splits by me.
  • Necklace - made by me from beads and washers and hand stamped with 'Live life out loud'.
  • Leggings and boots - my own.

Saturday 25 August 2012

Restyle Day 25


Here we are, just a few days off the end of the Restyle Challenge. It's a lovely day so I dug out a refashion from a little while ago. These shorts have actually been one of my most popular posts ever, so I'm pleased the weather is warm enough to wear them again.

I'm off to see the 'Vagina Monologues' tonight - should be interesting, I'll let you know!

Thursday 16 August 2012

Refashion two tight t-shirts into one flowing top


I have been hanging on to these t-shirts for such a long time, waiting for the perfect refashion inspiration. Both t-shirts are lovely fabric, being from Metalicus, but both were too tight and showed off too many lumps and bumps for my liking. I've come across a few ways to loosen a tight t-shirt in blogland, but none that felt quite right for these tops. Then, the other day while I was browsing in the Metalicus shop, I came across this and the creative lightbulb went on!


The dress had diamond-shaped inserts at the sides with pockets set in to widen the bottom of the, otherwise straight, dress. Genius.




After examining the technique closely in the shop, I raced home and drew a diagram of the construction and then set to work drawing up a pattern. My basic pattern for the inset piece is available for download below, although you may need to tweak it depending on the length and size of your t-shirt. Mine is for approx. Aus/UK size 10. I'll explain more in a minute.

(This is my first download so please let me know if it doesn't work)

If you have trouble with the above download, please try this one

So, do you want to make one? Of course you do!

You will need:
Two t-shirts, or one t-shirt and some extra fabric for the insert. The main t-shirt can be tight-fitting,
A sewing machine, scissors.

To begin, cut or unpick the side seam of your main t-shirt to a few centimetres below the armhole. I unpicked mine for neatness. Measure from the armpit to the hem and make sure the side of the pattern marked 'join to t-shirt' is at least this length (and a bit longer if you are going to add a hem, I added a band to my insert to match the t-shirt so didn't need to add a hem). Adjust the rest of your triangular pattern if necessary to add/remove width or length. Set main t-shirt aside.


Now we are going to work on the inserts. My tank (below) was made with a double layer of fabric so I had more fabric than it looks like here. Make sure you have enough to cut four triangles and two pockets (if adding pockets). Also remember that the greatest stretch needs to go around the body when working with stretch fabrics, so the longest side of the triangle should go straight up and down, as pictured below.



Here are my four triangles.


Then use the bottom part of your pattern to cut out two pockets. remember to add an extra 3-5cm to fold over for the top of the pocket. Cut outwards from the triangle here so it doesn't get smaller as it's folded over.


Here are my two pockets showing the folded over cuff (right) and the shape of the cuff cut outwards for the fold-over (left). Make sure you cut them out as mirror images of each other. Stitch the cuff down to create a cuff of about 2-3cm. My pocket already had a seam from the t-shirt so I sewed the cuff to this seam. If not, just sew a nice flat hem on the upper edge of the pocket.


Take two triangles and place them right side up to form a diamond (as shown below). Place the pocket right side up on one triangle, matching the edges.



Fold the other triangle over to sandwich to pocket between the two triangles, right sides together. Pin the longest seam and stitch with a stretch stitch - zig zag or serged. When you open it out, the point will be the new side seam and the other long sides will be attached to the main t-shirt. If you are doing a fold-over hem, do that now. If you are attaching a band for the hem (like I did), read on...


Open out the inset piece and cut a strip of t-shirt fabric long enough to sew along the whole bottom edge with a bit left over. My band was approximately 5cm wide to result in a hem band of 2cm (with seam allowance).


Fold the band in half lengthwise and cut it in half. Then trim the ends at an angle as shown so it will fit around the triangle hem.


Opened out, the hem band pieces will look like this.


Sew the pointed edges of the hem band together with right sides facing each other.


With right sides together, sew the hem band to the lower edge of your inset piece. Now the inset is ready to attach to the t-shirt! Phew, nearly there.


 With right sides together, match the lower hem of your inset piece with the lower hem of your t-shirt. Make sure the pocket is at the front of the t-shirt. If it isn't, use your other inset piece! Pin the side of the inset piece along the opened-out side seam of the t-shirt. If necessary, cut or unpick the t-shirt side seam a bit more so the inset piece fits.


Sew and repeat for the other side seam. Then for the other side of the t-shirt. Each side should now look like this.


And, just when you thought you were never going to finish, it's done!!


So worth the effort!!


I would love to hear about if if you make one :)

Restyle Day 16 - a top refashion


Here is a sneak peek of my latest refashion project - deliberately shadowy in this picture to pique your interest! I am quite excited about this. It is a designer knock-off made from two t-shirts.

I have just included this in my Restyle for today as my other items of clothing are not op-shopped, self-made or refashioned today. But this top makes up for it as you will see when I post the tutorial soon :)

Monday 13 August 2012

Restyle Day 13


The Day 13 Restyle challenge outfit consists of:

  • Black Stylecorp zip-up cardi - op shop, $5.
  • Black Bellabwear top - purchased from Ozsale.
  • Red Trent Resort skirt - op shop, $4 then refashioned by me to reduce size.
  • Leggings - Bought from Witchery
  • Boots - bought from Airflex.
The designer label, red skirt is made from a lovely stretch cotton fabric. I couldn't resist buying it even though it was two sizes too big for me. I unpicked the hem at the sides, took in each side seam to fit me, then restitched the hem over the new side seams. Now it fits perfectly!


Tuesday 7 August 2012

Restyle Day 7 and week 1 roundup


 Well, I'm one week into the Restyle challenge. Today I'm wearing my new jacket, made completely from op shop fabrics! The cost of the jacket was less than $5 for the fabric and $4 for the zip. Not bad for $9. It was made using Jalie pattern 2795 and you can read more about how I made it here.


Day 7 of the Restyle sees me wearing:

  • Jalie jacket made by me out of fabrics from the op shop, $9.
  • Laura Ashley pants - op shop purchase refashioned into slim-leg style by me, $5.
  • Long sleeved t-shirt, Bellabwear - purchased from Ozsale.
  • Canvas boots - purchased from Big W.
So here's my Week 1 roundup. Lots of DIY and refashions and plenty of op shop goodies...



Monday 6 August 2012

Restyle Day 6


I'm not sure I managed to wear 50% op shopped items today, so I made up for it by wearing my self-made red jeans.

I'm sporting:
Bliss denim jacket - op shopped ($10) and refashioned by me. Blogged about here.
Black Bellabwear top worn under jacket - bought from Ozsale and worn endlessly!
Red jeans - made by me using Jalie pattern 2908 and blogged about here.
Black boots - bought from Airflex.

See ya,

Sunday 5 August 2012

Restyle Day 5


Here I am in a car park, unintentionally looking like I'm about to launch into Michael Jackson's 'Bad'. I popped into the city today, which is very rare for me, so I snapped a few shots in the car park when no one was looking.


So, for the Restyle op shop challenge today, I am wearing:

  • Chevron applique t-shirt - made by me and blogged about here.
  • Refashioned brown 'Jump' cardigan - op shop, $4. I added a zip and the green collar from another op shop jumper as it previously had an unflattering round neckline.
  • Yanuk jeans - ebay.
  • White scarf - op shop, $2.
  • Shiny bronze shoes - Zara mens, bought recently from Ozsale for $5!



LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...