All posts filed under: Refashioning

Refitting My Favourites after My #SlimmingWorldSuccess

Published by

Back in June 2013 I dusted off my sewing machine and sent my then 22 year old overlocker off for its’ first service. I made a dress in a day….. totally oblivious to sizing charts, in a tricky ITY knit and have never looked back! During the last 4 years I discovered social media, and now have more sewing friends that golfing friends, which is really strange as golfing is a real life hobby not a virtual one like blogging! I also have lots of golfing friends who now sew… my enthusiasm can be infectious so watch out!  But all the sewing led me to have a huge lifestyle change, and not really for the better. I no longer played golf 3 or 4 times a week, instead I was either sat at my sewing machine or at my computer, and my life became stagnant. I’m not sure when the extra pounds really crept on, but soon I was almost 2 stone heavier than when I started blogging!   Things had to change.  I felt …

#SundaySevens 99

Published by

Hi Folks! Here we are with another Sunday Sevens Double Bill, and looking back over the last 2 weeks and beyond it’s no wonder I’m not making any new garments!  I still love taking the pics and sharing them with you, and also looking back over my old posts too.  It’s so easy to forget all the good stuff that happens in life so it’s a good way of keep a little photo diary of the little things, and the big things too. The week didn’t start off 2 good.  I fell on the steps in the gym, landing on my side. I managed to keep hold of my purse, water bottle and phone, but hit every step until I landed at the bottom.  the rest of the day (after I went to my intended class!) was spent in my PJs feeling very sore and sorry for myself. Sue and I ready in our team strips to play in the A team. We played at Bradley Hall Golf Club.  The weather was so miserable but the scenery …

A Quick Polo Shirt Refashion

Published by

I think MeMadeMay spurs us all into action and opens our eyes to gaps in our wardrobe. Last week I was wondering what I could wear for golf, then I remembered a top the hubby had discarded and put aside for the charity bag. It was kinda huge on me but I thought the collar the the zip opening didn’t look too big and once the sides were taken in it would still look in proportion. I measured it and decided to take the side in for it to measure 40″. I measure 39″ so I thought with a little stretch in the fabric 1″ of ease would be enough.  I’m still now sure now if i remembered to include a seam allowance as the finished garment is a bit snug (though I could get off my butt and go measure it and find out!). The marks drawn on were with a frixion pen.  I recently bought some felt tip style ones.  I’d always recommend testing to make sure the heat from the iron removes all marks …

The Dress of Many Colours – Just Call Me Joseph

Published by

  When I started browsing the likes of Harrods, Harvey Nics and other designer stores looking for inspiration for my Designin December make, little did I thing than I’d end up upcycling 29 of my husbands ties! I came across this skirt in Harvey Nics selling for a whopping £850!!  It obviously wasn’t made from ties, but the diagonal striped and pleated  fabric gave that appearance.   Unfortunately my husband’s tie collection is quite a bit more conservative than the colours in the skirt, but after a little persuasion he parted with around half of his tie collection. I butted the ties against each other and auditioned a few stitches to see which would sew the ties together the best: Number 22 in the photo below was the stitch of choice: First off I sewed the ties together in groups of 5, and the first ones that were sewn together I trimmed the top off – big mistake! If you plan on sewing ties together don’t chop anything off until you’re ready for fitting, or …

Another Brooklyn Hoodie & A Refashion 

Published by

Remember the white hoodie I made last month?  The only time I don’t wear it is at work, it’s just so cosy and goes with everything.  So I thought I needed to remedy the situation! Obviously with wearing a uniform I can’t just go out and buy fabric and make something to wear for work.  But I did come across 2 old fleeces with broken zips that were quite large and would otherwise be going in the bin! From start to finish it took about 3 hours to make. I didn’t go to town with the top stitching like the white one, mainly because it was for work, but also because my machine struggled with this thick fabric. The double ended zip was from Fabworks – 25p! The pattern was won an the fabric upcycled! So all in all a cheap make! I used twill tape to neaten the seam where the hood is attached. I won’t be using a contrasting one again – it wasn’t as neat as I would have liked. Passable, just! I …

Stretching my sewing skills – The Fehr Trade VNA Running Top

Published by

I recently bought the sew independent fabric bundle which includes Fehr Trades VNA running top. I’ve also taken up the running  challenge of couch to 5k and have nearly finished week 5 of 8.  The elastic limit of my current workout clothes is almost past the point of no return so it’s time to make some running tops that fit. I’ve got a few pieces of lycra in my stash but for my first attempt I used fabric that I wouldn’t be too upset if it turned out to be a disaster. Remember this dress… it was made before and after a 10 hour shift, then worn in the evening. Phew! I don’t tend to rail road my sewing any more, mainly due to having less time, but also because I’m trying to sew to a higher standard.  I’ve only worn this dress 3 or 4 times in 2 years so thought it was time for a refashion! I also used the legs of some gym pants which are now shorts, and a piece of black …

Georgia, you were only supposed to be a muslin!

Published by

For TMS’s first weekly challenge of #IMP15 I decided to make The Geogia Dress from BHL. It called for a fabric with a little stretch to help with the close fit.   As I’m trying to sew more quality than quantity I knew I needed to make a muslin. I traced the size 14 (U.S. Size – I like being 2 sizes smaller so sticking with it!!), then rummaged in my stash. I couldn’t find anything suitable, so delved into my ‘clothes to be refashioned’ box. I found a pair of my hubbies old jeans, and then after further searching in another box I found a gorgeous piece of Egyptian cotton. The latter had been chopped off my mum in laws duvet cover when she wanted it making smaller. Neither had any stretch but it would give me an idea of the fit and also enable me to check out the construction. The dress went together really well.  I didn’t take any pix when making it up as I only ‘threw’ it together to get the fit right. …

A Few Renfrews…… A Few Renfrews…… A Few Renfrews……

Published by

You can’t beat a good tongue twister! I can’t even say it in my head more than twice never mind out loud! I think we all have a few Sewaholic Renfrews in our wardrobes. I feel myself wanting to type closets, I’ll be calling my Overlocker a serger next! I already call my trousers pants which is confusing to none sewing friends. They wonder why I’m telling them that I want new pants (they think I mean knickers). Reading everyone’s blogs from various parts of the world is playing havoc with my Yorkshire accent! I’m trying to update my blog with some makes that I’ve not shown you yet, and yes you’ve guessed,  this is about a few Renfrews. The first one is a refashion too. The dress above was bought about 4 years ago for a wedding  I loved that dress.  The style is out, but the fabric is still in…..I’ve seen chevron patterns all over. Refashioned to a Renfrew…… Refashioned to a Renfrew…… Refashioned to a Renfrew…… Think that’s a bit easier than the first tongue twister! …

McCalls 6521 – hats for ladies suffering from hair loss

Published by

My mum in law lost her hair 14 years. She wears wigs when out but prefers hats indoors as they’re cooler. I found a pattern for ladies who have suffered hair loss. They’re designed to cover the hair line. I up-cycled a top for my first attempt and she loves it! Here’s a pic of me modelling it, I’d tucked my hair inside. It only took 1/2 hour and that included tracing the pattern! Much quicker than knitting! I used my Overlocker for all the seams so it’s really neat inside, and there’s plenty of stretch in the seams.

Selfies and Sorbettos

Published by

Late to the party? Crikey, I don’t think I’ll ever get there, late or otherwise! So, what have Selfies and Sorbettos got in common?  ……A year ago I’d heard of neither. My mums only just learning too.  Whilst taking this selfie at cricket she said…… Whilst most of you have perfected and hacked this well known (free !) indie pattern from Collette Patterns i’ve just about managed to get to grips with bias binding and made 3 this month!  Even though I’ve used bias trim before, I’ve recently invested in the Craftsy Class ‘sewing on the edge’ and have learn a lot, including a super easy way to make my own without one of the fiddly binding makers where the tape has to be just the exact size, or else. My sorbetto pattern has been stuck together and hung up since last year, and for some unknown reason I’ve not bothered to sew it. All this changed when I was umming and arrhing over this ill fitting maxi dress and tuck the plunge with my first …