Completed: Hot Patterns 1226

I finally found the time to complete my Hot Patterns 1226 blouse. 

A few notes on the result.  The pattern was very easy to use and the directions were clear.  The picture on the envelope is a very accurate depiction of how this blouse fits and hangs on the body.  Can I say, there's quite a bit of wearing ease here! It's a very slouchy, casual look.  If you wanted something a little more formal, or form fitting, it would be very easy to adjust the pattern along the seam lines.  Here's a picture of the completed blouse, gracing my trusty dressform, Betsy. 

She wears it well!  Overall I'm pleased with the result, though I think I may make it again, perhaps a size smaller.  It will be cool and breezy while providing office-appropriate coverage.  Thanks for viewing my result.

I'm not exactly sure what's on deck next.  Maybe a nice summery dress!  What are you sewing this summer?

Sewing Plans: Hot Patterns 1226

For quite some time I have been enamoured with the designs featured by Hot Patterns.  To quote their about section, "HotPatterns is an independent sewing pattern company, started in 2005, and run by two Londoners who have somehow found themselves living & working in the steamy south-west of Florida".  I was first introduced to the company's work through some free patterns but then began to look more deeply to find a very stylish line.

I recently purchased Hot Patterns 1226, described as a T-shirt/blouse hybrid, the "perfect mix of comfy T and dressy blouse".

Here is the fabric I have selected to make this top from:

The fabric is drapey and relaxed.  It will be gorgeous made up as this blouse.  Unfortunately, it was stored in a bit of a ball, so I spent a whole evening pressing out creases so that I can cut it, hopefully, this weekend.  I could also see doing this again in a plain color to maximize the number of bottoms with which it can be worn.

I'm excited to get back to sewing.  Thank you for being my accountability partners!  Now that I've let you in on my plans, I have to follow through, right?

p.s. This is NOT a sponsored post.  I have no affiliation with Hot Patterns and have not been compensated in any way for promoting this pattern.

Another Mom Jumper Restyle

Today, I'm mixing it up a little and getting back into the restyle groove with another "mom jumper" in need of a fresh look.  I had a mom jumper top left over from another restyle.

And I found a denim blouse in my restyle bag.

Then I joined the two together... but it needed a little contemporary color!

And then my new "mom jumper" upcycle was complete.  Here's the back:

And the front!

I would definitely wear this to the market, or on other errands around town, how about you?

Completed Project: Upcycle Blouse

I completed the upcycled blouse yesterday, and today I'm going to wear it out to lunch with a friend!  I'm pleased with how it came out.  One thing I forgot to show you in the "before" pictures was that the original dress had a placket of functional buttons up the front.  I liked the faux pearl buttons, so I decided to incorporate this element into the top.

I made the button placket the center front of the top, but I made it non-functional by stitching the placket closed.  It gives the illusion of a button-up blouse, but it can't gap in embarrassing places!

I really need to get a camera with a timer and a tripod so I can take pictures of myself in my creations.  It's a cloudy day, so here's a poorly lit mirror shot just to show that the blouse fits!

Anyway, another project completed!  I'm excited to wear my new blouse.  I like how light and airy the rayon fabric feels, and I like the fact that an outdated dress was saved from the landfill.  Please let me know if there's anything in particular you'd like to see used in an upcycle!

Another Refashion Top

In my quest to quickly sew up some items I can wear everyday instead of that uniform T shirt and jeans, I'm doing another top restyle.  As a pattern, I'm using a me-made patternless top from about two years ago.  It's just a simple boxy, or crop, top.  There are no real design features (no closures, no darts) and it relies on the drape of the fabric to lend shape to the garment.

The subject of the upcycle is a thrift store dress I got for $4.99 on the same day that I scored the men's shirts.  It seems hopelessly 80s, but may actually be 90s.

It was originally a very nice dress, I'm sure.  It was a Karin Stevens, a quality brand.

What sold me on it for a restyle was the pretty floral print fabric, which, as you can see is 100% rayon.  Dry clean only - but I washed the dress and hung it to dry when I got it home.

And I'll have to think of something to do with the remainders because I do like the lace collar detail, but obviously not for this project.  Any suggestions?

Stay tuned!  I'll probably cut today and sew tomorrow.

Men's Shirt Upcycle

Remember the men's shirts I snagged at Salvation Army last week?  I decided to work with the blue checked one, which was $2.99 initial investment.

It's a very nice quality shirt - Polo by Ralph Lauren.  First I cut off the collar and the sleeves.

The I used some scrap quilting fabric I had on hand to make bias binding.  I used this to finish the neck and armholes.  Love the complementary colors!

I fitted the shirt to a woman's contours and added a sash made from the complementary fabric.

I made the back of the shirt into the new front, so all I have left to do is remove the pocket!

Even though the pocket still needs to be removed, I already wore the top out to do some errands.  Very comfy, and nicer looking than my usual T.  I'm pretty pleased with the outcome, but even if it was too "altered" for your tastes, you could wear it as a crafting or kitchen coverall!  What do you think?

Lessons From the Past:2 - Shirt Shuffle

The Make and Mend for Victory book has been so much fun to read, and such an inspiration.  I have always been interested in reuse of discarded or unwanted fabrics, but this book has helped me to see things through my grandmother's eyes even a little bit more than before.  Having been a young woman during the Great Depression and WW2, she knew how to pinch a penny until there were tears in Abe's eyes!

I stopped into our local Salvation Army store the other day and picked up two old men's shirts.  Both are large sized.  One was $2.99 and the other $4.99.  And, of course, you may have a stock of worn out men's shirts at your disposal for free!

I have plans to modify these into women's blouses, but another chapter of Make and Mend for Victory had me looking at the many other potential garments hiding within these shirts.  Many of you have young children.  These shirts are ideal for making all kinds of garments for the little ones! Again, patterns of the day are used in these layouts, but modern patterns would work as well if you haven't a source (or the budget) for vintage patterns.

I hope this gives you some great ideas, as it did me!  Happy sewing!

Shared on Frugally Sustainable.

Completed Project: Butterick 4228

I completed the wearable muslin top portion of Butterick 4228.  This is a pattern from the sixties, an era I seem to have suddenly become enamored with. 

As touted on the pattern envelope, this top was easy!  And it has a very flattering drape.  Here is a picture of the completed top.

I thought it would look nice styled with this cardigan.

My plan is to do the complete suit in this lilac linen.  Then the skirt will have two interchangeable tops.

I need to prewash the linen, so I think I'll jump into a couple of other projects first, but I'll be back to this one pretty quick because I can't wait to wear it as an outfit!

Progress and Paying it Forward

Tina at Down the Retro Rabbit Hole is playing the Pay it Forward Handmade game, and I would love to play this game, too.  You see, the first three commenters on this post will receive something from me that I have made just for them!  How fun is that, and who doesn't like to receive goodies in the mail?

So, here's what you need to do:

• Leave me a comment telling me your favorite color (or the colors you absolutely loathe) to help me make you a gift you'll hopefully love! Please don't forget to include your email address (if you profile doesn't link back) so I can get in touch.
• To complete signing up, you MUST play along too by blogging a similar post and pledging to make a surprise for the fist three (3) people who comment on it.  

The rules state you will receive your handmade item within 365 days, however, I pledge to get this out to you within 30 days. I wouldn't want you to wait around forever!

 

Now, regarding Butterick 4228. I am in love with this pattern! The top came together like a dream, even though I had to trace and refit the facings. I had just the right zipper in my stash, thanks to a purchase I made from Vogue Fabrics at a sewing show.  I bought a mixed bag of random zippers for

$7.00. I have been saved so many trips to the sewing store by this purchase. I almost always can find something usable in my little box of zippers.

So here's the zipper installed.  Just some handsewing, and this top will be completed.  Then I'll show you the fabric I want to make the entire outfit from.  It coordinates with the "muslin" top so the outfit will have two interchangeable tops!

Don't forget to comment to play Pay it Forward!  Can't wait to make something for you!

Cutting to the Chase

I needed to vacuum my bedroom today.  Not really worth mentioning except that I thought I might as well cut a few patterns first.  The logic in that is that my carpet is chocolate brown and shows every thread (and bit of goosedown from my comforter), so I thought I'd cut first and then vacuum.  Here's the color scheme in my bedroom below:

Here in the northeast we spend so much of the year in hibernation, that these colors work great for that!  However, it does mean you vacuum frequently to get rid of the fluffies on your carpet.

First I laid out a pattern I've been wanting to get to since last summer.  I bought it in a discontinued pattern bin, and even though it's not vintage, it definitely has that vintage sixties feel.  It's Burda 8995. 

I reminds me of a dress worn by Emma Stone in her role as Skeeter in The Help.

I'm doing the dress in a contemporary print somewhat like a barkcloth, and the jacket in plain black.

Then I cut a (hopefully wearable) muslin of the top of the Butterick 4228 I got yesterday in the mail.  I'm using fabric harvested from another one of those thrift store mom jumpers.  But confusion, consternation and kerflufflement ensued when I laid out my pattern pieces and found that the original owner had decided to alter the facings.  She cut each facing into two pieces!

Which I then carefully pinned together to make them whole again.  I will now trace these onto freezer paper to make replacements.

The fabric is a soft jersey, and I really like the little violets.  If it does turn out to be wearable, I have just the skirt fabric to go with it!

And now I'm done cutting, and my room is vacuumed.  What other trouble can I get into today?