Seeing RED: Success!

Remember this big red shirt? (complete with shoulder pads?)

 

I tried to re size it and in the process, created this "elephant ear" shirt. Not flattering at all!

I got some great advice from the blogging/sewing network!
(I went to the fabric store- to try and find more fabric, I couldn't find a red, but I found some cute polka-dot fabric.)
I started sketching- and trying to incorporate the two fabrics.

After sketching- I realized I really just want a cute RED- shell shirt.

(I was worried that using the polka-dot fabric. That this project would turn to clown costume.)

I was a little skeptical about using another shirt as a pattern (because of my DIY fail here), AND because I didn't have another "shell" shirt to pattern off of.
So I took a baggy T- shirt- that had a nice shape.

I felt a little better about the idea, when I saw that the T-shirt followed the sides I already fit to myself. I used the green shirt to cut/re-size the arm holes of the red shirt.

I used the green shirt to also re-size the sleeves.

Yay! It is cute and fitted and I left it long- so when I tuck it in... I won't have to constantly be tucking it back in- if ya know what I mean....

I am so happy!
A success story- to this cute shirt.

Can I say, I love my seam-ripper! I love that when I mess up- my little seam-ripper can make it all go away... and I have a second chance at it, to get it right, or a third time, or fourth, etc... you get the idea.

Here is the polka-dot fabric. Cute right? But do you see how it could be clown-like? I only bought 1/4 of a yard. I hope to be able to use it.

RED elephant shirt

Think Pink- challenge at Project Sewn!
I love how it is motivating me on my goal this year to: LEARN HOW TO SEW.

I need your suggestions!
I got this great blouse from Deseret Industries.
(A bit big) After thinking about PINK for a week, I thought I could use a cute RED blouse in my life.

(Shown here with my cute skirt from last weeks Project Sewn challenge.)

This is where I need your help!

 I thought it would be an easy project:

Take off the sleeves.

Re size the sides.

Reset the sleeves.

 

As you can tell- Not a great success story- .... yet!

I don't want to give up on this project, because the color is great!

 

Once "fixed" it will be an amazing addition to my "work wardrobe".

 

So I need some advice.

Hind-sight being 20/20- I maybe should NOT have taken the sleeves off.

I should have re-sized it like my coral sweater... just one seam, up both sides, including the sleeves in the seam. BUT I can't change that now.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Coral Sweater Re-style

So, the challenge for this week at Project Sewn is Think Pink!
I am not a "pink" person.
I went through a very short phase- of trying to wear pink, when I realized I was destined to be a mother of all boys! But it was short lived.

I realized - I like blue! I honestly do!


But after evaluating my wardrobe- I realized I did need more CORAL in my life. (look how amazing coral looks with blue and brown?? Kristina is so cute!)

 

I have a lot of blue.
I have a ton of turquoise.
I have too much black. ( I have actually banned myself from buying any more black in 2014)
I have a bunch of grey...

Coral is a happy color that looks smashing with all the colors I already own.

Kristina posted a cute idea for a sweater:  upcycle.
You can click HERE to read her tutorial.

So when I found this XL sweater from Christopher Banks at my local Thrift ... I thought I could do something simple with it- to tailor it to my size. (Sorry about the goofy face- but this is how I feel when taking pictures of myself- GOOFY.)

Then I found Kristina's idea to embellish a sweater- and I am sooo tempted to add these flowers.
I think they are so cute!
My only concern is.... is this fad already one foot out the door?

I am looking for more classic styles- that never go out of fashion.

dilemma
I figured, I would work on the resizing and see if I even have any fabric available to add these embellishments. That might have to be the deciding factor.

 

I used a zig-zag stitch to resize the sides and arms to fit me.

 

I love it!

 and I am going to skip the flower embellishments. I don't have enough sweater scraps and I like how simple and classic this sweater is. I know it will be a new favorite staple in my wardrobe.

After last weeks- failure, it was nice to have something wear-able!

Little Red Dress: Resize

Stumbled upon this amazing: Re-designer.

How cute is she?
You can visit her on her blog Merricks Art. Here's the link to the tutorial about how she downsized this dress!

So amazing what you can do- when you know a bit about sewing and clothing construction!

What I love- is this process could take a few hours/ one day, while sewing a dress from scratch would take me a week at least, or month more likely.

I am working on my project for Mondays Project Sewn.
The theme for next week is "Think Pink".
I found some fabric on sale at Walmart and thought about making a cute skirt.

 

I love skirts with inset pleats. I thought it would be cute with contrasting fabric.

("I bit off more than I could chew" in attempting that. I can't alter patterns yet. I need to remind myself- babysteps! first learn how to sew with a pattern! lol)

 

To add insult to injury, the fabric scorched when I tried to iron it.
But to be honest- at this point I was questioning my skill in picking out fabric! I mean... flowers and polka-dots? Am I 5years old? When I watch project runway-- I am always amazed at how they can mix and match patterns. (I am not very confident at wearing any patterns- let alone mixing patterns!) What was I thinking???

Anyway- the casualty count goes up by one more.
This is like a twisted mystery novel... where one by one... guests die, or in my case articles of clothing are destroyed. I try not to get too discouraged...
Your supportive comments really help!

 

 

Project Sewn: Week One- Attempt 2

I just couldn't leave the first challenge that way- with a DIY Fail. It just left such a bad taste in my soul.... my little, budding, sewing soul...

And especially- when the challenge was to be inspired by a fashion icon- my favorite!
Princess Kate!

So back to Pinterest to find a picture of something I could sew!

I won't make you wait for it. This is the cute skirt I made- inspired by this image of Kate.





I couldn't find the red tartan fabric.
I could find this flannel fabric.

Yes this is a flannel skirt- reminds me of my flannel pajamas growing up! I can see this quickly becoming my favorite skirt.


The reason I labeled my project: Braveheart Inspired on Project Sewn is...
as I was sewing this skirt, my husband walked into the room and asked,
 "Are you going to unite the clan?" Braveheart is his favorite movie- all time, so I knew exactly what he was referring to. lol.

It helped me giggle my way through the project until the skirt was finished. All the picking out and pinning etc. I mean, for an experienced seamstress.. this is probably an hour-project not two days.

After looking at some other people's projects on Project Sewn, especially Kristi (click here), I thought I needed to add lining to this skirt.. lining really makes a sewing project seem more professional and less home-spun. Also, I thought lining will help this skirt hold it's shape better (since it is made out of flannel) and not bunch up when being worn with tights.

I have never, NEVER ever lined anything!  Since this skirt is just a tube...I thought I would be able to handle it.

 

(Spoiler Alert: This is extra fabric from a future Project Sewn assignment. )

Look at the hem! no.. really LOOK AT IT! I did a dang good job!
My son helped me with the pictures, he said "Why are you standing like that?"

I don't know what I am doing?... awkward model syndrome.

 

Besides the awkward photos- the skirt turned out cute! (and comfy!)

I love /live for comments - they really help me stay positive as I try to learn how to sew.
So thanks for taking the time!
Laura

Mending

This is one of my favorite sweaters that I bought on that panicked trip to DI to buy warm sweaters last winter. I love that it is wool! It is so warm- and cute too.

Today I pulled it out of the dryer and I noticed small holes!
(One perk to buying clothes second hand- things never shrink in the wash.) But that doesn't mean you don't find other surprises.

I really love this sweater- it has been a trusted friend in keeping me warm this past year and a half.

So I decided to apply the old pioneer motto:

"Use it up

Wear it out

Make it do

or do without"

by mending the sweater. I've never done this before so we'll see how it weathers during wear and washing. But I think it turned out well!

I found some scrap fabric in a similar color and placed it on the inside of the sweater.

Then took similar color thread and stitched "in the ditch" of the rows of knitting.

Can you see the patch job? (it is up by the collar)
Not too shabby if I do say so myself!

(and YES! (exasperated) this is another bathroom!)

I know.. I know.. I promised..

 

Do you see that baby blue in the sweater? I love that color. This week anyway. lol

Fashion Icon Challenge

I never never NEVER find these types of challenges, while they are happening. I was so excited two days ago when I saw Ladybird post about this Project Sewn challenge that was starting today!

 

I just had to play along.

 

I am determined to fashion a working/functional wardrobe. I am not going to keep clothes I don't love- anymore! Life is too short. ( And my closet too small ..HA!) So I am being fearless this year. I am reconstructing my clothes to fit me and be fashionable... or it is being destroyed in the process ... and can no longer hang in my closet.

 

Today, the challenge was be inspired by a fashion icon.

 

 

I picked Kate Middleton.

 

 

I love this color palette. Baby blue and brown. So cute right?

I have a brown skirt- that I love. I thought I would try to make a cute baby blue top inspired by this blazer.

 

I don't have a cute blue blazer- but I did have a baby blue linen dress. (That I loved, back in the day, before I got rust stains on the skirt. I haven't worn it in years. But haven't been able to toss it.)

 

I seam ripped the sleeves off and cut some length off.

 

Then using a tip from Kristina's book/blog- I cut new sleeves. (I want longer sleeves.)

 

 

Things were going along... fine. The sleeves turned out! That was a happy moment in the project.

I wasn't too happy about the shape of the shirt. It is looking pretty maternity.

 

So, I thought I would move along to the detail- that I loved from Kate's jacket. The brown collar.

 

 

I had some brown/tapestry type of fabric- and added to the collar of this shirt.

I'll let you judge for yourself.

 

 

This project turned out pretty home-spun.

 

This is pretty bad... but I just had to laugh. I wanted to play along so bad on the Project Sewn Challenge... but I am a DIY baby. I am still learning. Kristina warns in her book- that when adding elements to clothes- they need to look like they belong. This collar- sticks out. I mean, if the shape wasn't so horrible- I maybe could save this shirt by adding brown big buttons, etc.. but I am tossing in the towel. The shape is just too wrong- for what look I was going for.

 

Lesson learned? Shape matters!

 

My husband did a double take- from watching the super bowl and said, "That's not your blue dress-- is it? I LIKED that blue dress!"

 

ah. yeah...

There are going to be casualties in this "learning to sew" goal.

 

(I didn't hem the sleeves-) But I am proud that I was able to alter/modify the sleeves.  (If I am trying to see the positive side of this DIY failure.)

I can't wait to see everyone's amazing creations for this challenge!

 

casualty count: 2

Kristina said she had about 37 clothing items die in her learning process. I am giving myself an even 40. If I learn to sew, and create a wardrobe I love and loose less than 40 items of clothing... I will have done a good job.