More Blue Overload

 Hello Readers. You might remember this snazzy blue blazer from last week. I loved the blazer but not the blue under-layer that was sewn into it. 

 

I took it out to make the blazer more versatile. I wanted to wear it with other shirts.

When I removed the under-layer I was impressed with the construction. I didn't want to throw it away. I try to save and use all my sewing left-overs. What could I make from half of a tank top?

 Well, I could try to make an entire tank top! I had a blue tank that I liked to wear under other shirts but I got something on the front of it and I could not get the stain out. I cut the cotton tank in half and used the back of it to go with this velvet front.

I could put them together and then I would have a stretchy blue tank top. It would be a really fun layering piece. The velvet/velour was such a pretty color.

These two parts made a complete tank top pretty easily. The stretch in the fabric made this tank really comfortable to wear. I am thinking about the next refashion.

Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

***Chickie's Year End Review-This tank is handy and I love the color. Win-win!

Free Long Sleeve Tee

 Hello Readers. How are you doing out there? It is really cold, I am worried about all of you. Are you OK? I am layering up to stay warm where I live. Let's look at one of these layers. 

 

This refashion started with this red shirt that my hubby did not want anymore. It had a hole in the sleeve. (Sourced from husband for free.)

 

This red shirt was a nice heavy weight and would be warm and snuggly. It is too big and unflattering. I also wasn't a huge fan of the buttons and collar. 

 

I cut the body from the red shirt. I made it the size I wanted and took away the rest, for now. We'll come back to it later.

 

I also wanted to use up some t-shirts I had sitting around. I used the shoulders from this gray shirt. (Sourced from stash for free.)

 

And I used the sleeves from this black shirt. (Sourced from the stash, also free.)

 

I put all the pieces together like a puzzle. I used more of the red shirt to get the red arm pieces. I did some pinning and then sewed everything all together.

 

The went together easily and I liked the different colored pieces all put together.

 

As you can see the snow just doesn't want to stop. This shirt is big enough to wear over a shirt for warmth. I will be adding layer on layer to go out until it warms up.

 

Yes, I went out of the house and got some thread. I do all my swaps to source free clothes but thread doesn't come along free. I just buy it when I need it because I can't sew without it. It was nice to see the thread so well stocked. I wanted all the colors.

 Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

***Chickie's Year End Review-I like this shirt and it still gets worn at work often. My aunt told me I looked like a super hero in it. (haha) I like that too.

Blue Overload

 Hello Readers. It is possible that you are snowed in. It seems like most of the U.S. is in some sort of arctic blast right now. (Unless you are in Hawaii, you guys are enjoying some warm sun.) If someday I get dressed and go out, I have a great jacket to wear.

 

This jacket looks like a fairly normal blazer. I loved the blue color, it was a wonderful jewel tone.

 Here is where things got fun you guys. It is SUPER stretchy. This was great news for me. I love stretch in my clothes. It makes everything more comfortable. Everything should have a little stretch to it! But what is happening inside the jacket? It has a built in tank top? But why? That is a lot of bright blue velvet. Blue velour? Whatever it is, it's not great. Even I have my limits. This seemed like too much. It really limits any mixing and matching with other tops. I don't like that at all.

 

My first step was to remove the tank top. I just wanted the jacket. The tank top had to go. Buh-Bye!

 

The next step was to get the shoulder pads out too. I don't really like them. They are a little too big and I feel like a football player in them.

 

Here is what I removed. It is the complete front of a shirt. It has darts and everything. It would be a great shirt on its own. If only it had a back.

 

When I was done I had a great jacket that is SO comfortable and cozy.

 

The sleeves can be pushed up which gives it a more casual vibe. And when I open it, I can have a regular shirt under it. No more blue-on-blue overload!

 

Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.  

***Chickie's Year End Review-I love this blue blazer jacket. It is stretchy and feels like a sweatshirt. Love it.

Not Skinny Jeans

Hello Readers. If you are in my part of the world you are really feeling the cold weather. This is a good time to stay in the house and sew. I liked this red top and jeans but they needed a little help.

This top was too long in the sleeves. The sleeves were hanging down over my hands. The ruffle was getting close to maternity style. It was such a pretty flowy top. I really wanted to make it work. 

The first step was to take the sides in a little. The waist could be smaller and the top would fit better. There wasn't any stretch in this fabric so I couldn't make it too fitted.

The next step was to make the sleeves shorter and to make the whole shirt a little shorter too. The seam across the mid section of this shirt had an edge that looked similar to a lettuce leaf hem. That inspired me.

I used a zigzag stitch on the sleeves and hem of the shirt. I didn't turn the edges under like usual. I decided to try and copy the finish they had used. I can see why they did it. It made the fabric lighter and gave the shirt more movement.

Now that the shirt was done I started working on the jeans. I have been wanting jeans like this for a while. I wanted to have jeans with a high waist and a looser straight leg. I usually make skinny jeans but I wanted something different. I found these at a clothes swap and I thought I could make them into what I wanted.

I took the jeans in a little at the waist, hips and thighs but I didn't make the lower leg more narrow. I left the calves as loose as possible.

 I made a new straight seam on the side and then used a zigzag stitch to keep the new edges neat. I don"t have a serger so this is my usual method. 

Next, I cut a new length for the jeans. I did not want them even, I wanted them to be a little longer in the back so that it how I cut them. I cut them and tried them on and cut a little more. I thought the uneven hem would look good when worn with my chunky clogs.

That was it. I was done with this whole outfit. These were small tweaks that made the whole  outfit more flattering and comfortable to wear. 

Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

***Chickie's Year End Review-I liked both of these pieces but they both got too tight with Covid snacking. Neither piece had any stretch to it and we had to part ways. I donated it so someone else can love it.

Valentine Plaid

Hello Readers. Valentine's Day is coming. It is a holiday that revolves around love and chocolate. I am here for it because I love chocolate. I also love refashions so here is my latest. I found this lovely heart t-shirt at a clothes swap. It was perfect for Valentine's Day. I also found this red plaid skirt. It wasn't as perfect. 

This skirt almost fit but it was so long on me. (#shortlegs) I was going for a red theme this month so I thought I could do something fun with all that fun red plaid.

The first step was to cut that skirt to a much shorter length. I saved that lower half with fringe for later.

 I made sure my new shorter skirt was even and gave it a new hem. 

Easy as pie! The skirt was done. Now what about the lower half of the skirt. 

I used a zigzag stitch to keep it from fraying and then closed the slit in the back. I tucked the cut edge inside. I wanted to make an infinity scarf with the fun fringe showing. This was also really quick and easy because it was already in a circle shape. 

I could wear all that plaid in one outfit, or I can break it up and wear the plaid pieces separately. 

Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

***Chickie's Year End Review-I loved this whole outfit but I accidentally bleached that heart t-shirt and the skirt got too tight because I ate too many snacks during Covid stay at home orders. And even when I went back to work I kept eating snacks. Goodbye plaid skirt.

Valentine Elbow Patches

 Hello Readers. We are in the middle of a series of snow days where I live. It is cold and snowy. I have the perfect sweater for cold weather. And I added some heart shaped elbow pads for a touch Valentine's Day.

 This sweater came all the way from Ireland. Did I go to Ireland and buy a sweater? No. I found this sweater at a clothes swap with the tags still attached. It was brand new! I think someone got a souvenir that they did not want.

 I found a similar sweater online for a price comparison. $279??? I knew they were pricey but I didn't know just how pricey. 

 

 This sweater was a bit big. I think it would have fit my husband. It was sort of square like a men's sweater too.

I decided to wash it. That's right. I washed a wool sweater. I thought it would shrink and fit better. It was risky but I like to live wild! I dried it on low too.

 

 The sweater shrank several inches in length but it did not shrink in width. I was still pleased because I didn't have to try to shorten the sweater. I used a zigzag stitch to make new side seams. I wanted it to fit better but still be roomy enough to wear over other shirts. This is wool so it can be a little scratchy. It is also as warm as a jacket. Next, I wanted to dress it up. 

I used a couple of these embroidered fabric pieces.  There were a couple that were off-white and looked nice with this off-white sweater. I used a zigzag stitch to make 2 heart shaped "patches" that I could attach to the sweater.

 Here is a good look at the hearts. I hand sewed the hearts to the sleeves as elbow patches. The hearts are a little different from each other but I liked them on the elbows of my cozy new sweater. Making them heart shaped helped unify them. Hearts work for Valentine's Day and all winter too.

 

 The sweater fit better but it was just as warm as it could be.

 

We went out walking to enjoy the beautiful snow before it melted.

  

It was a beautiful heavy snow. It was like cotton candy.

 Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself. 

***Chickie's Year End Review-This sweater is still beloved. It is SO warm I can't wear it unless it is very cold. I will save it forever and wear it every winter.