Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Hello Readers. You might be out shopping today since it is Black Friday here in the U.S. I avoid shopping in crowds so I am home decorating for Christmas. Here is an easy craft for you and maybe your kids to make.

Its a snowman!

 This snowman started as a white knit poncho. It became a little ghost at Halloween. I had him out on my front porch.

When I looked at him I thought he could be a cute little snowman. I left the head as it was. It is stuffed with plastic bags. 

I stuffed another section with plastic bags to make a round little snow belly. I tied the bottom closed with a big rubber band. I tucked the fringe up in the back so it didn't show.

I used my hot glue gun and added buttons down the belly. And I added a button nose. 

(Be careful it's HOT glue!)

 I used a scrap of fleece to make a tiny scarf for my snowman.

Here is my finished snowman. He is on my front porch ready to welcome visitors.

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

Poncho to Kimono

Hello Readers. Check out this poncho. It is so pretty. It made me think of peacock feathers. I think it is one of those "One Size Fits All" things that really only looks good on like 3 real human people. And I am not one of those people.

Holy butterfly wings Batman! I could have made this into a butterfly costume for Halloween. But I didn't and it's too late now. I decided to make a kimono style jacket with real sleeves. I thought that would fit me better and be more useful too.

I cut out fabric from the slides to make a boxy body shape and to remove the seams that connected the front and back. I used my sewing machine to make the new side seams. I made the sleeves as long as possible. The sides had a pretty edge that I liked so I kept it on the ends of the sleeves. I also cut down the center to open it up like a jacket. I stitched the raw edges under and I was done.

I noticed that these green mid-rise corduroy pants matched the green at the hem of the poncho. I decided that meant this was a good time to resize them and start wearing them. The weather is getting cooler and they have been sitting waiting for me for months.

I took a little off the sides and shortened them about 5 inches.(#shortgirlproblems) They had a higher waist.

I really liked the open kimono. It is still loose but not overwhelming. It still has all those blues and greens that made me like it in the beginning.

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

Staying Warm In White

Hello Readers. It was still chilly (But not freezing.) in my part of the world and I was still working on refashioning warm clothes for cool days.

I had this big white poncho style sweater with some fun fringe on the bottom. I know ponchos are made to be shapeless but I felt a little lost in this big white sweater.

(I realized too late that the white background was not helpful when the sweater was white too.)

I took a little fabric out of the sides of the sweater. I made more distinct sleeves and a more narrow body. I didn't change the length but it looked shorter when it was done because it was more narrow.

(I didn't intend to make the cut off material look like stingrays. That was just a fun accident. But can you see a stingray shape? Is it just me? Am I seeing things?)

The sweater has a closer fit now but I left a little bit of the original poncho shape. It is very comfortable and a nice layer on top of another shirt. It is also great for lounging outside in a big upholstered chair. 

Why am I sitting on a chair outside? Who puts an upholstered chair like this outside? It just doesn't make any sense. The reason for this weird picture? My husband was working on this chair in the garage. I used it as a prop. I sat down on it and made him take my picture.  

Thanks for reading this post, now go make something fun and warm for yourself.

*Year end update- I really liked this sweater but I never wore it again. I don't know why.

Needed Neutrals

Hello Readers. I am always attracted to bright, fun colors and patterns when I do refashions. The problem is that those colors and patterns don't always go together. Everyone needs some simple neutrals that go with anything and everything. Keep reading to see this latest project.

My hubby had his studio set up in the basement so I got some professional looking pictures.

Well, this is a really unflattering picture. Nothing here is doing me any good. This sweater poncho was soft and cozy but it hung down over my hands when I was working and it is clearly boxy and shapeless. The corduroy pants fit at the waist but the loose boot cut isn't doing me any favors either. I am looking even shorter than normal.

Nice towel wrap huh?

If you look closely you can see two buttons that were attached to this poncho. I used them as my guide and cut a new shape. I left the arms big and square for a fun, loose shape. I cut out my new sweater and then got to sewing.

I used my machine and stitched the two sides together. I went over the edges with a zigzag stitch to cover the raw edges that were fraying a little. I basically sewed it all twice, once to connect the sides and once to stop the fraying. It took a few more minutes but it is really strong.

I made the legs of these pants more narrow. I didn't shorten them but they seem shorter now. Whenever I narrow something it makes them a different (shorter) length so, I always try to work on the length last. It was a quick and easy outfit makeover.

This is the same outfit with a new shape. I like the big arms of the new sweater.  Everything is so much more flattering now. It was not a drastic refashion, it was simple and quick....

It had to be quick because this little guy can get into trouble in just a few seconds. As you can see here, he is curious, and loves to climb. I can only sew at nap time because this guy doesn't stay still. He was so excited to get into this cabinet, I had to let him explore for a few minutes.

Everything we won't let him play with was hidden in this cabinet.

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

Poncho Problems

Hello Readers. I wanted to show you this simple fix for a turtleneck poncho. One of my wonderful sisters-in-law passed this poncho down to me. (Thanks J!) It is warm and cozy but the neck made me feel like this. I don't like turtlenecks of any kind. It's like they want to strangle me. But I loved this sweater and it's (STILL!) cold out there.

I decided to try to make the turtleneck into a big collar. I wasn't sure it would work. If it didn't I was going to remove the whole thing. I found the middle in the front and used the knit lines as a guide. Would it fray and become a terrible mess? No, it actually looked great.

It had a seam around the neck hole and I didn't cut through that. It helps the poncho hold its shape. If I cut through it it would stretch out and slide off my shoulders. It looks a bit lopsided in the photo, I moved my arms back and shifted the poncho around. It is even and still nice and warm.

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