Tanks A Lot

Hello Readers. This refashion was so fast and easy I wasn't going to write about it. But it has been so useful, I had to share. I bought this tank ages ago to wear under other tops that felt too low cut. I didn't try it on first and it was too low cut to make anything more modest. There is a shirt under it to show how low it was.

I sewed straight down the front. It brought the two sides of the V together and made the V less deep.

This picture is not great. I couldn't get the seam to show well. The under shirt doesn't show anymore, so it is maybe an inch and a half higher.

I also had a white tank that got the same treatment. The seam is hard to photograph, but it is clearly visible in person. The front is usually hidden under a second shirt so it doesn't bother me. 

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

***BONUS TRACK***

This button down was too small for my daughter but the addition of some lace on each side made it perfect.

She used this lace from a roll. It has different side edges but they don't show when sewn into the shirt. It is also easy to work with when pinning in place and stitching.

Happy sewing to you!

The Black Midi Skirt

Hello Dear Readers. Today's project is a skirt re-do. The size was all wrong but the length was really nice.  Since length is usually my big problem, I took it home from a clothes swap. 

I checked for size and sewed from the top to the bottom. I didn't want it too narrow. I wanted to keep some fullness in the skirt. This was a very easy refashion.

Here is the extra that got cut off. I used my pinking shears to get the "zig-zag" cut to help with any fraying on the cut seam.

I love the skirt. It has a comfortable waist and it matches everything. It is a nice mid-calf length too. What more could I want?

Thanks you for reading, now go make something fabulous for yourself.

A Jacket Built For Two

Hello Readers. This project may not appeal to all of you but it is one of my all time favorites. It started with this big men's hoodie. It is way too big, but that is good.

I need a warm jacket that will fit around me and this little guy. Technically, this jacket does fit around both of us. The arms are way too big and long, and it is so big at the bottom that the wind blows right up the front. That won't keep us both warm.

 This is how I go out half the time. He is at a clingy stage and likes to be carried. You can buy jackets and sweatshirts that fit around mom and baby. Do I want to pay money to own one when I can make one for myself? NO WAY!

In the end, this is not slimming or flattering to my figure. It is difficult to look anything but huge in this. But the little guy loves his carrier and now he is warm too. I shortened the arms and made them more narrow. I also took in some extra from around the bottom 5 inches so the waistband doesn't hang open as much..

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

*** BONUS TRACK ***

I just wanted to show off a new item I received as a gift. Its called Chewelery. Chewy toys for teething babies. This one hangs off the carrier or car seat so it can't get lost.

Here is the info. Check it out.

Additional note:

 ***Misty is offering a 15% discount on her Etsy shop if you use the code Chickie15. You can also message her on Facebook for custom pieces and she will apply the discount through PayPal.***

The "Upholstered" Headboard

Hello Readers. Today's project is a quick headboard that I put together for my son's room. As you can see his bed has no headboard. Those bars are actually a ladder to the top bunk. Each end of the bed is the same. The problem is that the pillows seem to slide back and fall off the bed. It's annoying.

Here is my solution. I am going to cover this board with soft black fabric. A plain board would leave splinters, unless I sanded and painted it. The white square is a piece of foam. It would be best if it was slightly bigger than the board, but this is all I had. I am not too worried about it because he will have pillows on the bed anyway.To cushion the whole board, the foam should be 1/2 inch bigger on all sides. The fabric is from the stash in my closet. It was heavy and soft, like thick, sturdy felt.

To attach the fabric, put some pressure or weight on the board, with the foam under it. The fabric will wrap around to the back and I am going to use a staple gun to secure it. I started with a staple in the middle of one side and then stapled directly across from it. Pull the fabric as tight as you can.  I stapled the right and left sides in the photo and then the upper and lower sides. Rotate back and forth, pulling the fabric tight as you go.

When you staple all the sides you will have the corners left. You need to tuck the fabric under and staple it down tight. Pulling the fabric tight prevents wrinkles from showing on the front,

Here is the finished board, tucked between the mattress and the metal bed frame. My teen son liked it, but refused to appear in any photos. These two cuties are showing how it keeps the pillow in place. The foam and thick fabric help make it comfortable.

This is also the way you change the fabric on chair cushions. The cream colored seats were nice but had some stains from family dinners. I used new fabric on the seat and changed the look. If you flip your chair over you can usually see the screws that attach it to the frame of the chair. Remove it, attach new fabric and attach it to the frame again.

Thanks for reading, now go make something fabulous for yourself. Or your home.

*I just thought I would add a note to say I am sorry for the bad photos in this post. My camera didn't get very clear shots of any thing this time.

The Patriotic Purse

Hello Readers. Today's project isn't even mine. My daughter made this purse for a sweet lady and proud military mom named Teresa. 

Teresa and her mother found this one of a kind flag purse. They both thought it was cute.

She realized when she got home it was made from a sweater that she already owned. She commissioned my daughter to make a copy so she and her mom could both have one. My daughter's  plan was to cut off the arms and use the body for the purse, just like the original.

She found some coordinating fabrics for lining and got to work.

Here is a view of the back of the purse. It is just the back of the sweater. The bottom edge of the sweater became the top and she added a zipper to close it.

She whipped up a couple matching wallets too,

Her finished purse is a bit different from the original so they won't get them mixed up.

The No-Sew Brown Vest

Hello Readers. My project today is a vest I made from polo shirt or golf shirt. Whatever you want to call it. It was handed down to me from a friend with tags still on! (Thanks Becky!)

I didn't take a before picture. I am so sorry, it looked just like this shirt, trust me.

I cut the arms and collar off. I cut the bottom hem off too.

It was Christmas time and I was feeling too full of cookies. I wanted something loose and flowing to cover the extra lumps and bumps that came from all the goodies I had been eating.

I cut down the middle and curved the sides up along the bottom hem.

I wore it to see the latest movie that was out. I will let you guess what it was.

It was great, Thanks for reading, now go make something fabulous for yourself.

Distressing Denim

Hello Readers. I have been wanting a pair of distressed jeans for ages. I hesitated because I thought maybe I was just getting too old to pull off this look off. I didn't want to be overly trendy at the ripe old age of 43. After some thought I decided I had nothing to lose and if I wanted to try  them I should.  But did I buy a pair? No way!

I found these Levi's  at a clothes swap. They still had tags and size stickers on them. Big win for me. They didn't quite fit as you can see.

I wanted skinny jeans that could go in boots so I had to take these in a bit. I couldn't pin them by myself and no one was around to help me. So, I just pulled the fabric to the side and marked it. I used a big marker so it would be visible in theses pictures.

Here is a picture of the extra that got cut off. They were quite long on me.

I gathered some tools for the next step. I am going to rip them up a little. 

The grater was the most useful tool. During this process my hubby walked by and asked, "Why are you jacking up your pants? Didn't you just fix those?". I didn't even answer.

I compared the legs together to make sure the width matched.

I can't believe I waited so long to make these. I can't stop wearing them! They go with everything, tucked in boots or cuffed with flats.

Thanks for reading this post. Now, go make something fabulous for yourself.