Simple Resizing Ideas

 Hello Readers. Sometimes our clothes get too small. And maybe sometimes too big? Life happens. Stress, cookies, illness, age, it can all change our weight and shape. Today's post is about some simple resizing techniques that I have used and that always work for me.

Before and after.

This outfit needed some help. I was loving the neutrals but the fit of the clothes was all wrong. The sweater was mine and got too small like 5 years ago. Pandemic snacking changed everything. The corduroys were such a nice warm camel color. I got them from a clothes swap and was determined to make them work.

I got to work on the pants first. The easiest way to make them smaller was to turn them inside out, try them on, and mark where I wanted them to fit. I sewed along the side seam and made a new seam. I only needed an inch or so off each side to make them fit better. I also had to hem them because I am short.

The sweater was going to take a little more work. But it wouldn't be hard to make the sweater a little bigger so I can wear it again. I am going to cut it open on the sides and fill in the gap with a ribbon.

I used my scissors and cut the seam open. 

I used a zigzag stitch to sew over the lace and I made sure I was stitching along the edge of the sweater where I had cut it open. I left some extra ribbon at the end so I could fold it under for a nicely finished edge at the wrist.

Here is the finished sweater. The sweater is bigger because the ribbon added 2 inches to each sleeve and 4 inches to the body of the sweater. You could use wider ribbon to add more space to it. The length of the sweater is unchanged.

My whole outfit fits so much better This picture turned out a little weird but it showed the lace added to the sweater so well, I decided to use it.

 The best thing about these methods to change the size is that you could use the same idea for making the sweater smaller and making the pants larger. Using the side seam as the guide for sewing new seams or adding something into the seam is an easy way to go. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

 

***Year End Update- I love anything cashmere so I am still wearing this sweater all the time. It matches a lot and beige corduroy pants in winter are a go to item.

The Bog Jacket Pattern Review

 Hello Readers. I saw the minimal waste "Bog" pattern online and thought it would be great for some quilted fabric I had. I got the fabric from my mother in law when she cleaned out and down-sized. It was heavy weight fabric and I think she was going to make a bag, more on that later. Let's talk about the pattern.

 I made the shorter length Bog Jacket and I hacked the pattern quite a bit.

The fabric was in my closet for quite a while. I knew it was pricey and the gold side is silk. There is also batting layer and a cotton lining inside.

When I really looked at all the fabric I had I realized it was 2 pieces of fabric and 2 handles. My mother-in-law must have been planning to make a bag with this fabric to go with the handles she put together. I don't know how she made the handles, I didn't want to take them apart to see how they were made. What if I couldn't recreate them again? I thought it was better not to mess with them.

This is a look at the reverse side of my fabric. I went to ETSY.com and found The_Sew_Sew to buy the "Bog" pattern. It is a pdf pattern that you print out at home. Sometimes these can be difficult but this was easy. I started measuring and figured out a way to make the top of the jacket from one of my pieces. 

 

 The jacket is a little big and boxy so I was able to cut the size down an inch or so where my fabric was too small. My sleeves are tapered and there is going to be a extra seam around the middle of my jacket that wouldn't be there if you used one big piece of fabric as directed. 

 

I always try things on in the middle of sewing to make sure I am on the right track.

 

Video summary of my plan.

 

I added a rectangular piece to the jacket to add length. I added the length I had available and hoped it would be a good length on me when it was done.

 

The pattern calls for bias tape to finish the cut edges. I wasn't going to find any that match this color and I couldn't make any because I was running very low on fabric. I thought for a while and decided I would try to skip bias tape if I could. I made this little piece to finish the neck line. 

I pinned the piece around the neck and sewed it in place. 

 

I ironed it flat and there was just enough to get the neckline done. 

 

 I was able to turn the sleeves under and stitch them down so I didn't need bias tape here either. At this point I was waiting for the zipper to be delivered and I had to take a break for a week or so. 

 

My zipper came in the mail. I waited because I really wanted this brass zipper. I thought the brass was great with the gold color of the jacket. The zipper would finish the jacket front and keep it closed too. I turned the bottom edge under and stitched it down. Then I attached the zipper.

I used a serger to control fraying and attach the zipper. I stitched with the teeth of the zipper turned out and then turned the teeth in when I was done.

The pattern called for the head hole to be cut out in one oval piece. I was supposed to use bias tape to finish it and then attach it as a pocket. (It was really cute and minimal waste all at the same time.) I wanted to do something else. I really wanted a pocket that could fit my phone. I made these 2 rectangles into 2 pockets for the front of my jacket. 

I folded the top of the pocket under and stitched it down. I ironed the edges on the sides and bottom under. Once the jacket was hemmed and finished I could figure out where to put the pockets.

I used a straight stitch to attach the pockets to the jacket. My jacket was done and I loved it. 

I did a phone test. The size was perfect. Now, about those bag handles. 

My mother-in-law did some work to make these so I AM going to honor that by using them as best I can. But I am really low on fabric now. 

Here is a quick overview of the bag. I had one strip of fabric left from the jacket. The bag went together easily.

I stitched it all together with my serger but I also reinforced the top corners with my sewing machine and that was it. 

My bag was done and ready to go out with my new jacket. 

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

***Year End Update- I wear this coat all the time. It is light weight so I like how it looks and feels.

Easy Holiday Vases

Hello Readers. I hope you are looking forward to Valentine's Day. It is a time to tell your sweetheart that you love them. It is a wonderful time of chocolates, flowers and Valentine cards. (Note- As Miley Cyrus says in her latest song, You can buy yourself flowers. You can also give yourself chocolates and you can write yourself a card to remind yourself of how fabulous you are.) Anyhoo... let's talk about flowers. 

I bought these flowers and chocolate candies myself. I wanted them so, I bought them. Let's embrace taking care of ourselves in 2023.

I started with this small glass teapot, a small glass cup (A shot glass.) and some Valentine's Day M&M's. I am using glass containers so that the colored candy will be visible. 

A larger container would work too. But the bigger the container is the more candy and more flowers needed to fill it up.

I poured my candies into the teapot. Did I eat a few? Yes. But I filled the teapot about 3/4 full. Now I need to put the little glass in. 

I needed the little glass for the flower stems. I will put some water in the little glass to keep the flowers alive. This tea pot is shallow and small so I could wiggle the little glass into place. In a taller container it would be best to put the glass in first and then add the candy around it. 

I filled the small glass with water. I only filled it about 1/2 full so that it wouldn't over flow when the flowers are put in.

I cut my flowers really short because this teapot is short. I just stood the flower next to the teapot and cut it to the length I thought was right. I put them in one by one and tried to scatter the different colors around. I didn't want all the white or red all together. I wanted them to be evenly distributed around the arrangement.

 

I love how the whole arrangement turned out. 

 

 I also made a second vase with artificial hydrangeas.

 

  I put the conversation hearts in the vase. Will my family steal some when I am not looking? Yes, but that's OK.

 

I checked the flowers for size by holding them up to the outside of the vase.
 

I cut the flowers to the length I wanted and then added the flowers to the candy filled vase. The candy helped keep the flowers standing up straight and not falling over. 

 

 These flowers didn't need water so it was easier to put together and they can't wilt or die so it is a great arrangement for people that can't keep plants and flowers alive very long. This would be great for an office or work setting when you can't water flowers regularly. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

 

***Year End Update- These vases were fun and my family ate all the candy in a few days.

 

Lounge Wear From a Crochet Blanket

 Hello Readers. I love lounge wear. I decided to make some lounge wear from this blanket. I don't know how to crochet but I liked the idea of using an old blanket to make something. It was a little messy to cut and sew this material but it was fun to try and make this idea work. 

From an old blanket to cozy clothes.

Here is a look at the blanket I used. It was at a clothes swap and no one else wanted it. So, it came home with me. It was in good condition. I gave it a good wash and got to work. 

I cut off one side of the blanket to make my new top. I wanted all the colors in the top so that is where I cut it off. I also wanted the scalloped edge at the neckline so the blue edge will be the bottom of my shirt. 

 

The first thing I did was use bias tape to cover the cut edge. This will fray really fast so I needed to keep the whole thing together while I was working. The bias tape is like a sandwich to keep the yarn from falling apart.
 

Here is a look at the top. I used my dress form to help me get it all pinned and clipped in place. 

While I was sewing I did a couple things to make it easier. I used this little sewing gauge to keep the yarn from getting stuck on the presser feet.

I also put strips of tissue paper under what I was sewing so that it might glide more smoothly along as I was sewing. When I was done, I tore the tissue paper away. If there are any little bits left they will come out in the wash.

I used a pair of leggings as a pattern and cut out 2 legs. I sewed them together. 

 

This is a look at the inside seams of the new "blanket pants". You can see a bit of tissue left on the seam. It's OK. It will wash out. 

I used this stretchy ribbing as a waistband. It was left over from a recent jacket refashion. 

My new lounge wear from a blanket is done. The knit had a lot of stretch and give so it was really comfy. This wasn't the easiest material to sew through but it was fun and I am digging my new pajamas. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

***Year End Update- This was a soft cozy outfit that was destroyed sadly in the dryer. One little piece of yarn got caught on something in the dryer and some of the yarn strings came un-woven. I was so disappointed.

Crocheted Blanket Shrug

 Hello Readers. Have you ever tried to crochet? I tried for about 5 minutes and I just didn't like it. My daughter is great at it and she decided to make a blanket. She made part of the blanket and never finished it. I kept it because it was something she made but what could I do with it? Long story short- I made a shrug. 

I went with these colors from head-to-toe. Is it too much?

My daughter made it about 18 inches before she stopped. The stitches are nice and she did really well. The whole piece is about 5' wide. This is really handy because my arm span is about 5'. This would be perfect as one of those sweaters that is just arm and shoulders. I would call it a shrug, you might call it something else, but this is size I had to work with.

I turned the ends in and clipped them in place. This would be the arm hole. 

Here is a look at both armholes turned in twice and clipped in place. Now I will turn it all inside out and stitch it together from the inside. 

With the arm holes and sleeves stitched together the whole thing sits on my back, across my shoulders and down my arms like a shrug. The fit is easy because there really isn't much to fit except the width from one wrist to the other. 

 

I love how it turned out. I had a shirt and a pair of jeans in the same colors so I threw it all together. This was such an easy project because my daughter did all the crochet work for me. (Thanks H!) Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

 

***Year End Update- This is cozy and colorful. I wear it I the winter to stay warm.