Source of original piece: closet of family member. I never could wear it for reasons that will be obvious in the “before” picture. Assessment: It is a size Small and here’s pre-upcycle proof. It needed width from the armhole-level down. The neck is a size small but not too constricting. Teeny tiny buttons and button-loops… Read More Upcycling Continues: Blue Silk Broadcloth
I came across the term “pajamaville” in a New York Times article which quoted someone responding to questions about pandemic burn-out. She said that no matter how many lists she makes, “I find myself falling back into deep pajamaville”. Me too, but I’m happy to be in pajamaville all day if i get to wear… Read More In “pajamaville”
Two pretty (really pretty) garments came together to make this “luxe” pajama top. The term “luxe” sounds a little patronizing, so I put it in quotation marks. Also, please see important note at the end of the post. This much loved, self-made blouse (Vogue Pattern by Adri) has been refashioned into a pj top –… Read More Completed “Luxe” PJ Top
Happy Holidays to all! Here’s my tiny Christmas tree — I know it’s lacking in a topper but it makes me happy. The topper issue will be addressed in 2021. The Street Urchin Look (below): You can call it “primitively patched”, crappy mending or whatever, but I’m dubbing it the “street urchin” style of mending;… Read More Mending: The Street Urchin Approach
April is Earth month and before it ends for the year 2020, I would love to share a vintage sewing book with you. The New Encyclopedia of Modern Sewing, circa 1946. There is no author, but it is “Edited by Frances Blondin”. It’s Published by Wm. H. Wise and Co., Inc. “Through special arrangement made… Read More Upcycling Clothes in 1946
My sewing vision for year 2020 is simple: just keep sewing. Keep going with the exclusively self-made wardrobe, and rein in urges to sew what doesn’t suit me. That was one of the perks of this past decade of being a maker; I was forced to take a good look and make stuff that was… Read More 2020 SEWING VISION: Just Keep Sewing, but Sustainably
We’re indulging in tulle talk today, friends. My growing infatuation with the fabric has been mentioned before, and the more I obsess over it, the more ideas for tulle I come up with and find in other people’s work. Here’s one idea….. This pair of pants has been in my closet, unworn, for many years… Read More Pant Hem Extension in… Tulle!
Hey you guys!! I wrote a blog post last year about some garments I had made with love and care, but they were a disappointment once I wore them. There were fit, style and sundry issues which made those much-loved clothes stay in the closet. Go here for the gory details. Need fixing, the red… Read More Unwearables: #Refashioned, #Altered and Made Wearable
Hello, friends! I’m back from my blogging hiatus, and sharing this loud but happy top with you today. As a rule, I don’t participate in online sew-alongs and challenges, mainly because I can’t seem to sew fast enough to keep up with other participants; but this time I did. The Tops That Pop sew-along was… Read More Never-Enough-Butterflies Top
Refashioning a cheaply made item goes against my grain, but sometimes it is OK to do so. This is a beach cover up by the Banana Republic brand, bought years ago from the company’s outlet store. I can see why it was in the outlet; can you spot the flaw in this picture? If not,… Read More #Earth Month Post #3: Cheap Fashion Upcycle
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