Tie-dye messenger bag - with a twist(y lock)

A seamstress walks into a charity shop - and lo and behold, discovers a beautiful denim tie-dye skirt in a size large (more fabric that way), thinks, hmmm, I already have a top that would go perfectly with that...

And so begins the tale of another creation.  I was right.  The skirt DID match the top.  So I decided to make a small messenger bag from the blue and purple combination.

I'm really happy with the result, too!

I added a side pocket for pens and other bits and bobs.

It's the first time I've used twist locks on a bag - I've now perfected cutting out the hole so that the fabric doesn't show!

This was the original tie-dye skirt and the matching top:



You can see why I paired them now, can't you?

It has a zip fastening and a pocket underneath the flap for all those receipts that tend to accumulate:

If I were to make this one again I would add some padding to the strap as the top I used was very floaty.  I did top-stitch it though to give it some extra strength. 

This was the first time I have added an internal zipped pocket.  I learned something here too - make sure when adding the pocket lining that you sew it onto the back with wrong sides together!

Another view:

The internal seams were bound with fabric from the top.  It was so light and airy that it was really easy to work with when making binding.  Something I'll remember for next time!

So all in all, a very satisfying project!

Next...

Dress to tunic top

Sometimes you see a dress in a shop and the print is so fabulous that you have to have it, right?

I love it when that happens!

So I found this beautiful child's dress and brought it home.  See what I mean about the print?

My daughter fell in love with it and wanted to wear it, but on trying it on we found that it was too small at the top.

So I had to put my thinking cap on.  Hmmm.  What to do?

I know!!

I could cut the top off entirely, elasticate the waist and make a tunic top - yes, I think that would work!

I used the original belt to make some criss-cross straps.  Et voila!

It looks fabulous with a pair of leggings!

I'm not sure if you will be able to see this as the pattern is so intense, but the front of the skirt/dress is higher than the back - I love it!

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Shortening a skirt - and making a headband!

I love altering my clothing so that it fits who I am.

I had a lovely skirt that was a bit tooooooo long so I decided to shorten it.

Because the skirt had a patterned bottom, I decided to cut off the waistband instead and make it elasticated.

This left me a fabulous looking waistband which matched the skirt perfectly.  I couldn't possibly throw it away!

So I turned it into a matching headband!

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Figuring out a small skirt to dress refashion

I spotted a skirt in the sale.  It was very long, very plain and very French Navy, which just so happens to very *me*. 

Now, normally I would be making a dress into a skirt, so this was a first for me - doing it the other way around!

 

The skirt itself was 3 sizes too small for me.  But, as it was slightly gathered under the waistband, I knew that there was more fabric to play with once unpicked and that it would fit once I'd finished cutting and sewing.

I could *see* the dress waiting to come out!

This was one of those 'I have to make this now and I will figure it out as I go along' kinda projects.

I began by cutting off the waistband which exposed plenty of fabric, as I knew it would.  I then grabbed a vest top to use as a pattern for the armholes.  And cut those out too.  I sewed up the shoulder seams and tried it on for fit.  It was definitely starting to look like a dress!

I fancied making it an empire line dress so asked my daughter to draw a line across my tummy while I was wearing the dress.  I bravely cut the bottom off then gathered both top and bottom and sewed them back together again!

Except I hadn't taken into account the fact that the 'dress' was wider than the vest top leading to an excess of fabric along the sides.  No matter, I can figure it out.  So I tapered the side of the bodice THEN sewed them back together.

I'd heard about people stay stitching necks and armholes before adding binding, so that is what I did.  After making my own bias binding from some lovely cream and French Navy heart and polka dot fabric, I bound the armholes and neckline and then tried it on again.  The stay stitching drew in the excess fabric around the neck beautifully.  The armholes are now a little tight, but I can redo those no problem!

I added some ties and a belt (in that order!) primarily to cover up the join in the fabric, but thought it looked good too.  I then added tie loops to prevent the ties from slipping out of position.

And then the back was finished too!

Now I just need some warmer weather to wear it in!  Pah!  I can wear a shrug over the top, that'll be fine - clothes need to be warn after all!

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Grease is the word

...is the word, is the word...

Inspired by the musical Grease, my daughter asked for a red and white polka dot circular skirt.

Why, of course I'll make one, I cried!

I could have just hemmed the bottom of the skirt but wanted to add white bias binding to make it stand out more.  I'm in two minds whether or not to add some gathered net to the bottom too - time will tell!

I initially wanted to make the skirt from one piece of fabric but I didn't have enough.  So, ever the creative sewist, I made the skirt from 3 separate sections - 1 front and 2 backs.  This made it really easy to insert a zip in the centre back!

I elasticated the waistband for a more flexible fit.

When I cut out the fabric circles, I used the selvage as the edge of the fabric.  This meant that I didn't have to finish off the inner seams as it had already been done for me. 

It also meant that the polka dot pattern matched across the seam beautifully!  I meant that to happen (ahem!)

 I love making these skirts - they look so effective!

 

Next...

 

 



Roses, roses, roses

Many moons ago I discovered a preloved rose print skirt which I just knew would come in really handy.

In the meantime my daughter decided she wanted to wear it for a year or so.  Which was fine.  I'm patient.  I knew I would get it back at some point!

So the time arrived.  My daughter returned the skirt.

She had already seen the clutch bag I made the other day and wanted something similar to take with her to the wedding tomorrow.

Ta dah!

I added a strap to this one.

 

And lined it with yet more skirt.  There wasn't a lot left over after I'd finished with it!

It's also padded and perfect for that little box of confetti and a lipgloss.

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Being bold

I really can't get enough of big, bold patterns.  There's something so scrumptious about them.

So when I spotted some gorgeous fabric in Ikea a couple of years ago I earmarked it for future reference.  And yesterday, I eventually decided to just go buy some LOL!

But then, what was I going to do with it?

Decisions, decisions...

I find it really exciting when I see fabric with potential.  It's sort of like a sheet of white paper - so many things you can possibly do with it; so little time.

But I decided on an A-line skirt (well, to begin with anyway!).

With a side zip and button fastening.

I get to road-test it tonight for the first time.  Can't wait!

I have enough fabric left over to make at least one bag.  A satchel maybe, or a rucksack...

Time will tell!

Next....

Sequinned boho slouch bag - from a skirt!

How can you not love a boho slouch bag?  So darned versatile and they look great too!

Here is my latest creation...

If you have a close look at the petals and base of the flower, you can see the sequins that catch the light beautifully.

The bag is lined with red and white polka dot fabric which also has a magnetic snap fastening.  You really can't beat polka dots for adding something special to any bag.

And this is the preloved skirt that the fabric came from.  Can you see why I bought it?

Right!

It just had to be rescued and transformed!!

Now, if you're really clever (ok, lucky!) when cutting out the fabric, you might just find that the sides of the bag match up too!  Hehe!  I love it when that happens :)

 

Righto, onto my next project...

 

 

 



Sewing Bee Challenge: A Line skirt

Anyone watching The Great British Sewing Bee programme at the moment?

It's fabulous!!!  Anything that can get sewing back into the mainstream is a brilliant idea as far as I'm concerned.

The first challenge the 8 contestants had this week was to make an A Line skirt.  One person lined theirs.  Another added homemade bias binding to decorate it.  The skirts themselves were just three pieces of fabric, with darts and a concealed zip at the back.

Funnily enough, before the programme was aired, I was also making an A Line skirt with some corduroy discovered in a charity shop.

My skirt pattern also had darts.  But it had just two main pieces of fabric, a waistband, side zip and a button closure.

Here is the end result

It fits beautifully and hangs like a dream.  I love corduroy to soften curves.  It's also so very tactile.

This is one of the darts I inserted.  It really does help to shape the skirt.  You start to sew from the widest to the smallest part leaving a tail of thread which you then knot to prevent the dart from falling out.  Always remember to press darts after creating them.

The waistband was a new technique for me.  The previous waistbands I have made have had raw edges inside.  But this was handstitched on the inside.  It makes it much more elegant (not that anyone knows that it's there, but *I* do!) and durable.

The side zip was relatively well concealed.  Given the choice, I would probably make a back zip next time.  If you don't get it right, side zips can pucker easily.  And besides, it's always easier to sew something on the flat rather than round a curve!

I have an admission to make - I've not figured out how to make a buttonhole on my machine until now, either LOL!  So this was a first (and so easy with a buttonhole foot - I really must do a post on sewing feet soon!)

As I was looking through my Janome instruction manual trying to find out how to make a buttonhole, I also figured out how best to use the blind hem stitch too.  So this was what I used to complete the skirt hem.

What do you think?

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Easy peasy sun dress to skirt refashion

You know when you walk into a charity shop and spot the most gorgeous dress sitting on the rail looking a bit dejected?  Well, bring it home anyway!  You can always do something with it!!

This is what the dress looked like before:

Beautiful, isn't it?

But alas, it did not fit.

Did I let that stop me?  Nope!  Not a chance.  I saw the potential. 

I just knew that because the dress was gathered below the bust line that I could easily cut it off and there would be more fabric available to play with.

I began by unpicking the bottom of the back zip up to the waist.  Then sewed that part back together again.  I shortened the new skirt from the waist rather than the bottom, as that had an existing hem.

Then I made a channel for some elastic.  I could quite easily have used the waist ties for the waistband, but decided not to for this refashion.

That's it!

Told you it was easy peasy!

Now it has a new lease of life.

Next...

Floral spring time skirt

Have you ever spotted some fabric that you fell in love with straight away?

Yep?  Me too!

I discovered some gorgeous spring flower fabric and bought two metres of it straight away.  I didn't have a single clue about what I was going to do with it at the time, mind you!

But over time it became apparent.

A skirt with a frill at the bottom!

Why did I choose to make that in particular?

Hmmmm.  Well, it just seemed 'right'.

So here it is...

One of the things I like about making clothes is that you can make them precisely how you like - you are not tied to any particular design or colour.  You can be creative and make it up as you go along :)

The skirt has a side zip (easy enough to incorporate) and a frill along the bottom.

I can't wait to wear it when it gets a bit warmer!!

Next...

Twirly wirly skirts

I was asked to make some circular skirts for a dance show.  Yes, of course - let me at 'em!!

Did I know how to make them?

Nope!

Was I willing to learn as I went on?

Abso-bloomin'-lutely!!

Take one complete circle of fabric...

 

And cut out the hole for the waist...

 

Then add a waistband.

 

Easy peasy right?

 

Um, not quite as straightforward as it sounds!!

 

First I had to do some calcuations to figure out how large the waist hole ought to be.  I haven't used maths in earnest in years LOL!

 



 

When that was sorted out I just had to create the waistband and then hem the bottom.

One of the skirts even had a net underskirt too which could stand up on its own!

 

And here they are in action!

 

 

 

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