MakeOver Monday - Frippery Garland Neckpiece

'MakeOver Monday' 
... sharing how I cut up & REmake items from my wardrobe 
in the hope you'll pick up scissors & start cutting up yours!

Through all the ups and downs of the past few years 
 I always come back to sewing
and in order to find some sort of balance
after a particularly difficult couple of weeks

I felt the need to create something light & pretty, soft & gentle 
and thought a frippery style neckpiece
using left-overs & scraps from past MM's
might be a good idea

and it was!

she has lifted my spirits no end!

***
I was amazed at how effective 
strips cut from a t-shirt worked as a neck strap

[last weeks MM]

and how sculptural medallions cut from vintage barkcloth
[the NWJJ]
can look when machine embroidered

it was delightful to discover
when in true frippery style

a little handstitching was required 

[yoyos from the other top]

and those patternmaking skills I've honed over the years
were handy when it came to tidying up the back

I'm thrilled with how she turned out 
better than expected
and because I enjoyed the creative process so much

  
I experimented with & developed the machine embroidered medallions
into what I've called 

Pebble Tattoos

which will be available as a printable Pdf project in the Shop this week

cos why should I have all the fun!

***

Next Week

I'm looking forward to playing with this

vintage lambswool/angora Benneton cardy

and not just because she's too small

or that I can't stand ribbing 

or that she's missing a button

more than anything 

I'd really like to wear her without any holes.

***

If you would like to share your MakeOvers

I've created a Flickr Group

where we can share & showcase our sustainable stitching ideas, thoughts & projects.  

Machine Embroidery will Change Your Life

Todays post is cheating a bit

because I've copy & pasted it from another Blog I had in a past life

and even though I am a little embarrassed by the quality and the sound of my own voice

my heart was in the right place and if I don't have to make another one

that makes it a good day...

Sharing one of my favourite ways to play!

I'd have liked to have covered some aspects in more detail 

however it got to the point where I either got what I had on You Tube 

or threw the camera & tripod out the window!

I'm no expert (there's plenty out there that are)

this is a very simple explanation of machine embroidery, 

it's how I do it 

I hope it helps & inspires you to give it a go!  

The points I'd like to clarify & emphasize are;

Feed Dogs - need to be out of the way. With some machines you have the ability to drop them with the Feed Dog Control knob, others require a special plate that sits on top of the Needle Plate.

Presser Foot - I have always used the Darning Foot, it has a central hole where the needle goes through and a spring mechanism at the top of the shaft which allows movement when stitching.
Needle - Size 80.
Settings - Stitch Length '0' & needle Centred.
Control - the saying, 'Slow Hands, Fast Foot' works, it is the secret to maintaining control over your design.

Without hesitation I can guarantee 

being able to machine embroider will change your life. x

Sharing 'MakeOver Monday' Love with a Cute Button!

 I made a blog button

which says

'I Love MakeOver Mondays'

and if you enjoy the MakeOver Mondays

where at the beginning of the week

I share how I cut up and REinvent an item from my wardrobe

I'd love it if you'd consider popping my button on your blog
that way you can call in anytime
- it's easy, just copy the text below and paste into your side bar.

<div align="center">
<a rel="nofollow" href="http://library.vu.edu.pk/cgi-bin/nph-proxy.cgi/000100A/http/re-inventingfashion.blogspot.com.au" title="Sew Outside the Lines"><img alt="Sew Outside the Lines" src="http://library.vu.edu.pk/cgi-bin/nph-proxy.cgi/000100A/https/lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1mIG978ES2s/Vs93L7AilvI/AAAAAAAAN0w/G9G8wt3KH94/s150-Ic42/BLOG=25252520BUTTON=25252520-=25252520MONDAYS.JPG" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Thanks.

Jody x

ps. see you next Monday!

'MakeOver Monday' - The Simplest Frock REfashion EVER!

'MakeOver Monday' 
... sharing how I cut up & REmake items from my wardrobe 
in the hope you'll pick up scissors & start cutting up yours!

Seems that in keeping with the quick REfashion that was this frock

everyone who could take photos of me wearing her this morning

was in a rush to be somewhere else 

so I apologise if they're a little blurry or bits of me are missing

never-the-less I'm appreciative that amongst them 

there were enough decent ones 
for me to share how the NWJJ does become the star when worn over the frocks silvery grey blockiness

I love the frock and can see her being worn lots. 

As with any REfashion or REinvent you never really know how it's going to turn out until it's underway

and even though upon finding these abandoned volunteers in the back of my wardrobe

 it was a very simple idea that sprung to mind

and now 
I'm actually having trouble remembering the last time I undertook such an uncomplicated REfashion

it was literally a matter of chopping the tops

off the t-shirt & frock

swapping them over

and REstitching

so simple in fact 

that I went looking for more volunteers

to make another one!

a rescued blousey sleeveless cotton peasant style top 
[here's a link through to the last time I probably wore it!]

with a wrap skirt I'd REfashioned from two differents skirts 8yrs ago 

- never throw anything away!

psst! see the shoes - I'd like to thank the person in Albany who decided to donate these brand new embroidered red leather little heeled Hush Puppies so I could have them...there's a family wedding coming up later this year which I think they'll be perfect for - just need something to wear with them!

 ***

Next Week

feeling bruised & fragile
so looking for solace 
by creating
something soft & pretty, floaty & delicate  
because sometimes you need life to mimic your next sewing venture

An InLinkz Link-up

'MakeOver Monday' - The No Waste Jeans Jkt REinvent

'MakeOver Monday' 
... sharing how I cut up & REmake items from my wardrobe 
in the hope you'll pick up scissors & start cutting up yours!

One of my favourite parts of the original Dressing Gown before it became a Frock

were the sleeves 

so I decided to combine them with a tired pair of perfectly faded denim jeans I had lying around 

because who doesn't need another Jacket...

the sleeves were fine as-is
however the jeans obviously needed alot of attention 
before they'd look like anything other than jeans.

***
To begin 
the centre front & inside leg were opened and the fly removed

the back was likewise opened up

initially I did plan on keeping the distinctive top stitched seam 

with sweeping [crotch] curve

however toward the end of the REinvent it became apparent this wasn't going to be the best option 

so the back seam was completely removed and REseamed in a straight line  

 the front pockets were stitched shut
and the inside excess removed and REstitched

the side seams were removed

and wedges cut from the bottoms of the jeans

[with their bonus rivet vent details]

to be stitched into the sides to gain the extra width I knew I'd need

after doing the initial ground work

when the jeans started looking less like jeans and more like fabric

it was time for the shoulders & armholes to become things

their placement was determined by first deciding how long I wanted the jacket to be when finished

then measuring up from the bottom band to that depth 
which became my underarm point where the armhole was cut out from
and then the shoulder

I'm not going to pretend that these steps are easy 

because they're not

getting the correct position and measurement comes from knowledge gained by practice

and you only get those by not being afraid to get it wrong 

I always allow more than I need when cutting into garments 
because unlike a haircut it wont grow back

- better to have more than you need so you can keep trimming 'til it's just right

and the other thing you probably shouldn't do
 is start spruking on FB about how
excited you are with the progress 
like I did when I shared this image

because this then happened

the length was 10cm too long

meaning if I continued I'd never wear her

and what's the point in that...

so once unpicked and REcut 

it was time to start having some fun

filling in gaps 

with a few of the remnants from both jeans & dressing gown

[NEVER throw anything away!]

and putting all the pieces together

including a couple of blow-in 'tattoos'

  cut from a vintage barkcloth cushion cover

the left-over original dressing gown belt & part of the front edge

became a binding

which finished off the entire front & back neck edge perfectly

and meant she was done
 looking exactly as I had imagined her

at this stage I'd like to thank my FB friends
for helping to decide which of these 'tattoos' looked best

[a 'How To' video]

for the back

and as much as I love the Jacket

I'm not a fan of her worn with the Frock

so my next MakeOver will be to create something a little less busy 

that I can wear under her.

***

Next Week:

by combining an interestingly neck-trimmed smockey style rescued T-shirt 

with an abandoned crispy linen Fisherman Frock proto-type

I hope to make something I can comfortabley wear the Jacket with...

and if not 
next week will be a surprise for both of us!

'MakeOver Monday' - Dressing Gown to Fisherman Frock

'MakeOver Monday' 
... sharing how I cut up & REmake items from my wardrobe 
in the hope you'll pick up scissors & start cutting up yours!

This was a love-at-first-sight-brand-new-off-the-rack-impulse-buy

which has sat in my wardrobe for 3yrs

unworn

because it turns out I actually don't wear dressing gowns...

which made her perfect for my latest REinvention

After much deliberation and the tossing around of ideas

sewing machine cover, bag, jacket, quilt

I went with the obvious choice of 

frock

{my favourite Fisherman Frock}

***

The sleeves were removed and the shoulders opened up 

so I could then lay her flat & folded in half 

so the front, underarms & back could be reshaped to resemble the pinafore shape that is the Fisherman Frock

I decided to keep the front band 

and rather than seam it shut opted for top stitching one on top of the other 
because the extra bulk created by a seam wasn't neccessary or desired

removing the excess band from underneath before any stitching took place was so I could get in with the overlocker before it got too difficult

and at this stage I was thinking maybe that the band would be handy in the straps

once I was happy with the shape,

{trying on at this stage is required}

ie. not too wide across the 'bib', not too deep or shallow under the arms and not too high in the back
it was time to add a facing in the back for some elastic

before I could thread the elastic through the facing

it was necessary to apply the bias binding

ah bias binding 

my friend

REinventors L.O.V.E bias binding

and because there's too many reasons to list here I'll go with

~it does the job of securing raw edges effectively & efficently~
and write a list another day
however in the mean time I did a little video to show you how easy it is
to Ditch Stitch wide bias binding to things
and who says REinventors can't use couture techniques!

I could then thread the elastic through the back

and to work out how much elastic I needed

I held the end of the elastic at my side 

[roughly where the side seam would sit]

and pulled it firmly across my back to the other side [seam]

I ususally find I need to trim another 2-3cm off the end 

as during the act of threading & holding up the fabric it looses some of its stretch

it was about now I realised the bit of band saved from the front 

wasn't going to be enough for straps

so I chose to cut up the belt the gown came with

not an easy decision 

because yellow that close to my face isn't someting I feel comfortable with

[all things that need to be taken into account

 because there's not point if at the end of the day you don't wear it 

because yellow drains the colour from your face 

and you look like you died a week ago]

however lucky for me it's more a wheaty yellow which it turns out's okay 

plus it suited the overall look of the garment 

in this next image I wanted to show you how I work out the length of my straps

turns out it's alot easier to do than it is to photograph

but I think you'll get the idea

there's bound to be some trimming of the straps to get them to the perfect length and angle so it's a good idea to keep them pinned and try on until you're happy

another thing you might notice around this time
is some 'stretching' through weaker areas
added to the inevitable shape required for certain areas i.e. the bust
for me the underarm and top of the bib needed attention
and I figured I had two options
elasticate the underarm or dart and see what effect it had on the top edge
so I pinched in & darted at the bust which magically got rid of both issues

and when it's not 42ºC

I'll wear her a lot 

cos she's not only super comfy

she's perfect for layering.

***

~Next Week~

the plan is to REmake

the unused sleeves from the dressing gown

and a pair of perfectly faded jeans

into a jacket...

If you'd like to see more MakeOvers 

pop over to Instagram using

#sotl_mymakeovermonday