Sew Chic Upcycling Guest Post - Domestic Deadline

Thrift it, Repurpose It, Remake it

and Wear it!

Today's guest poster is Emily from Domestic Deadline. Have you been to her blog? She has so many projects that deal with upcycling - especially clothing - and I thought she would inspire you! Check out her Girl's Patchwork Dress,  Anthropologie Inspired Shirt, Maxi Dress to Sun Dress and Turned Scrap Material into Floor Cushions for her kids! She also posts about what she makes to wear for herself every Wednesday - can you imagine making one item a week for yourself? How quickly would your closet grow!?! 

Take it away, Emily...
Also, check out another Sew Chic Upcycling creation on my co-host's blog:  Sarah from This Crazy, Blessed Life


Hi, I'm Emily from Domestic Deadline and I'm so excited to be here for Sew Chic Upcycle Week.  I love upcycling clothes and have been trying to make myself something new each week (my version of pampering!).  A while back I made this dress: Men's shirt to Woman's Dress

really like it; it's super comfy and always gets lots of compliments (makes me like it even more!).  So I've been stock piling over sized men's dress shirts but have not yet been as inspired by any of them make another one.  However, the other day I saw this tutorial and knew one of those shirts had a future...

 

Here's what you'll need:

A very large mens dress shirt

A coordinating t-shirt

Basic sewing supplies

Here is what I started with:

 Cut your t-shirt as shown below.  You can cut off a portion of a t-shirt and add arm holes, I was working with a shirt that had some bleach spots and was looking for the best section of the shirt.

You will need about 10 inches from the top of the shirt (I did 9.5 inches, but will do more like 12 next time, but I was working around the bleach spots).  In the center of the front, cut a 3 inch slit.

This next step is optional since you are working with a knit but I prefer finished edges instead of raw edges.  I serged (you could zig zag or just skip) all my edges, then folded them in and top stitched.  

Fold down and pin about an 1 1/4 inches along the top on both the front sections and the back.  Stitch close to the raw edge, resulting in a 1 inch pocket.   Set this shirt aside for a bit.

Time to move on to your button down shirt.  We're going to cut it similar to the t-shirt; cut off the arms and straight across as high up as possible.  This picture shows the back side; this was a pretty nice shirt, so the top of the back had two layers, I cut just below those two layers.  This will become the skirt of your dress.

Next, we need to give this a nice A-line shape, normally I'd use my bias ruler but my 3 year old seems to have hidden it on me... again...  Sew the sides together, either serge or zig zag your raw edges.

 

Sew the buttons closed (or risk previously mentioned 3 year old unbuttoning your skirt when you aren't paying attention... yes, lesson learned on another dress...)  After sewing, your dress shirt should look like this:

Next, we're going to sew the two shirts together, I pinned my side seams together and matched up the centers on the front and back.  When sewing, stretch the t-shirt to be the same width as the dress shirt.

Your dress should now look similar to this:

Now it's time to top stitch.  This will be the difference between "Did you make that?" and "You MADE that?"  It's a simple step that is well worth the time.

Finally, we need to make a tie.  From the remainder of the dress shirt, piece together a strip of fabric approximately 5 inches wide by 5 feet long.  I used the double layer from the top back of my shirt and the sleeves.  Fold in half, right sides together and sew.

We're going to angle the ends of the tie.  I sewed one end on an angle before turning.

Turn your tie right side out... yes, that is a tension rod... I took it away from my son... not sure where he got it from but I'd be willing to trade for my bias ruler!  Once your tie is turned, iron it flat and iron your open end with a matching angle.  Top stitch all the way around your tie.

Feed your tie through the top pocket and you're good to go!

While I was making this I thought of several different options... how about a solid dress shirt with a fun printed t-shirt, or add a band of coordinating fabric at the end and use that fabric for the tie.  Or how about using an actual tie for the tie:

  Thanks so much for having me Jenny.  Stop by and say hi!  I'd love to see what you're upcycling!

Peace be with you,

Now it's YOUR TURN!
Link up your original upcycled or recycled fashions from August 1-12th for a chance to WIN PRIZES!
Winners will be announced August 12th. Check out our AMAZING SPONSORS below!

LINKY RULES:

1. Link a CLOTHING project you upcycled or recycled.

2. Add this button to your blog or post so more people can join the fun!

3. Follow Seamingly Smitten and This Crazy, Blessed Life

And add this button to your post!

<a href="http://thiscrazyblessedlife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n504/Rah1515/RefashionWeekcopy.jpg" /></a>

Go ahead, show us what ya got!

A HUGE Thank you to our SPONSORS:

Check back tomorrow for more upcycled projects!

Sew Chic Upcycling Guest Post - Chic Steals

Thrift it, Repurpose It, Remake it

and Wear it!

Also, check out another Sew Chic Upcycling creation on my co-host's blog:  Sarah from This Crazy, Blessed Life

Today's guest poster is Carly from Chic Steals. When she sews, she knows what she's doing! She can take a look off the runway and transform it into something that she will wear every day, not just copy what she's seen in a magazine (because sometimes those things are gorgeous but not wearable on a day-to-day basis). Check out her  Summer Lace Dress (which can be worn as a shirt, a dress or even a bathing suit cover-up) or when she made her Ruffled Dress from 2 men's shirts (which I think I'd wear as a nightgown, too). And lastly, check out HER OUTFITS! Carly can transform her look any way she wants and will tell you exactly where she got each piece, right down to the earrings!

Take it away, Carly...


Alexander Wang-Inspired Sporty Mesh Insert Sweater



Hi everyone! My name is Carly, and I've been writing my blog Chic Steals for over 3 and a half years now. My blog has gone from just a place for me to collect all my articles on affordable fashion roundups to where I share daily DIY inspiration, tutorials, and tips and tricks for making your own fashion - good enough to rival that seen on the runways. I'm always looking for ways to replicate that "designer look," using materials and techniques that anyone could do at home.

Alexander Wang is a favorite designer of mine, and I particularly love how he mixes materials and textures to create fresh, youthful pieces with a minimalist feel. Minimalism is hard to do well when you're designing from scratch - but when you're altering something that already exists, it's a piece of cake! I wanted a cut-out lightweight sweater for Fall that would easily transition from a late Summer piece to something for cooler temperatures (and we get a lot of that from about September through June here in the Pacific Northwest!!). So I added some pieces from an old football jersey (thrifted and falling apart - it was about 20 cents at the Goodwill Outlet Store), and I now have the perfect piece to add a little bit of sportiness to any outfit.

You Need:

*lightweight, tightly-woven knit sweater that fits you

*mesh football, basketball, or hockey jersey

And...

*fabric scissors

*marking chalk

*pins

*measuring tape

*matching thread

*hand-sewing needle or sewing machine w/ needle for wovens


HOW TO:


1. Mark your sweater where you want your mesh insert to go. For ease of movement, actually separating the sweater sleeves from the body slightly, and adding mesh into the shoulders is advisable. (It's helpful if you use a measuring tape so you mark both sides in the same way.)

2. Cut out the sweater about 1/4" to 3/8" inside the lines you drew .

3. Use the cut-cut piece to sketch on your mesh a piece of the same size, adding the same 1/4" to 3/8" all around. The addition/subtraction is merely to give you seam allowance to work with, without altering the actual shape of the sweater.

4. Pin the mesh inserts into the holes in your sweater, and stitch around the edges. You can hand-sew if you feel more comfortable, or machine-sew (using a short straight stitch all the way around, and then zigzagging over the edges in a second pass to prevent unraveling).

You're done! Pair with shorts or a chiffon skirt for now; jeans or a long wool skirt for later.



Chic Tip: You can add any different fabric to any parts of your sweaters or sweatshirts; try chiffon, flannel, or even leather. You can also go even more literal with the football theme and add more mesh or even suede scraps as "elbow patches" LOL!

Thanks so much to Jenny for having me and I'd love to see all of you pop on over and visit my blog to say hi sometime! Never forget that a good fashion steal is merely an exercise in creativity:-) Happy DIY'ing!

xoxox

Carly

Now it's YOUR TURN!
Link up your original upcycled or recycled fashions from August 1-12th for a chance to WIN PRIZES!
Winners will be announced August 12th. Check out our AMAZING SPONSORS below!

LINKY RULES:

1. Link a CLOTHING project you upcycled or recycled.

2. Add this button to your blog or post so more people can join the fun!

3. Follow Seamingly Smitten and This Crazy, Blessed Life

And add this button to your post!

<a href="http://thiscrazyblessedlife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n504/Rah1515/RefashionWeekcopy.jpg" /></a>

Go ahead, show us what ya got!

A HUGE Thank you to our SPONSORS:

Check back tomorrow for more upcycled projects!

Sew Chic Upcycling Guest Post from Strictly Homemade

Thrift it, Repurpose It, Remake it

and Wear it!

Also, check out another Sew Chic Upcycling creation on my co-host's blog:  Sarah from This Crazy, Blessed Life

Today's guest poster is Maridith from Strictly Homemade. She has inspired me with her sewing upcycles (like this woman's to girl's dress upcycle  and revamped a skirt for a growing girl here) and I couldn't wait to see what she came up with today. Believe me, she didn't disappoint! And if you have a sweet little baby you will LOVE this post!

Take it away, Maridith!

Hi, I am so excited to be here today! My name is Maridith (yes, it is spelled correctly) from Strictly Homemade. Over at my little blog you will read how I love to make homemade clothes, gifts, home décor and helpful tips for the average crafter on the cheap. I will be the first one to tell you I am cheap frugal and I am always trying to make the most of what I have. That is why I am thrilled to be apart of this party to show and inspire others to look at old or thrifted clothes in a new and inspiring way.

When I started this project I looked through a pile of old clothes my grandmother brought me from Arizona (I live in NC) and I had LOTs of ideas but nothing that really knocked my socks off. I started on one upcycle top and ended up hating it…now it is in the scrap material pile. Ladies, let me be the first to tell you not EVERYTHING works out perfectly and you should not feel bad. It happens and you should try again!! Even the most talented designers do not get 100% of their designs right the 1st time. I would even guess that only 50% of their designs ever hit the runway. Just saying.
Finally, I made a top for myself from an old turtleneck that I had planned on showing you the tutorial for. It met all of the categories repurposed, remade, and worn, but it wasn’t anything great and really not that inspiring, if you ask me (although it is really comfortable).
This is the actual shirt I made from a turtleneck…

Then as I felt uninspiring and discouraged I considered writing Jenny and telling her I could not meet her expectations. Then low-and-behold in the 11th hour I was inspired…

I had my adorable, baldhead, 6 month old, daughter sitting beside me and the turtleneck portion of shirt (already removed) on my sewing table. I put the turtleneck on her head and thought “This would make a PERFECT cap for her.” There you have it...that is how I got my idea! It wasn’t what I planned on making and showing you all…it just happened. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow~ it is easier that way!
Now to the tutorial…

Supplies Needed: Turtleneck collar, scissors, thread, and flower pin
How I made it.

1. Here is a picture of the turtleneck I used planning on showing you how to make an upcycled shirt. But you get the idea. You need a turtleneck.
2. Cut the turtleneck portion off the shirt. Cut above the seam. You do not need the manufactured seam.
3. Find a baby cap that you love (mine is too small but I just used it for the shape) Lay turtleneck flat with the manufactured seam on the edge.
4. Trace the shape and sew along the shape and trim.
5. Then open up fold in half with the seams meeting in the middle. Then pin eyeball it so that the seams about the same length down. Sew from the top to the pins.
6. Make sure you open up your seam allowance when sewing your second stitch.
7. Turn inside out…your cap is almost complete.

To add a flower I purchased a Peel and Stick Package Trim flower from Michaels for 59 cents. I added a safety pin to the back and stuck in on the cap for a little pizzazz!

Can you believe that this cap was once a turtleneck???

If anything I hope this tutorial/guest post helps you two ways…
1. Do not be discouraged if not everything you make turns out!! It happens. Keep the scraps and move onto the next project!
2. How to make the most ordinary item into something unexpected and SO ADORABLE!!
Thanks you so much Jenny for inviting me to participate in this great party. I would love for you all to come over to Strictly Homemade and see some other inspiring (frugal) ideas!!
Now it's YOUR TURN!
Link up your original upcycled or recycled fashions from August 1-12th for a chance to WIN PRIZES! Winners will be announced August 12th. Check out our AMAZING SPONSORS below!

LINKY RULES:

1. Link a CLOTHING project you upcycled or recycled.

2. Add this button to your blog or post so more people can join the fun!

3. Follow Seamingly Smitten and This Crazy, Blessed Life

And add this button to your post!

<a href="http://thiscrazyblessedlife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n504/Rah1515/RefashionWeekcopy.jpg" /></a>

Go ahead, show us what ya got!

A HUGE Thank you to our SPONSORS:

Check back tomorrow for more upcycled projects!