From Men's Shirt to High Waisted Skirt

After a way too long break from sewing, I have been just itching to create something.

My lack of sewing lately results from my neurotic need to work in a clean and tidy space.  My husband laughs at me because it is ridiculous, but I have to clean the kitchen before I can bake or make dinner.  It is the same with sewing, I need a clean table, clean floor and good light.  I know...high maintenance!

I am in the process of redoing our attic which houses the playroom and my sewing space.  I am not sure why motivation to paint and move furniture struck when it is 34 degrees C outside and our air conditioning doesn't come even close to touching the attic, but that's how I roll apparently!  This means that the space is a mess, with the kids toys piled in corners while paint dries in others.  My sewing machines have been making a bit of a circuit around the room as well.  Not exactly nice and tidy!  Regardless, I have claimed an alcove.  It's just me, my sewing machine and serger, and a WINDOW!  It's not all pretty in there yet, but at least the floor is clear, the sewing machine is on a table and there is good natural light.

So, yesterday morning I did this....

A high waisted skirt from my husbands old dress shirt that he never wore because it was too big for him.  It was really easy to do actually.  I had seen some other amazing sewing bloggers make sirts and dresses for kids and that was my original plan, but I got a little selfish and decided to make it for me instead.

The white belt I threw on last minute and I really like it with the belt so I think I will add a couple of little belt loops to keep it in place.
The skirt is really comfortable because the shirt fabric has a little bit of stretch to it.  I think this might be my favourite refashion yet!

Here are some cheesy poses.....

And how about paired with a little jean jacket....

So here is how I did it...

 I used a pattern for a fitted halter dress that I found at the thrift store just to get the curve over the hip right.  If I had a skirt that fit well I would have used that instead.  I just simply don't have any pencil skirts (yet!).

Anyways...I flipped the pattern over along the button line to mark the opposite side of the skirt.  Once it was cut out, I folded the skirt in half to make sure it was symmetrical.

Sew along 2 side seams right sides together.  If you keep the bottom edge of the shirt, you hem is already done for you.  If you want a straight hem, you'll have to cut the rounded part off and hem.

To make the skirt more high waisted, I had to make a waistband.  I wanted to keep the buttons going all the way up to the top, so I had to get creative.  I used the buttons on the edge of the sleeve cuff as the edge of my waistband.  I cut out along the folded seam edge of both the button side and the button hole side so that the 2 sides would match on the waistband as well.

I wanted the waistband to be folded over so I needed more length to the button piece.  Collar to the rescue. I cut out two pieces from the collar the same size as my button/button hole pieces and then sewed them together to make 2 long strips.  I put the finished edge of the collar on the outside so that the exposed edge of my waistband was already hemmed.

I then cut the cuffs off the sleeves and cut the sleeves off of the shirt.  I also cut the sleeves open to create a larger rectangle of fabric.  Along the edge of one sleeve I attached the button strip I made and along the other sleeve I attached the button hole strip I made.
I now had two sleeve rectangles of fabric.  One with buttons and one with button holes.

I then measured the waist of my skirt.  I divided that number in half and added 1/2 inch.  This is how long each sleeve rectangle needs to be.  I trimmed off of the raw edge (not the button edge).
Sew the two sleeve pieces right sides together.

Fold the whole thing in half wrong sides together.

The waistband is now complete!

I missed a picture here, but attach your waistband to your skirt by pinning the raw edge of your waistband to the top of your skirt right sides together.

And that is it!
Like I said, I think I will add belt loops from some of the scraps so that my belt will stay in place.  But for now, it's good to go!

Thanks for stopping by!

Vacation

This sewer is going on a nice month long vacation!  I will be putting all of my new sundresses and tops to work.    So picture me here...

...and I will be back in action in May!

A Yellow Simple Top

 Last week I made this Simple Top and knew that I wanted to make more.  I was out of fabric that I liked so I decided to take apart a skirt from last season that was too big.

I cut off the waistband and the pleated fabric opened right up giving me lots of fabric width  to work with.  There was a zipper on the back, but there was enough fabric to just avoid it.

Once the waistband was removed, I didn't have enough fabric length to make the full length of the top though.  Luckily, the shirt had a yellow cotton lining!  I used it for the bottom of the shirt and I really like the colour blocking!  I made the shirt the exact same way as in the tutorial except that I pieced the yellow fabric onto the bottom of the printed fabric to get the right length.  

The fabric is very light and breezy and perfect for the upcoming hot weather.  I love it when you find something that works using things you already have around the house.  

Coral Sundress

I have developed a serious sundress obsession!  I can't seem to get enough of them and I am totally excited that it 'tis the season of sundresses again!  What better excuse to try to sew one.
I found this tutorial on pinterest the other day.  It's from the blog  A Small Snippet.  I think she did an amazing job and I loved that the dress had a sash.
Here is my attempt. (please excuse the over exposed pictures!)

I followed her tutorial pretty much exactly, except that I added a lining as well.  The fabric I used is a bit see-through so it needed it.   I decided for the shorter length only because I have never been a maxi dress length kind of girl. It is super comfortable and looks great with other belts too.  I wore it on Sunday with a bright blue cardigan and a belt as well.  Another great addition to the spring/summer wardrobe!

I Spy Bags

I have been meaning to make these I Spy Bags for my kids for about a year now.  When we went on vacation last year I thought they would be a great way to keep them occupied (for at least part of the time!) on the 12 hour flight.  I never got around to making them though.  This year as our annual overseas adventure comes closer I knew I had to finally do it!

The kids helped me by picking out 15-20 small "treasures" to hide in their bags.  We then took a picture of their treasures that I will soon be laminating so that they can use a washable marker to cross off the items they have found.  There is a pocket on the back of the bag to hold the picture and the pen.  

There are LOTS of tutorials out there on how to make I Spy Bags, so this is nothing original.  I tweeked things just a tad and I think that they will work out just great.  

For starters, I made two with different window sizes.  The larger window size is for my 2 year old.  It is easier for her to find stuff as she just has to manipulate the bag to make different items "pop" to the top.  

This was way too easy for my 5 year old though!  So I made a bag with a smaller window in it for him. 

The instructions below are for the large window bag.  If you want to make a smaller window, just change the size of window you cut from the front panel.  

Here is how I did it...

Supplies:

about 1/4 metre of fabric ( a fat quarter would probably do it)

thick plastic sheet (I used the bag that my daughter's duvet came in)

white rice (about 3-4 cups)

15-20 small items 

basic sewing supplies

Step 1: 

Cut out your pieces

• two 10" x 8" rectangles (one will be the front and one the back)
• one 10" x 6" rectangle (This piece will be the pocket on the back so I oriented my stripes the other direction for this piece just to give a bit of contrast.

Step 2: 

Take one of the 10"x8" rectangles and cut out a 6" x 4" rectangle from the middle (5" x 3" for a smaller window). This will be your front piece.

To do this I first found the centre.  I measured down 4" and across 5" and marked where the two intersected.  (Don't worry about marking the fabric as you are going to cut this section out of the middle anyway)

Then I centred my 6" across measurement on the X and my 4" height measurement on the X.  Mark and cut.

Step 3:
Measure out 1" diagonally from each corner and mark.  Snip from the corner to your mark.

Step 4:
Get out your ironing board!
Fold back the edges of your opening and press.

Take your 10" x 6" rectangle (the pocket) and fold down the top edge 1/4"  2 times.  Press.

 Your front will now look like this.....

 Step 5: 
Cut out your plastic piece.  I cut it the same size as my front - 10" x 8" and trimmed it later because I didn't want to worry about it slipping around while I was sewing it.  I used the plastic from this duvet bag.

Step 6:
Stitch the top edge of your pocket.

 Now place it on your back piece.  Stitch a pen pouch on one side of the pocket by sewing 2 lines from the top of the pocket edge to the bottom about 1" apart.

Step 7: 
Pin the plastic piece to your front piece and stitch in place by sewing around the window edge.  I stitched around twice because I wanted to make sure it was super secure!

 (Note: It is easier to sew with the plastic on the bottom!  It feeds much nicer through the machine!)  

 It will look something like this....

Step 8: 
Pin your front piece to your back piece and sew all the way around leaving an opening (about 4" wide) along one edge so that you can fill it later.  (If you have a serger, I would serge this part.  If you don't I would recommend finishing your edge with a zig-sag stitch.  This is a minor issue, but as you move the bag around to find stuff in the rice you can see the seam through the front window and a nice seam might be nice!)

Step 9:  

Turn inside out and fill with all of your little treasures and rice.  The fuller the bag the harder it is to find stuff! (The heavier it is too though!)

Stitch your opening closed and you are done!  

Something Simple

So, even though I haven't posted any new sewing projects for a while, my sewing machine has still been whirring along these last couple of weeks.  Doing what I do NOT love best....hemming and patching!  I squared off the bottom hem on 5 of my husbands button up collared shirts for our vacation.  He likes wearing a loose cotton shirt while in the heat because they are cooler than a t-shirt and don't get as sticky!  They almost all come with a rounded hem line which can look a little funny not tucked in.  He prefers a square cut bottom.  So, out with my seam ripper and he now has square hemmed shirts!
I also patched a few things and made 4 pairs of boxer shorts for my 5 year old son to wear as pj's while in the tropics as well.
Whew!
Then, I decided I wanted something for me.  Something simple.  I was in need of some solid tops that could be worn either casually or dressed up with some accessories.

Here she be...
(Don't you hate it when you realize that you needed to pull your shirt down after you do a photo shoot!)

I had some leftover blue fabric from my blue dress and a shirt that I knew I fit well to use as a pattern.  I ended up making it a bit more fitted than my original shirt because the weight of this fabric is not as flowy.  I am happy with the results!

Here is how I did it...

Step 1: I laid out my pattern shirt and drew around the edges with my tailors chalk.  I added a bit of width around the arm opening to change the fit a bit and made the sides a bit narrower.  I also added more length to the bottom to make it a bit longer.

 Step 2: I did the same thing for the back.  (Ignore that wonky line on the bottom left there!)

Step 3: I cut both sides out.  I cut out one half and then folded it in half to cut out the other side to ensure that it was symmetrical.

Step 4: I measured down from the arm hole to make small darts on the side.  The darts are about 3 inches long and are 1 inch wide at the base.

Step 5: Stitch up the sides and the shoulder seams.

Step 6:  Oops, no picture!  Fold down the neck and arm edges and stitch.  Hem the bottom and you are done!

Not a very detailed tutorial, but this was not a very detailed shirt!
I think I might make another one.

I was featured here

Linen Ruffle Dress

This dress started out as a size 1 skirt that I found at the thrift store.  I loved the colour and the fact that it was linen.  However, I am definitely NOT a size 1!  With a little alteration here and there it is now a dress for my little dear to wear next month to the beach.

The skirt originally had an elastic waist.  It was too wide as is for a size 3 dress so I took it in by sewing up both sides about 2 inches from the original seam. Sewing through the elastic at the waist allowed me to remove the waist elastic from the front of the dress.  I simply cut it out.  I kept the elastic casing that was sewn into the skirt and using scraps of the skirt fabric that I removed from the sides, I sewed ties to use for a drawstring front.  I like the drawstring front because it is more adjustable to fit her as she grows.
For the shoulder straps I used my good 'ol bias tape!  I stitched strips together and then attached at the front and back.
The ruffles at the bottom and the hem I left as is.
That's it!

It is Little Miss approved and is apparently great for jumping on the bed!