Posts Tagged ‘refashion swap’

Trouser Refashion Swap + Tutorial

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Another refashion swap is underway! The first swap was with button-up tops, it was so great to see the fun things that everyone made for one another. I’m equally excited about this go around. The idea with this Refashion Swap is to make something out of trousers.

Interesting thing, Chris was about to throw away these tan Armani slacks. They were too small and looking pretty worn in the back. It really was quite a beautiful suit that Chris would wear on occasion while we were dating; I couldn’t bear to just throw them away. Plus, the fabric (besides the backside) was in amazing condition.

I wanted to make Jen a simple skirt, something that could be worn in fall and transition into the colder months. I also wanted to use one of my metal zippers for an exposed zip back.

The skirt is designed to go from true waist to mid thigh. The finished length is 16″ long, perfect for a 12″ zip, a few buttons and a little slit for more movement. I did a slight high-low hemline here. I was planning on doing a cuff all around the hemline, but I wasn’t loving the look. Simple is sometimes the best solution.

I used biased tape for button loops and natural wood buttons that were given to me from NearSea Naturals at Sewing Summit last year. I’ve been meaning to use them in a project. Combined with the leather zipper pull, I think it creates a nice earth-meets-urban feel. I sure hope the skirt fits Jen like I planned! Here are all the ladies participating this go around. Be sure to check out their blogs for their creations:

Read more to learn how you can make your own pencil skirt from a pair of slacks.

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Style: Button-Up Refashion Result

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Kate from See Kate Sew made a yellow striped jumper for me. Interestingly enough, she was in Utah last month to hand it to me in person. It was so great to meet her in person! I’ve loved this refashion swap, but the thing that would make it infinitely better is if we were able to make these clothes and swap them all in-person. Project Runway style.

Kate knew how much I love yellow, she did a fantastic job of scoring this light yellow stripe for me. It’s such a fun color!

I don’t wear jumpers, at least I haven’t in a very long time, so it’s fun to have gotten something that pushes me out of my normal comfort zone.

I used to be far more adventurous with my wardrobe than I am now. I was the first in my high school to wear stilettos. I’ll never forget sporting my camel stiletto booties; feeling super self conscious as I clicked and clacked my way down the hall turning heads and I’m sure getting plenty of disgusted looks. I was no popular girl. It’d be safe to say that I was more of a “popular loser”. Most people knew who I was. Probably because I always lugged around my 30 lb portfolio the size of a small bilboard like a security blanket. But I never quite felt like I fit in. My ridiculous pairings of hot-pink golashes with 3-piece suits was my way of keeping the tame people away I guess. Oh what I would give to see snapshots of those outfits I wore back then.

Kate reminded me that I need to be more adventurous with my clothing. So for the next half of the year, that’s going to be my goal.

Outfit details:

 

Read how to make your own jumper out of a large mens button-up shirt here.

Style: Refashioned Reversible Top

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I’m so excited to see how my reversible maternity top in action! Isn’t Krista an adorable pregnant girl?

See more details of her outfit and the fit on Krista’s blog, Lazy Saturdays. This refashioning swap was loads of fun, and I’m so excited to see how everything fits. Below is the schedule for these posts:

Refashion: Reversible Maternity Top

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Several months ago, I was asked to see if I was interested in participating in a refashion swap between 10 bloggers. There was no question if I was game or not. OF COURSE I’m game! The idea being that we all took a button up shirt and refashioned something for someone else with it. Here’s my shirt before. It was one of Chris’s old shirts, too small for him now, but I was too nostalgic about it to let go of it. It was one of the shirts he wore often when we were only dating!

I was assigned to sew something for Krista of Lazy Saturdays. She’s currently 30 weeks along, so I wanted to make something maternity-friendly. Then I got to thinking, why not make it both maternity and post-partum friendly?

After seeing a really cool mom at the park, sporting a rad top with a cape-like top (the very top that inspired Penelope’s refashioned top), a lightbulb struck. It looks cool with the extra fabric in back, but that extra fabric would be useful in the front for a pregnant gal.

The maternity side is color blocked in front and longer in front to accomodate a growing belly.

The nursing side has a flat front and flowy back, perfect for hiding bulges. The button-front allow for easy nursing access.

I’m pretty excited about this top, I sure hope it fits Krista! Be sure to check out the other participating bloggers’ projects:

Grainline Studio • Lazy Saturdays • Cotton & Curls • Megan Nielsen Designs • One Little Minute • MadMim • See Kate Sew • A Fashionable Stitch • Adventures in Dressmaking

More after the jump on how to make this reversible top.

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