Faux Wrap Maxi Dress, McCall's 6700

My September MGAM is finally done and pictures are taken. This was due to the fact I cut off part of my thumb. Sewing was not happening. But everyone knows this by now. 

I felt it might be big... cut a 10 instead of my normal 12.Glad I did. It was very easy to sew. And this fabric is super comfortable. I got it at G street fabrics using a groupon. This fabric was in the sale bin so it was less than $2 a yard. Oh yeah! And I had just enough fabric. :)

I have to wear a tank underneath since it is a too low for my taste. 

Fits well. Comfortable. Long enough (still waiting for the final hem). And when you have a thumb that is healing, this is a great dress to wear. :)

Cheers,
Lauren

Indian Tunic Top, Refashion #82

I found another lovely embroidered Indian tunic that just needed a few tweaks. I loved that red and orange embroidery on the black pattern.

What I didn't care for was the length and the brown fabric accents found on the bottom of the shirt and sleeves.

First the length! Off with the length. Then I needed to hem the bottom. This was tricky with the front of the top as it had the mirrors and thick embroidery. Running this through my serger was a no-no. So I used biased tape and VERY carefully  sewed adjusting the stitch length for the middle section.

For the back it was easy- serge and sew down a hem. 

Not pictured is me removing the bottom sleeve portion and then doing a quick hem. But here is my new top. I like having another long sleeve top option that is not boring. This will look great with some skinny jeans and some boots. 

As you can see I didn't fit the sleeves due to the fact it is just a cotton broadcloth. I need to be able to move and stretch with my arms. Taking the sleeves in would not work on this top. 

Here is the recap. An easy top. Perfect for fall!

Cheers,
Lauren

BTW now I am officially caught up with my October quota for posts! Err, just in time!!

Refashion Leftovers to a new top, #81

So what happens when I combine the flowered dress

with the Fuchsia scarf from the Tunic Dress Refashion

We have enough to make a 2 tone top! I used one of my favorite Vogue patterns.

So cut....

Got creative for the back since I didn't have enough fabric, So I cut and added 0.5 inch seam allowance.

Sew together! Yeah I was moving along pretty fast. But when I put it on, it hung oddly on me. I didn't like the sleeves and I felt the top part could be pulled up. The scarf fabric didn't drape well like the chiffon I used previously. With some tweaking, I got a better fit.

Here's my new top!

I am really happy that I was able to use the skirt of that dress into something useful. There is still more of the scarf left but I have no idea what I am going to use it for. Here is the recap!

Cheers,
Lauren

The end is sooooo close!

Ruffle Red Blouse, #80

I always need long sleeves, it just seems like the winters here last forever. Being that I am a Southern girl, my wardrobe is still shifting out of Southern mode. This top was a wonderful soft fabric and a fun pattern.But too big. I didn't care for the gold buttons.

AND!!!!! the neckline down the center had a small ruffle on it. It just didn't work with the busyness of the pattern. Couldn't close it without choking either. It had to go!! 

I carefully unpicked the seams with the ruffles and removed it. Then I sewed it back together.
I then pulled off the gold buttons and I had some purple buttons from another refashion (which has not posted b/c the dye project went bad) which I used to replace.

Then I took in the arms and sides. Which I discovered one of the gold buttons multiplied. Ack! Go away!!!

Done!!! This is much and improved!!!

Recap... the neckline has a bit of a henley sort of feel for the closure. The added bonus of a slimmer fit and I will get a lot of use out of this top!

Cheers,
Lauren

The big white crochet top, refashion #79

Today will not be a 2 for 1, I am almost all caught up so you will just have to settled with 1 refashion per post. Guess that isn't a bad thing!

First,behold... a white t-shirt. A white shirt that is a 2XL. But it has a cool crochet neckline.

Yeah.... hello! it is Big!!!! 

So I didn't take a picture, nor do I know what color I actually dyed it.... but I got like a periwinkle blue. Not too bad but I still need to do something with it!

I cut off the sleeves and decided to try and convert it to a halter top. The sleeves were on an angle so by following those lines I could create a halter top pretty fast. I made sure I didn't cut off the crochet from that part. The neckline was removed from the back of the top. After that, I needed to take it in on the sides.

What that essentially created was a back flap. I cut it off and left extra to create a casing. No matter what I did, to get a good fit without odd fit issues- I needed some elastic across the back. So cut, create casing, add elastic across back- secure in the side seams. Close casing. Done! 

To get the last part of the halter complete, I folded over the excess fabric and sewed down- I did it very slowly on my sewing machine. I cut the center of the old neckband- which was way too big and trimmed it down to a smaller size to fit my neck. To secure I opted for a snap.

Towards the end of finishing this garment, I realized that I didn't like the bottom band so I cut it off. I hemmed the top with a double needle- which I have no idea why I have not sewn knits with it more!!! It is fabulous! Love it!! My hems look great! Happy!

Here is my new top, which I won't be wearing anytime soon since it is fall and winter is coming!!

The back....

The recap!! You almost don't recognize the top!

cheers,
Lauren

omg- 20 more left! wow!

blue sweater refashion + bonus, #77 & 78

Just a blue sweater. Plain, boring... blah blah blah

I think this was towards the end of the picture taking b/c I look delirious! This was a good time ago! This sweater has just sat! No inspiration whatsoever!

First I just removed the sleeves. I just didn't like them!

Remember that blue dress I refashioned and removed the sleeves? Let me refresh your memory... click here for the post

I used the leftover sleeves and added them to the top. I even removed some of the sides of the top but it didn't do much. After seeing the photos,  need to take it in even more. I promise you, the shirt grows after wearing it! Here is my new top!

Not bad huh? Something now visually appealing.

But wait.... there is more! What about those sleeves? OH yeah this is another 2 for 1 sort of blog post!!

Fall is here and winter is coming. That means my poor older cat who has a heart condition gets cold. As a result, he follows you like a puppy and has to be in your lap all the time because he is cold. It sounds cute but really having a cat in the lap won't work. But he is cold. I decided to convert the sleeve into a sweater. The wrist will be the head and the arm hole will be the bottom of the sweater. I cut some holes big enough for him to move (learned this with the first one which is sort of mangled from scissors). He absolutely loves it!!! I mean he was walking around so happy that I could not get a photo out of him. 

I promise you it is in now way tight on him- cats are poofy with lots of fur. 

I got him to go and eat. Finally some sort of photo. 

But my Sebastian will stay warmer this winter. 

So 1 sweater = 2 sweaters!!! (and a happy cat)

Cheers,
Lauren