peach striped chiffon top, refashion 96

96!! Yeah! Well I won't schedule them all at once but some of my refashions will continue through the new year even though I finished them before the year ended (yes so spoiler- I finished my 99 refashion challenge). This is another "I thought this would wear as is" top. The biggest issue was the arm holes were odd. The top was wide and honestly I felt as if the arm holes were too small for me. Too small! And this was technically a plus sized top.

The top was too wide that the arm holes were small and didn't have enough ease. Here is my only during photo, I took it in and down. I serged off the excess.

Done! And now I can move my arms without getting caught in my top.

I didn't change the length.

Here's the recap. An easy top that I can move my arms! Yay!

Yay! Cheers,
Lauren

Blue Chiffon/lace top, refashion #92

Boy this top gave me a lot of grief for sewing. Let me state this from the get go! I liked the chiffon and the lace inserts. I just thought this wouldn't be difficult to make it fit.

The arm holes needed fixing and needed to come in closer to my body. I also pulled up the sewed the top at the shoulder. I made the elastic smaller and took in the sides because it had a sagginess. I also wound up sewing out the lace insert on the sides and cut off some of the bottom. The middle picture shows how much I took off. This took a long time because I would do something, try it on, and then say MEH I still don't like it.

Even though this took a lot of work, I made it work in the end. Yes this is me sneezing. LOL

Better!

No more lace on the sides- I was slightly bummed but it does look better.

The recap! Whew! Glad that is over!

Cheers,
Lauren

7 more left!!!

Anthropologie Inspired Plaid Skirt, simplicity 1690

It is funny how when you want to make something and then you see it being sold for a lot of money. Take this Kenley skirt from Anthropologie. $148 for just the skirt. Really

As you can see there is an overskirt sort of looks like a bow.

Here is how to knock it off, for a fraction of the price. Check out this pattern from simplicity. It is similar to the anthro skit. Simplicity 1690

Now I got all fancy. Or out of my league. I decided to make this skirt with purple and black plaid CHIFFON. Yes you heard me right. Chiffon. And plaid. 2 really hard things to sew with. But hey things were shut....

While I was sewing, which has a black chiffon lining. I got really excited when the 2 overskirts matched each other. Like the Gevalia coffee commercial..... TOOT TOOT

In all actuality I knew the overskirt would match but the under skirt will not. I am totally fine with that. Here is after the pleating. I pinned and basted the heck out of this skirt!!! 

Next add the waistband. This I actually modified for myself, I needed a bit longer. Sew to the skirt. Prettyyyyy.....

Here it is on... drool

I paired it with some boots and a black shirt.

Hey I would also like to point out that I sewed an exposed zipper (and not invisible) and the cat didn't look like she attacked it. And the plaid relatively matches.

Love. I think I can totally remake this with a modified waist to even look more like the anthro skirt. Which is really a small rectangle to sort of gather it. Easy. This was not the easiest skirt but part of it was due to the chiffon and the plaid. Plus it had lining. Which made it thick. I think I may have broke a needle in one part of attached the waistband. Really happy with the results. I would definitely try again with other fabric that doesn't require lining. I think it would lay flatter.

Cheers,
Lauren

Two-tone chiffon Top: Vogue V8877

I am still trying to use up this coral chiffon I have.... I have the maxi skirt I made with it..

I have a lot of fabric leftover. I had a small slither of blue chiffon so I opted to combine the 2 and make a top...

Here is the vogue pattern here...

as you can see I did view A. Blue on top and coral on the botton

OMG this was the easiest pattern to sew. I will say that the blue chiffon was difficult to work with and I could tell that it was cheaper than the coral chiffon. I paired it with a bright tank underneath and a pair of light pink skinny jeans. 

As with most chiffon I did get some stretching and I even got a little off the shoulder effect

I would totally do this pattern again with less sheer material. It was easy and the fit was just right!! :)

cheers!
Lauren

Red flower chiffon top

Here is my 3rd project sewing with chiffon. This one was a bit challenging b/c it was a blouse. Much harder than the skirts b/c there was more working of the fabric and handling. I used the heck out of my serger again!

My cousin Kathy from Wisconsin sent me some fabric she had her friend gave her from India. I immediately fell in love with it. The flower pattern was different than anything I have ever seen and opted to use this fabric to make a top. I used this pattern from McCalls. From reading reviews online I heard that this pattern is super big so I cut the smallest size possible. I am happy I did. It is M6437 by the way.

Here's during one part with gathering and sewing. Wow crazy time sewing. Sometimes it was better for me to sew fast b/c less mistakes and moving for some reason.

Now I had to do the neckline. I did not tack down the chiffon lining from the yoke. I put it on Vera my dressform. Which I have not adjusted the form yet since I moved yet.  

Here are some buttons I found in 3/8 inch. Man I had to do some searching at Joann Fabrics to find red ones. 

I practiced first on a mistake I made while making the yoke I had to recut it a few times. And Yay the buttonhole was the correct size!

I marked where I wanted the button to go so I would know where to put it. 

Here is my button hole! BTW I love my button hole attachment on my sewing machine it is sooooo ridiculously easy!

Done! 

I cut some off the bottom since I sewed the view D and it was too long. 

Done! 

I paired it of course with a white tank top underneath and this fabulous blue shirt!

Realistically I would wear it tucked in to my higher waste skirt. 

Not bad huh? Especially for my first time making a chiffon top!

Back doesn't look too shabby either! Yay! Hope you have been enjoying my chiffon projects. And the sewing continues!

xoxoxo,
Lauren