Top Stitchers Today: Me vs. Call Ajaire

EDITED Feb. 5th 2018: I just went to Becca's blog and brought my entry from there to this post I had over here. For the simple fact that I wanted to add the photos I didn't add in my personal blog back then. And why did I think of that right now? Because auditioning for the next season of PR&P is on and I am going to try it out... why not? I like a little presure when I sew after all, so that challenge should be a good one.
Anyway... I tried to see from my fave entries and I had to pick up this one because it is all I love about sewing: comfortable clothes for my kids, that cool style, adding some details, and above all: refashioned items!!! Oh! I was so happy with this look. So, if you're reading this: wish me luck!

When I signed up for Top Stitchers and then saw the list, I knew exactly what my specialty was: Upcycling of course! Then we got our prompts, and it took me so long to picture what my daughter would grow up to. I pictured a lot of things in my mind, but the answer came from her. She's always singing and dancing, like a true rock star. So, I thought, would I like her to become a rock star? I wouldn't! As long as she was down to earth, a strong woman, a sensitive person, true to herself. All I really want is for her to become whatever she will want/wish to. And I went with the rock star look.

I used 8 existing pieces of clothing to create this look. I first pictured a complete outfit, from head to toe including 8 new pieces. Unfortunately that was over my head and not possible to make. I ended up with 5 item and one unfinished that didn't make into the challenge. The 5 items I finished include a pair of briefs, socks, shorts, t-shirt and one jacket. I used 1 men's leather jacket, 3 women's shirts, 2 women's button shirts, one girl's skirt and a women's jeans. 

I started by making G. a new pair of big girl's briefs, using Serger Pepper's pattern, I did the smaller size, of course (3), and I did them using bits of the striped shirt and the solid red t-shirt. They fit perfectly, and I swear she was wearing them in the photoshot, but I just won't post any pictures of my girl in underwear. You'll just have to take my word as I tell you they fit her perfectly. You can see photos of the briefs (and more) in my blog today. 

Then I did the t-shirt. I adapted an Ottobre's 1/2015 pattern #25. and turned it into a wide neckline top (as was but) sleeveless. I finished the neckline with bias tape and the arms holes with slim bands. It looks pretty as a one off shoulder top. I used the white t-shirt to resize it to her size and patched a lovely girly skull into it. I google for an image like so and then I free hand drew it to paper and cut into fabric. it was the kind of thing I used to do a lot a while ago, and now I don't do that often. That was something this challenge made me realise, and that's why I loved taking part even more. I was able to stretch my imagination, my creativity and make things I really, really wanted, as the jacket, something I did as I was going... but more on that in a second. Because I still had a lot from the striped shirt and I love such prints, I decided that adding a pair of socks to the look would be fun. I used The Sewing Rabbit's tutorial to do so. I tried to make my stripes match, but I couldn't because I was re-using the existing hem and there was no way to make them match. 

The next thing I finished from my list was my favourite one (although I really loved the shorts too). I made my little lady a leather jacket. From all my endless pattern stash, I didn't have a single jacket pattern that I would like for this project. At least not a single one that fit her size range. I didn't worry though and embraced the challenge. I din't do this for so long, start with nothing, no pattern and then make exactly what I had in mind. I actually used Titchy Thread's Rowan tee pattern as a skretch for my jacket. I did all the changes and adjustments, such as shortening the lenght, and making it a two assimetrical front pieces. I changed the collar too. I finished the jacket's sleeves and waistband with ribbon knit bands saved from a refashion from the past. To close the jacket on the front, I used a zipper on the left side of the piece, and underneath, on the center front, I attached 4 kam snaps to make it easier for G. On the shoulder bands I stitched a few lines forming squares in a contrasting thread, red in this case. I finished the inside of the front flap with bias tape. 

The last thing were the shorts, of course. I had just tested Petit a Petit new pattern, the Morocco Pants and Shorts and I just knew I had to use it. The pattern is just about to be launched and I asked Celina permission to use it for the challenge and post even before it's out. But don't worry, it's not long until you can get it, and you will want to. I love all the details, and the professional finishing touches. So, I used jeans to make this pair. In the front pockets and the back welt pockets, I have used the light denim button up shirt, and the other button up shirt as lining. I had plans to make a sleeveless button up shirt for the look too, for layering, but there was no time and it was left unfinished. Back to the shorts, they have a zipper, a snap in the front, and an adjustable elastic waist. I used a lace band from the white skirt to add it to the shorts hems. 

I didn't get all the 8 pieces done, but I am pretty happy that I got these done because they were big hits in our house. And I had fun, really lots of fun for participating in this challenge. I felt free! So thanks Becca, Ajaire, readers and all the rest involved in this. 

Today I get to participate in the Top Stitchers 2 challenge, organised by Becca, over Free Notions. Myself and Ajaire from Call Ajaire are competing for the upcycling theme. Click here to see our posts and vote please. You can vote for both of us, giving more points to one or the other according to what you believe to be fair. I was already pretty wordy in my entry at Free Notions, so here's a few extra photos for you.

I hope you've enjoyed them all because I sure did enjoy making them. 

Girls BundleUp Tour

I am one of the latest bloggers joining the BundleUp tour, so, I guess by now, you've already seen all the patterns in the bundle and have probably get yours too. If not, or if you don't even know what I'm talking about, let me tell you. This is a bundle sell of 11 patterns at a fraction of the cost, in this case especially designed for girls. The more patterns you buy, the more you save. 

Today I get to tell you about three patterns included in this bundle. I was a (happy) tester for two of them, and I did get the third one for free for this tour, but all opinions are my own.

Phresh Blazer by Winter Wear Designs
Let me start with the first one I tested, and let me tell you, one of my favourite patterns ever!!! It was so hard to keep it secret after I did my first (test). I have discovered, as I was putting clothes up in her closet, that I love to sew outerwear for my girl. So it's no surprise that I love this pattern so much. This is the cutest little girls blazer, sizes 1-14, and there are many options to make it your style. It is fitted, long or 3/4 sleeves, gathered or straight sleeve, with or without ruffles on the back (the most adorable feature I know, I skipped them for this one but have done them in the first blazer - which I will be blogging about soon). With or without welt flap pockets. Pattern recommends fabric with some stretch, but you can really use any fabric, just size it up one number. The first blazer I made was a 2T, but it turned out too tight on my little miss because she - apparently - grew in a few weeks since I had measured her. For this one, because I was using a not so stretchy faux leather, I went with size 4 and it's great. I did the straight, 3/4 sleeves option here, and I added the pockets too. The colour blocking on this one is my own, I refashioned leftovers from a coat and it wasn't enough so I had to grab another coat to finish, which was already cut, but it was a different colour though. I didn't have enough of any of these two to make the sleeves one colour only, so I had to get creative and added a band to each sleeve, and prayed that it would work. For the facings I used the same fabric I used for the pants, and I used a black homemade satin bias tape. Because the faux leather doesn't fray, I didn't bother to finish my edges. Little miss loved it too. When I was laying down the clothes for her to put them on, she realised there were two new mommy mades so she asked me "Are we taking pictures, mom?". I couldn't help but smile. 

Freestyle Harem Pants by EYMM
After testing the blazer, the chance to test the pants came along. As soon as I read "harem" pants, I jumped at the oportunity and was so glad I was picked. It was a pattern that I was really missing in my stash. I love the harem pants look, either on my kids or myself, and the only pattern of the same style I had didn't go many sizes up. This one goes from NB to 18T and includes a 18" doll size too. How great is that to get your daughter and doll matching?! And if you are petite as I am, you can even make a pair for yourself too. Actually, I got the bug of making either this or the blazer (or even both) for myself. Who knows?! Anyway, there are 3 lenght options for this: pant, capri or short. You can also do a regular hem, add elastic or use a cuff. There are pleats on the front. The waist band has two options too, one straight or curved on front. Two rows of elastic on the back (in my size, other sizes might have more). I opted for the pant lenght, elastic hem and curved waistband, which is something I love. I didn't use interfacing in this one but I might next time. This is a size 3T and the fit is spot on. I used a vintage satin from my stash. It was there for years and it was given to me by my MIL. I wasn't sure about this fabric print ever since, but because of the drape I tried it on. I wasn't sure at first, but I guess I've learnt to like it. Honest opinions, please?!
Ps - if you'd like to get a version with pockets, click here for a tutorial. 

For the photoshoot we used her new boots which she loved, and we styled the outfit with a rtw shirt, a handmade beret my mom made her (I have a matching one =D), and a scarf I made her, out of leftovers from a previous refashion. It was actually made a long time ago, but I have never blogged about it.

"Adeline" Knit Ruffled Cardigan, Top and Dress by Foo Foo Threads 
I've said this many times before, I know, but I am saying it again. I am not a very ruffly person. I like them here and there, but most of the times I avoid ruffles. When I first saw the "Adeline" pattern though, I was sure I wanted to sew this up, because I saw the potential beyond the ruffles. Hence, my non-ruffled-at-all version of this pattern. The "Adeline" comes with multiple options, and you can make a cardigan (hello!), a drop waist dress or a top with it, with an adorable peter pan collar. As for the sleeves, you can make them gathered, long (with or without ruffles) or short, and even sleeveless. It ranges from size 0-3M to 10Y. It is meant for knit fabrics and the bodice is lined.

For my own, I choose to make a cardigan and I skipped the lining in this one because it was already a sort of heavy knit. It is a refashioned piece too, of course. I used a woman's sized shirt to make it. For the collar, I also used a little piece I had left from another recent refashion for the boy. When asked what she liked best, contrasting collar, or the same fabric, my daughter picked the contrasting, so grey up it is. I used bias tape made out of the same fabric to finish the front pieces and also the collar inside. I opted to add only one button on top to close it instead of a full row of them. I like it this way.

Little miss wasn't so much in the mood for a photoshoot this time. Dad and I both tried to take some nicer shoots but even ourselves, we weren't feeling very inspired. Perhaps because the weather is changing again and a very cold wind was coming. This time we used a rtw shirt and handmade shorts, a refashion from 2013 (and yes, they still fit all along).

It was a pleasure for me to follow up and be part of this tour. Here's a list of everyone who has been blogging about the patterns in the bundleUp. Believe me there have been great things shown, you don't want to miss all the great work from this talented ladies. 

Boy's Wallet for my nephew

With Children's Day approaching (last June 1st), I started planning my nephew and nieces presents. I couldn't afford buying them much, but when you sew, that's not a big problem, right?! I've shared the Firecracker dresses I made for the little niece and the older niece. Today, here's the little something I made for the boy. First I thought about sewing some clothes for him too, but I am pretty sure the last measurements I took from him would no longer fit. He's 8 and a half right now and maybe it would be fun to make him a wallet for him to keep his stuff. I used Noodlehead's tutorial to make it. I had seen it around long ago and always been wanting to try it. For the main fabric, I used faux leather, some leftovers from a jacket from his mother. And for the lining I used scraps from a vintage sheet (I've been using this in oh so many projects...) and tried to embellish it a little on the outside. I used a piece of dark brown felt and some metalapplications... the stupid thing? I was so focused on getting it sewn in the front of the wallet, that of course, I did it on the back! lol... I was lazy to unpick it all and do it all again... so as it was it stayed!

Refashion Runway Week 4: Leather

It looks like I didn't get to this week's competition. I was voted out with the peplum challenge. I still don't regret that I made it for my daughter, and I am happy for the challenges I faced until here. I have really enjoyed my time competing, I am so glad it allowed me to "meet" new refashionists I didn't before and see how great and inspiring their work has been. I will try to sew along the two remaining themes which are Halloween and Winter White.

By now, I will leave you with what I had made to enter the leather challenge if I had passed last's weeks. Enjoy! And, by the way, please go there and vote for your favorite...

Contrary to last week, I was excited for the leather challenge. Working with this material wasn't new to me. I have actually done a few things in the past, with leather and vinyl... My only problem was not having any leather piece to refashion! I asked my friends in facebook if anyone could donate anything to me, nobody answered. 

My sister, actually found a faux leather brown jacket she didn't want. I was cutting into it but in the last minute, a costumer from hubby's told him she had seen my fb message and told him she had something she was willing to give me. I was  s o  h a p p y  when I saw it. But I was also kinda sorry to cut into it. 

Anyway... I knew exactly what I wanted to do from the start. I am mad about corsets. I wanted a new one for such a long time. So I did one.

this one needed a pose, right?!

I drafted a pattern. This video helped me to draw the corset pieces. I didn't make mine exactly like the one from the tutorial, but it was very helpful with the measurements, and I was able to adjust them to the design I had in my mind. Since the jacket was big, I had plenty of fabric to work with, I used basicly from the bottom and am hoping to use the rest for something in the future. 

I didn't take much pictures from the process this time. I have a serious problem with process pictures. I usually sew at night, after baby is sleeping, and then, when I'm really absorted in what I am making, I tend to forget the pictures details. Been trying to work on that, but it's hard... 

The ones I got for you, were taken the next morning, when all 10 pieces from the corset were sewn together. Instead of adding a zipper to the back I wanted it to look as a waist cincher, so I actually folded the center back pieces in half and kept in place with tape (which I removed once it was all done). I then marked my eyelets holes with the right punch and inserted them. I didn't even waste too many of them. My punch and eyelets weren't exactly the same size which is a problem, but a I said I didn't waste too many of them. 

Of course I was very pleased with what I did. I thought about lining and bonning the corset, but then I just dropped the idea. It was so much easier to add some bias to finish the piece. Besides, the purple looks so great and adds a final special touch to it. it wasn't really bias tape you know, it was a scrap left over from a shirt. I cut two striped from it (on the before picture above), sewn them together and attach it to corset as being bias tape. It worked. I am happy. We're done. 

This week we had a small family trip to the "sand city". It's an exhibition, that takes place for like 6 months every year, of sand sculptures. The theme for 2013 has been music. I had only been there once, even though I don't live that far, and the theme back then was mythology. I loved it! Every year since then I would say I'd go back... well, I finally did this year. 

I enjoyed it so much!!! I was even happier than the kids. I love music... I kept jumping and pointing out... 

look, The Rolling Stones... 

look, Jimmy Morrison... 

Pink Floyd, Pink Floyd... look it's Pink Floyd... 

look, minnie & mickey mouse... 

OMG Chanel... 

ahahah, is that Beyoncé? Jesusss!!

Is that Freddie Mercury? Cuz I'm not sure, doesn't look like him... 

OH gosh, Bono looks so much like Bono!

I gotta take a picture next to J. Galliano! Really! (I got two actually)

And that's it! My leather challenge.