Refashion Month with La Folie

Inês, from La Folie is such an amazing person. I still remember when I got a comment from her here at House of Estrela from the first time, I payed a visit back and never again stopped following her criations. She's talented, with an unique style, and above all, she writes the funniest (down to earth and real) posts about her sewing. Although she doesn't usually refashion, here she is, in this adventure with us. 

***

Hi Everyone! I'm so happy to be here posting chez Magda's today, and during such a cool series, along with so many talented ladies. I absolutely love this idea, refashion makes total sense to me, though I'm more of an up-cycler than a "refashioner", since I never buy thrifted or any kind of cheaper clothes with the intent of making alterations (mostly because it's not natural to me, but I do love to see what other people can do in those types of projects); well I sometimes buy giant sweaters/T-shirts to make stuff but even that is pretty rare.

So I today I have two quick up-cycle projects to show you that have been on my "to up-cycle drawer" for more time than I like to admit!! ;) Gladly Magda invited me for this or they would still be there...

The first thing I made was turning a Boden dress (I may or may not have bought it from the girls section for me a few years ago - insert the I'm shocked emoji here - and I may even have used it for a while before realizing I wasn't 10 anymore hahaha) into a skirt. Easy peasy. I adore the fabric so much, and I knew that it wouldn't take much to make a cute piece of clothing, yep Lazy old me as usual hehehe.

I only have this really bad photo of the dress, forgive me I'm not used to this heheheh, but you can get an idea of how it looked, and please don't imagine how I looked in it!!! hehehehe

To make the skirt I simply cut bellow the pink trim and back zipper and added a rib waist in pink. I have no photos of the rib, M wasn't in the mood for photos so I had to be quick, sorry. But it's the same I used on this Rowan Tee.

I felt the need to add patch pockets (I used ones from the Japanese book 1 pattern 1 week, and Michael Miller's black eyelet seemed the perfect choice. I finished the top seam with visible bias in black.

These type of projects are so very gratifying, it's really cool how quickly you can turn a forgotten piece of clothing on something wearable again. YAY

Well this was such an easy make that I decided to make a second quick project using a maternity nightgown I wasn't using anymore (it wasn't really a proper maternity nightgown I just bought the large size and used it during pregnancy and breastfeeding).

I used the nightgown to make... Surprise Surprise, a nightgown for Madalena. WOW My creativity amazes me every-time LOL

To make it I just cut the bodice, and ended up with a large rectangle (sorry I have no photo, I have lots to learn when it comes to refashion posts); I drafted the armholes front and back to each side of the top piece using Mingo&Grace Charlie pattern to do it (no particular reason other than it's a good pattern and I had it on hand in the needed size). I also drafted the neckline using Charlie has a guide, though later on decided to make the front a bit lower than the original pattern.

After finishing the armholes, I finished the neckline just by folding and making an elastic casing, adjusted the elastic to her size and it was done. I also added a little bow to the front just for cuteness. :D

There you go, two super quick modifications, hope you like them. I had the best time making them, easy gratification!!! ;)

Thanks a million Magda for having me. xoxo

From a Box * Rebel and Malice * In a Manner of Sewing * Miss Castelinhos * Threading My Way * Fairies, Bubbles and Co. * Mabey She Made it * Conversas de Hermanas * Lulu and Celeste * Made by Sara * La Folie * Climbing the Willow * HattieLu Handmade * Swoodson Says * Knot so Normal* Friends Stitched Together * Just Another Project * Sew Thrifty

Nursing Nightgown

So, here's something I've never made before. A nursing nightgown. And there's always a special feeling attached to accomplishing a garment we've never tried before, isn't it? 

I already had two nursing friendly nightgowns to add to the maternity bag I have to carry to the hospital, but I thought a third would be pretty good. Besides, I know I'll spend my baby's first week, pretty much wearing nightgowns only. So, it was worth giving it a try and make myself a new one. 

And all I spent on it was 1,45€ (elastic and "clips" - don't really know the proper name for them). I was able to re-use what I already had once again. I used a baggy nightgown that I got in that huge pile of clothes I just blogged about a few days ago. The print was awesone, and it was made of a 100% cotton knit, so it was perfect for what I wanted. 

I didn't use a pattern. One of the other nightgowns I said I already had, was used to help me cut the new pieces. I sort of drafted the pattern for the chest part though, because I wanted it to work just right. I used 2,5cm wide elastic as bias and it worked just great. I had the elastic in my stash, but since I used pretty much the whole thing, I bought some more to replace it, if I hadn't it wouldn't cost 1,45€ but 0,50€ only. That's a good thing! 

The straps are a little darker than the elastic because they were reused from an old bra I wasn't using anymore. And, the two other changes I made, was adding a pleat in the front to allow for the belly... we all know it doesn't just dissapear after a baby is delivered, right?! 

And, I shortened it a bit, doing a new hem.I would keep the original one, I liked it, but there was a hole close to the hem, and I was forced to cut it a bit. It wasn't much though and it still is a modest gown I can wear in public (read: hospital). So, it is already packed in my bag and waiting for the day this little boy decides it's time to meet the world outside. 

Peques de Cine II

more about it HERE 

This challenge, consisted in creating a knock-off from a movie or series that we like. And then, after recreating the look, we should try to recreate a scene from the movie/series. So, as you can guess, I couldn't do that with a sick kid. I mean, she doesn't always collaborate when she's ok, wonder how it'd be with her sick?! Besides, I would never bother her with my sewing obsessions when she's not feeling well, 'cuz no matter how much I love those internet "things", I'm a mom first and have to care for her.

I chose the movie Pan's Labyrinth, which I love to death! I remember watching it on the cinema with V. back in 2006, and we were the only ones in the room. People thought it was a kid's movie... can you believe it? It's a brutal movie that mixes up a world of fairies and the Spanish Civil War. It's not a movie for kids, for sure. 

source

I knew I wanted to choose a child character for my project after I did a few researches through Tim Burton's movies (he's the man, what can I say?!), and was madly in love with Christina Ricci's character clothing, specially the black and white dress from Sleepy Hallow.

source

I mean, I'd love one of those for myself. I also adored, Sweeny Todd's wardrobe, but they weren't kid appropriated and I didn't have a light on how to make them look like so.

source

I then thought of some movies I enjoyed that had kids on it, and of course, Pan's Labyrinth was my final destination. Ophelia (the character I chose), is a girl that dresses simple vintage dresses, with enchanting details... pleats, slight ruffles on the cuffs and necks. I had three picks, and I went for the nightgown she wears most of the time on the screen. Only because it was the one I could get clear (or clearer) pictures from.

That was also my choice, because the nights are getting warmer and I thought that a nightgown would be something she would wear. I mean, I am sewing to save, right? So, there's no point to sew something that wouldn't be wearable on a daily basis.

I made it a size 3, when she's not yet a 2, but I wanted to make sure it'd last for a while.
I addapted a pattern from an old french Burda magazine, it was from a plain dress, and it had a zipper on the back, so I had to adapt it to have a button placket on the front of the bodice and shape the collar into a peter pan collar too. I had a little trouble with it, and had to do and undo the collar a few times until it got just perfect.

I used a small white lace to embellish my collar. Other details I added was the piping on the cuffs, and the waistband. The sleeves are puffier than the original, because I didn't make any changes to the original pattern on that matter, and I like it better this way. It even looks more puffier on her, because it's still a bit too big for her. The skirt has some pleats but it was kept simple, since I couldn't really tell how the original was made. And I even watched the movie again, especially for this challenge. 

And to finish, here's an overall look G.'s new nightgawn. 

I didn't want to push her too much, she's still not feeling 100%. And besides that, she's still too young to understand why she should pose this way or that way. It was just fun to see her walking around with it, and realise she enjoyed it. 

While I was sewing it, she was asked What's mommy doing? - Pants! She answered. lol

If you liked this, check out the flickr group too.

Peques de Cine I

Have you noticed this button on my side bar?

Well, it is another fun sewalong from Maria's Loca por la Costura blog. I commited to sewalong too, but after all, I missed the deadline. It was two days ago, and I actually finished mine yesterday, but couldn't take any pictures, or pretty much do anything else.

My little girl got worst last monday...I think she's finally getting better, but still not quite fine. At least she ate something that didn't get thrown away... finally!

I'm planning to share my project though, as soon as she's recovered, so stay tunned!

Here's a peek...

source