Polka Dot Peplum |Pattern by GYCT|

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Ando muito satisfeita comigo mesma. Há tanto tempo que não costurava como tenho feito nas últimas semanas. Obviamente ainda não mostrei tudo o que fiz, mas lá iremos... ou pelo menos, espero. Hoje trago-vos uma peça que fiz para a minha mais velha e que ela aprovou. O molde que usei foi o Polka Dot Peplum da GYCT Designs e escolhi fazer este molde neste momento porque não requer malhas e eu ando um bocadinho, como dizer?! Cansada, farta?! Não sei, andava a apetecer-me costurar um tecido diferente. 

I am so happy with myself. It's been a while since I sewed as much as I have done lately. Obviously I haven't shared it all yet, but we'll get there... or so I hope to. Today I am bringing you this piece I made for my oldest, which she approved. The pattern I used was the Polka Dot Peplum from GYCT Designs and I picked this one because I haven't been in the mood for knits lately, I feel a bit, how to say it? Tired, done? I don't know, I felt like sewing a different type of fabric for a change. 

O tecido é de algodão, e usei um resto que ainda tinha depois de ter feito este há uns três anos atrás. Foi m.e.s.m.o à conta, só sobraram umas tirinhas que não se aproveitam para nada para contar a história. Poderia ter sobrado um bocadinho mais se não tivesse feito asneira. É que em vez de cortar uma peça da saia normal, cortei-a na dobra e ficou com o dobro do comprimento. Só dei por isso quando comecei a franzir a frente para juntar a saia ao corpo. Ficou muito mais franzida na frente do que a trás, mas sinceramente não desgosto, do mal o menos. 

This was a scrap of cotton woven that I got left after making this one like three years ago. It was r.e.a.l.l.y just enough, I only had very small scraps left that aren't good for anything at all. I could have gotten just a bit more left if I haven't screw it up, by cutting the front skirt on the fold, and getting this way twice the lenght when it wasn't needed to. I only realised the mistake when gathering it to sew to the top portion. It was much gathered on the front than the back, but truth is I actually like it, so... 

A frente e trás são forradas e para o meu usei restos de um lençol de algodão bastante fino. As mangas curtas em balão com viés a finalizar. As costas fecham com botões ou molas e eu escolhi as molas. Neste caso azuis porque queria incluir alguma cor no branco e preto para dar algum destaque. Obviamente escolhi a cor preferida dela. 

The top is lined except for the sleeves and peplum skirt, and for my lining I used leftovers from a very light cotton sheet. It features puff sleeves and bias tape to finish it. The back closes with either buttons or snaps, and I went with the snaps. In this case I used blue ones because I wanted some sort of contrast with the black and white from the fabric. Obviously I chose her fave color. 

O molde apresenta-se nos tamanhos 3M-12A e não tem muitas opções. O que aqui está, é o que é. Um molde prático, rápido e fácil de costurar perfeita para quem está a começar. Para a minha filha fiz tamanho 7. A tabela das medidas metia-a num 5 no peito, mas arrisquei cortar o 7. Quando o fiz, e enquanto costurava só pensava que lhe ia ficar enorme, quase me servia a mim, mas fiquei surpreendida quando ela o vestiu. Sim, ainda está um pouco largo, mas nem perto do que eu pensava que ia ficar.

The pattern comes in sizes 3M-12Y and doen't have much options. What you see is what you get. It's practical, quick and easy to sew, perfect for begginers. For my daughter I made size 7. The size chart would put her at a 5 (chest) but I risked a 7. When I made it, and while I was sewing I kept thinking this would be huge on her, it would nearly fit me, but I was surprised when she tried it on. Yes, it still is a bit too wide for her, but not as close as I thought it would. 

January Refashion Month with Scary from Shaffer Sister's

My guest today is the middle sister from the the Shaffer Sister's, Scary! Although being gifted with other talents (that runs in the family), she's the photographer among them, and if you're interested, you should check her tips for a no stress family photo here. She also did a great article in their blog about bullying, those subjects I mentioned they approched, and will rise awareness about the important things. Today,I'll leave you with Scary and what she prepared for us. Then again, if you haven't yet... go check their blog to lift up your spirit. 

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I love Magda and her refashions are my favorite from around the web (obviously if you are here you already know how awesome she is). That respect for Magda made it really hard to decide if I wanted to share a new project or a wrap up of a few old ones so I decided to do a morph of the two.

I was chosen to test the Pippa Peplum from See Kate Sew and it was the perfect way to use an x-small junior sized top (the blue with black hearts) and the bottom of top came from XL men's shirt both of them I found at Walley World on their clearance for $1. They were waiting in the refashion tote for the perfect project. I just love how it looks on her.

One of my first refashioning projects that I did was before we started blogging was making a duvet cover into a dress for my niece, Ty, for her 1st birthday. It was a simple sundress that I used the a couple of rows of elastic thread to suck it in. That first time really planted a seed for refashioning and taught me to use what was on hand.
The next refashion was one that really taught me to think outside of the box. Taking my mom's 15ish year old sweatshirt to a maxi skirt for Ty.

This was one of her favorite skirts because it was comfortable and the sweet horses on the front

When we lived in Idaho one of my friends showed us how to make sock leggings. Which really showed me that when you refashion take advantage of the work that has already been done. Sometimes that is in hems and other times that is just basic shapes flipped to work.

What to make your own sock leggings?

Even though I have been doing refashions along I really feel like the last 6 months, I have really hit my stride. I am finding myself more inspired by what I have on hand. This fall, Al and I were lucky to be able to go to a free swap event at my church and we went "fabric shopping".
Here are a few of the things that I have been able to make since from the items I acquired:

Hangout Hoodie Zip Flip was made using a ladies sweatshirt. It really took for me to do some out of the box thinking on getting the shape to work but both Boston and I have been so satisfied with the results.

The Fur Bolero and Cupcake Top Tunic the quality of fabric I used was so much better because I was refashioning far better than what I could have found or afforded at a fabric store.

And the boots I was able to refresh from Hand Me Down status

If you get a chance please stop by our blog, Shaffer Sisters to see what we will do next.

The one that didn't make it to the competition

For the project that didn't make it to the competition, I used these:

both from the hubby

While competing in the Refashion Runway, I had a rough week with the peplum theme, as you can read here. Not only were we sick, I didn't like the theme - and still don't -, my camera wasn't working (hence this cell phone pictures inside the house) and I couldn't be less pleased with what I created. 

I overcame all these though, and started from 0 in order to feel satisfied about what I was doing. I then did the peplum shorts and felt so much better about it. I wasn't confident enough though and just like I thought, I didn't make it through that week. 

I still sewed for the leather refashion themed week, but it didn't even make it to the competition. That's ok though. I wanted to sew along the Halloween theme, but I've been going round and round with some witch costumes ideas for the little miss... the problem, I want something different, and can't decide on what to do. I'm glad I wasn't competing anymore, those ladies blew me away with their costumes!!! and gave me so great ideas too

So, today I just wanted to share the master fail, the one I didn't like, didn't want to use in the competition. 

Besides, hubby's shirts were all that big and this was far from modest for me, a mom of a two year old that often has to bend to pick her up... there's no way I am wearing it out any time soon (or ever!).

And how did I mke it? Well, that's the easy part...

I've started with the black t-shirt. I've cut it about half and used the top to create the bust from my new dress. To cut and shape it I used a corset I found on a thrift market a few months ago, and then I cut the back on-the-eye!

Then I cut the other shirt about half way too, and used the bottom part to make the skirt of the dress. For that eefect I just had to slightly round the top of the rectangle. I've sewn front and back from the top together, then front and back from the skirt together. With the remaining piece (bottom) from the black t-shirt, I created the peplum. I've folded it in half and cutting like on the first picture in the second raw. I wanted to create an assimetrical look for the peplum (one of the things I've regreted after). I then pinned the peplum to the skirt and stitch really close to the edge. Finally I pinned top and skirt together. With the pieces of the shirt I still had leaft, I created tops (using the original neckline) and attached to the bust and back. Sewed on shoulders and that it. I left the arm holes unfinished, it doesn't fray and I kinda like the look. 

And that's it! The one that didn't make it and why!

|Refashion Runway| Week 3: Peplum

So, this is the third week of Refashion Runway and I can say it has been my personal little hell week. I've been thinking what would I make with the peplum theme since I knew I was a contestant. I knew this wouldn't be an easy one for me, but I wasn't counting with a sick kid, and being sick myself too, while trying to come up with a design that would please me. The hardest part? I'm not very fond of peplums. 

source

I tried. I grabbed a t-shirt and a sweat shirt from hubby I was saving for so long... and just let me tell you... now I feel sorry I used them. I had in mind a comment from someone else, who said she didn't care for the children refashions because she had no children and it wasn't inspiring for her. I don't know why, but that got to me, I kept thinking about it, so I tried and did a dress for myself. The only problem is that I hated it. I finished the thing and took a few photos, though I didn't like a single one of them. I had given up already, I was using that as it was. 

But then, suddenly, on wednesday morning I woke up better. I knew I wasn't ready to just give up. I knew that dress wasn't the best I could get and I wasn't going to just be ok with it. I had something else in mind. And it would be for my daughter. I mean, it may not be inspiring for some, but I'm sure that there will be a few moms appreciating. And besides, I had to stay true to my heart. And oh, am I so happy with the results?! The argument that refashioning grown up's clothes to kids clothes is just resizing them doesn't seem right to me, because that's the same thing you do when turning men's clothes to women's clothes, right?!

And I did the shorts peplum! And it looks so very cute on my little miss. Not to mention how much she loved it! So much she didn't want to take it off after the photoshoot. That made me a winner. I don't care if my refashion will be the least voted, I made something that my kid loves and that is payless.

Oh, I also refashioned a top to go with the shorts. Wanna see how I made them? Here we go. Let's start by the shorts:

I've cut the long bottom stripe into two. One for each side of the shorts. 

And the top was pretty easy, I didn't focus in doing something too elaborated. First, because I was short on time, and then because I just wanted to match my shorts. 

And I just couldn't finish this, without showing you how much fun my crazy 2 year old had later, jumping and rolling and dancing in her new peplum. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to enjoy my peplum as much as she enjoyed hers. Now please, click HERE and vote for your favorite. 

|the| Ladybug Birthday Outfit

The first week of the Refashion Month series is done. I am so glad about the great feedback I've been getting AND there's more to come! So much more, and I am pretty sure you'll want to stay around to check them all. 

But, today I am giving you a break from refashioned items, for this:

It was my daughter's second birthday on June 29, and I made her a ladybug inspired outfit, to match the birthday party theme (wanna see some pictures from all the rest? Click here). Back here, I shared a little from this project but kept you waiting for the final reveal for a little longer than I thought I would. It was a time consuming project but don't you just love how it turned out to be? Didn't she look the cutest of 'em all in it?

Let's talk about it though. I shall start with the peplum top/tunic. I've been wanting to sew a peplum for far too long, but never did until now. I used  Jess' Spring Fever Dress Pattern with some changes: the sleeves, I have enlarged the original and used two sleeve pieces at each side and gave it a heart shape hole in the back.  I mostly used the pattern for sizing. I used the 2T again but it turned out to be a little too large on the front. All the rest was just fine. I've chosen a medium light woven polka dot fabric for it, and lined with a light red one (left overs from the drawstring disney bags).  

I had those black ladybug buttons on my stash that were just perfect for the project. I did have some a bit more realistic ladybug buttons but they wouldn't contrast at all with the red fabric, so I am glad I had these too. As I said they turned out to be the perfect ones for this. 

Then, the other piece of the outfit was the shorts. My latest piece of art! *insert modesty here, please!* 

I used my own pattern for these. The shorts pattern I drafted for the Have a Nice Day outfit and also used in the Blue Romper I've made (and I realised I used the same patterns -top & shorts- together for the second time and did create two completely different looks!). For fabric, I used left overs of the black fabric that had been bought for an order I had last month).

In the sneek peek post I told you that I used Marta's tutorial for the pleats. Well, I did it on each side of my shorts, the second one was way faster; once you get in the rythm it becomes easier. I used the red thread to match the top piece and also because it gives a nice contrast even if she wears it separatedly from the top. Then I only had to add cuffs to the pants to shape it differently and give it a kind of bubble look, and to finish off, I've add an elastic waistband. 

The heart on the back was something I wanted to try for a while too and I finally did. I followed no pattern or tutorial for this, so I am pretty satisfied. Oh and just look at those cute sandals her cousin gave her as her birthday gift? Don't they just look so cute? I love it! And they go with everything!

I just love it that I was able to create a look that looks sofisticated and at the same time is very comfortable. She can play around and still look the cutest thing on earth! ok, enough mamma!!!