Reviewing my 2015 goals

I wanted to do this about a month ago, as a half year balancing of the goals I would try to complete during this year. The thing is that 2015 is past half way through (still can't believe it!), and I am not too happy with myself. I promised to do my best to get my goals done, but I don't think I have. More than anything, I've been overwhelmed, just it. Even with so much less to do, the feeling just won't let go. 

So, anyway... my #1 goal was: Sew more of what my kids need - I believe this is the only goal that more or less has been acomplished. By passing a lot of pattern test calls with garments that they don't need, I focused on the ones we liked best and were actually missing. It hasn't been perfect, but it's the goal I can feel more proud of. 

#2 goal: Sew more for myself - I made myself a shirt, a pair of shorts, a bikini and a dress (haven't blogged about this last one yet). I could have been doing more. I still have 5 months left to work on that, so hopefully, I can at least equal the amount of clothes I sewed myself last year. 4 in 7 months is not a lot. 

#3 goal: Sew for the husband - zero. That's all I have to say. I've purchased some fabric just for him, though... 

#4 goal: Sew presents ahead - I was doing so well until around May, then I just got behind and I have no more gifts ready to give. 

#3 goal: Sewing for my house - I can't really think of anything I've done for my house right now. Maybe I haven't done anything at all. 

Apart from the goals I mentioned I also wanted to keep sewing from my stash and refashioning, saving as much as I could as always. But I just couldn't do it. With the excuse of having a wedding to sew for, I went to Spain a few times, shopping for fabric and in all those times I brought more than I should. I also bought a few fabric pieces locally and even online, which is something I don't usually do. I've also been taking note of how much I spend on sewing and craft supplies and that'ssomething I will only check (total) by the end of the years. I believe I've been spending more than I ever did the previous years, it's like I was hunger to buy, just because. 

My balance |Fabrics, Refashioning & Thrifting|

It wasn't on my top 5 goals for 2015, but really, I don't need to add that anymore. Sewing from my stash and my refashion clothes pile has just become part of who I am and how I sew. I realised over the last couple of years that sewing doesn't have to be expansive. In fact, I can save a lot while sewing. Last year I tried to keep track of how much I was paying for the supplies I bought, but I got lost somewhere in between and I couldn't keep up with it. This year, I am planning to get a bit more organized, I have a folder on my computer, where I add photos of supplies, fabric, thrift clothes I buy with the information of how much I spent for each item. 

Even though I commited to not buying new fabrics last year, I did get a few new ones. I didn't buy them all, I got a couple from my grandma's friend, as birthday gifts from hubby and also from online sewing friends. In the list of the ones I bought there are more knits than wovens, for the simple fact that those weren't much in my stash before, so I needed these more than the other. When I look at my fabric piles right now, these new in 2014 included, I realise I lack on boys appropriate fabric. I have a few that are gender neutral, but most of them are really for girls. Because of that, I will allow myself buying new fabrics anytime I need it, even though I will always try to go for refashioning. There's all sorts of fabric prints and types in that pile. Some of the fabrics on the photos are already leftovers from pieces I made last year, which is a good sign, I bought them, but I have used them too. I haven't used a lot of them for the simple fact that most of them were bought after S. was born, which was also when I decreased my sewing projects for lack of time or mood. 

I was donated so many clothes last year. Closer to the end of the year I chose through it again and have donated a few of them myself too, there's just too much in my stash already and every now and then I have to do this. It was all getting too messy. I have used some of the pieces from the first photo below as they were, they were given to me by my own who got a little extra weight, and gave it all to me. 

Go ahead. Have fun trying to figure the pieces I have used from these piles already. There are a few. Anyway, a few were donated, and the pile is slightly shorter. I still have too many pieces to go through, and still, it always seems like enough is never enough when you are an addict. Last week I went thrifting in my favourite charity shop. And it is my favourite because all adult clothes and shoes cost 1€ and all kids clothes and shoes cost 0,50€, which is the closest to nothing. I usually thrift for refashioning, but often I fall in love with a piece and buy it to use as is. This was the case this last time. I didn't fall in love, but I was looking for specific warm shirts for both my kids, knitted ones because I don't knit. I eneded up bringing that and more, much more, but all costed me 9,50€, so, why should I complain. 

The butterfly are pieces for G. Ladybug for me (even though the blue skirt was going into my stash until I tried it on and realised I loved it, i just have to fix the waist at 1" less probably), those shoes were NEW, never used before. Snail goes into refashion and the bee is for S. They had so little to his size for boys. 

Notes to Self #1 of 2014

So, again, I started a new year hoping to sew more from my personal fabric stash and refashioning piles. Four months have gone since the first day of the year, and I've been trying to figure out how good/bad I have been doing on my personal challenges. 

If I don't miss anything (and I try not to, by writting down all I have been sewing) I have accomplished 51 new pieces up to the day. 25 of them were refashions, 22 of them were made using fabric from my stash (2 of them used both refashioning and new fabric), 5 were made with new fabric bought this year already, which means that this fabric didn't last long in the stash pile, which is gorgeous, of course. 

As for what I bought: 5,5 meters of fabric (total) which costed me 11,65€. And (and here's the salt in my wounds) I've got 31 "new" pieces at the charity shop (4 of them bought today actually), spending 27,45€. It makes a total of 39,10€ in four months, so not even 10€ per month. 

But I consider I saved a lot too. Because I made 51 new pieces, you see?! At a cost of less than 1€ each comparing with what I've spent, and it was more than 10 items per month (though, a great part of these were sewn in the last month alone). 

From my new (bought this year, I mean) thriftings, I was able to use 7 pieces as they were (no need for refashioning or anything, 5 for G., one for me and one for my mom). I was able to refashion 8 other pieces, so from the 31, I got 16 left to work with - added to the pile. Not too bad I guess, since I've also used pieces that were there coming from previous years too. 

There's only one question left to answer? Who have I been sewing for? Let's see, who got more... 

My daughter is in the top of my "sew for" list, I made her 20 items; 10 for myself; 8 for my baby boy; 4 for my niece L; 4 accessories (things that aren't clothes); 2 items for my niece M.; 1 for my nephew; 1 for a friend's daughter and, 1 for my mom.

Can you guess?

Yesterday I went to my usual charity shop. Carnival is when we celebrate with costumes around here, and I was looking for thrift finds to make my daughter the costume she asked from me. I already made two pieces for her school costume (will show later, they will finish it in school), but I didn't have any fabric or refashioning clothing to make it ... or so I thought!

I found the colours I needed: dark and light blue, and yellow. I just wished the yellow was at least the same lenght as the light blue, but this was the best I could find. 

I was really excited that I found everything I needed. Once I got home I wasn't so happy. The yellow was too thin and it's a bit too cold yet - but I could fix it, I searched my refashion stash and found a pair of pants I can totally use for layering underneath... Good. Then, the light blue was ok, but the dark blue I brought, was from this beautiful girl's dress, in velvet... did I ever mention how much I love velvet?

I just can't put my scissors in it. I can't, I love the original piece too much. Of course it still is too big for G. and too short for my niece L. but I think I will save it until G. can wear it... or until I just change my mind and use it for refashioning. 

I really need the dark blue for this costume though. Oh... problem again! I searched the fabric stash again... the blue fabrics I have are no good for what I need... none of them. Then I remember, someone had donated something navy blue to me a few months ago. I searched and searched for it and ... my day was saved! I found it. 

I also need some pretty red fabric, and luckily for me I had the perfect silky scrap in my stash. Just a scrap but I believe is enough. So, all this will make for my daughter's costume. 

And I am wondering... can you guess what will it be? 

Want a hint?

 It's a princess... 

KCW and a pratical knock it off

I'll start with a statement. 

I am cheap. 

I don't refashion and re-use just because it is fun and pushes my creativity. Well, it does that too and I  much appreciate it. But the main reason why I do that is because I live on a budget. We have one only income and it's not that much, so how can I feed my hobby and love for sewing when everything is so expansive (for me at least!)? You have to become resourceful when you find yourself in this situation. 

It has been KCW from the 27th 'til today. Everytime KCW happens, I plan to behave and sew along the entire week and get great things done. In my dreams, of course! This time is was illness that didn't allow me to organize for the event. Still, it seams I always squeeze something at the last minute. Of course, it isn't something beautiful or much interesting. I went practical. I tried to get something done, which was needed and always postponed, left behind for things that could have actually waited a bit more. 

So, my kid went to a daycare center back in September and she needed a school overall like the other kids. I ordered it as all moms and waited, and waited and waited for it to come. Over a month it arrived and it was painful for me to pay 20€ for it. I mean, it wasn't even well finished or anything, I'm sure those buttons are nearly falling by now. So, what does a smart sewing momma do? Go run to the fabric store and buys blue, yellow and red fabric... I knew I had a quite enough of the similar orange and when I organized my fabric stash a while ago I realized I didn't need the red either. Anyway... I bought the three pieces of fabric - just enough for the overall, and spent less than 4€... Mmmm interesting! I could make 5 of these with the 20€. 

But, as I mentioned this has been postponed ever since and I was getting tired of hurrying washing the bought one everytime it came home. and it's winter so it doesn't dry that easy, and yes, I do have a dryer but I refuse to make it work with one piece in it only. So, I finally did the overall this weekend. Started and saturday morning and almost finished, but then I started to feel dizzy again (blood pressure hasn't been nice lately), and I had to stop until sunday, when I finally made the button holes and sewn all buttons to it. Also had to add the pocket (and only realised it's not even when I edited these photos - gotta take it off an do again!), and handstitched her name on it. 

January Refashion Month with Desarae from Gladness of Heart

Happy to be back for another week of Refashion Month! Have you guys been enjoying all the guest's posts so far? There's more goodness, and great inspiration to come. 

Today, we're starting a new week with Desarae from the blog Gladness of Heart. I met her when competing in the Refashion Runway II, I was always amazed at how great her refashions were , especially when knowing she had started sewing that same year.  I was so happy she made it to the final week and I was able to see her sewing through all themes. And of course I never stoped following her to see what else she has stored. 

...

Refashioning is an amazing skill that makes you feel empowered and liberated

when it comes to clothes and fashion!

No longer are you limited to the style and fit of dingy thrift store cast offs,
 now you can create your own fashionable pieces with a little time, effort, and some imagination.

But for some, the freedom of 'sewing outside the lines'
affectionately known as refashioning, can be pretty intimidating.

Maybe you are a great seamstress, but without your patterns,
you feel lost.

Sewing from a pattern and refashioning have similar overtones, but are very different.

I like to compare it to baking and cooking; one requires exact amounts and recipes

while the other involves a lot of improvisation based on what you have and what you need.
The basics are the same, you just have to trust your instincts and rely on personal taste.

Now, say you have never sewn before...in your life.
Then refashioning is the perfect place to start!
 Take it from someone who learned how to sew by refashioning.

Here are some steps to help you get started!

1. Start Small

Don't overextend yourself and try to tackle a project that is too involved on your first try.
Start with a simple project, like shortening long sleeves,
chopping the length off a dress or skirt, or turning pants into shorts.
Once you feel comfortable, work your way into more challenging projects.

Never despise small beginnings!

One of my first refashions was very simple.
I turned a long sleeve button-up into a scoop neck tank top.

 

Here, I turned a too-small skirt into a top!

2. No Attachment Issues 

Sometimes it can be hard to cut into a piece of your own clothing
that has memories attached to it and has been in your wardrobe for a while.

When starting out, a great idea is to pick out a piece from your local thrift store,
this makes it much easier to cut apart!

3. Check it Over 

 One sure fire way to disrupt a project
is realizing there is a stain or hole in an obvious spot on your garment.
This isn't always a deal breaker, if the problem area is located at a spot
you intend to take in or cut off, then it can be worked around.
 But if they are front and center, it can ruin the whole piece.
Always check it over first.

4. Pay Attention to Fabric
Keep in mind the type of fabric you are working with.
For beginners, cotton or linen are the best choices.
They won't stretch on you like knits, making them easiest to work with.
If you plan on combining two different fabric types,
take into consideration whether they will work well together.

 

This silky refashioned top turned out beautiful in the end,
but working with this slippery fabric almost did me in!

Make fabric choices according to your skill level,
and be sure you have the correct needle to accompany it.

5. Copy Cat

Here is a no brainer!
When you are just starting out,
nothing makes it easier than following in the footsteps of someone who has gone before you!
Find an easy refashion tutorial from one of your favorite refashionistas and sew along!
When they have it all laid out for you, it is hard to go wrong!

My two very first refashions were copy cats
from some tutorials I found on Pinterest.
I would highly recommend them.
You can read about them here. 

6. Fit is Everything

 Sometimes all it takes to bring your piece up a notch is the proper fit.

Fitting the shoulders, sides, and arms can make all the difference.

Here, a few fitting tweaks like pleats at the shoulders,
and a pleat at the back, was all I needed to make this piece great!

 

In this refashion,
I address how to fix gaping arm holes as well as fixing the neckline that was too wide.

7. Try on First, Cut After

 After following all of these great tips, you might whip up the perfect refashion,

only to ruin it all by cutting too soon.

Once you have made adjustments,
always try on your garment before you cut off the excess material from you new seams. 

If the fit is as you want it, then proceed with trimming off the bulk.

8. Bigger is Better

If you are planning a major refashion overhaul,

or any project really that is more than basic fitting changes, then bigger is always better! 

The more fabric you have to work with, the more you can do!

 A great example of a 'big' refashion is this coral blazer.
From all that excess fabric, I was able to make a peplum jacket! 

9. Sew Inspired

You know that adorable skirt you have been drooling over?

Use it as inspiration for your next refashion!
Start thinking in terms of "could I make that?"

I recommend starting a board on Pinterest, or just a folder on your computer.
If you see a piece of clothing you really like, with some great details,

pin it on your board so you can revisit it later for inspiration.
You would be surprised how much you can replicate from mainstream fashion!

I refashioned this peplum top based off the above inspiration piece!

Turned out pretty similar, didn't it?

and finally,

10. Don't Be Afraid!

  Sometimes making the first cut can be scary...
you might not know exactly what to do...
but don't be afraid!
Remember.
They are just clothes.
If you ruin something, it won't be the first time
(remember that Pinterest recipe that bombed?? Yeah...we all have 'em.)
and it isn't the end of the world.

Don't be intimidated.
  You don't need a sewing studio,
with all the special gadgets and do-hickeys, in order to refashion. 

You don't need a dress form (the floor works great),
a serger (zig-zag or pinking shears can do that job fine),
or any special classes.

Oh, and some bonus advice...

Each piece has a life of its own.
Sometimes what you want to do just won't work on a particular style.

Play with it, see how it falls, see what works-
eventually it will take on its own flare and become what it wants to.

So go on...pick up those scissors...

Ready?
Set...
Refashion!

|day 18| Refashion Month: my own!

When I thought about the refashion month thing last year, I wasn't refashioning as much as I have after that. I guess I've been refashioning for all my life; if you count on the clothes I would tear and remake as doll clothes, or the jeans I would just cut in my early teens to get myself some new shorts. But it wasn't really until last year that I looked at refashioning in a different way. After commiting to stop buying new clothes in September (through the end of the year), I decided in January I would try to shop my own closet as much as possible, of course, that means I had to refashion much more than before. 

Last year, my goal was to achieve one refashion for every week of July. And I succeed, made over the 4 projects. Even though they were pretty simple and easy. I believe the only good refashion I made last year was precisely the first one, check HERE for more photos. This year, I had plans to make at least 4 new pieces again. And though we still have a few days left, I'm really happy to say: I've made it again, and I'm pretty sure I might have something else by the end of the month. Have you seen my onesies refashions?

Anyway... I won't let you fall asleep, let's see some pictures. My most recent refashions (2) were made out of one pair of pants! 

Yes! I made it again. My most viewed post ever, has always been the pants to shorts tutorial, when I made a pair of shorts for me and one for my little miss out of a pair of pants mom gave me. Back then I only had to cut and sew a seam for my shorts, but this time I deconstructed the original pants and cut my short pieces out of it. With the remaining fabric I made a matching pair of shorts for baby G. like I did the first time.

I used a pattern I had tried before. I guess I have never blogged about them here, but I had used the pattern to make a pair of blue wool shorts for me a couple of years ago, for pictures check here. The original pants was much simplier, it closed at the side with an invisible zipper. For my new shorts I used a french Burda's Pattern from 2009, it had a few options and I have mixed two of them. 

Wanna check the other pieces: denin shorts here, blue romper here & black pleated shorts here. 

For G.'s shorts, I used my own pattern again. I've never used the same pattern as often as this one. Those are the 4th shorts I make out of it, and I am really satisfied at how different they can look using just a few little changes in the pattern. And the first thought was to make them exactly like mine, but then I got lazy did a few things differently. 

Picture above: details from mine 

For the back plackets from my own, I used flower shaped buttons, but even though I wanted to do the same with hers, I had no more flowerly red button, actually I am running out of cute red buttons. Even for the adajustable waist elastic on her pants I founf it hard to find a pair of buttons. I eventually did, and still they are slightly different in colour. I wasn't in the mood for shopping any supplies so, this will perfectly do.

Picture above: details from hers

I didn't used a zipper, or a button (don't you just love by button?! It was the first time I applied one of this ever) to close her shorts like I did in mine. I guess, it's easier this way. The shorts have enough room for her to grow and use them for at least two more years, so the adajustable waist was my perfect solution. 

Her shorts weren't planned! But since it is KIDS CLOTHES WEEK, and I had quite enough left from the pants, I thought Why not?!, and guess what? I loved our finished matching shorts! 

| I've been sewing along KCW, but because it's Refashion Month here, I will only write a wrap up of what I've been doing during the week, next sunday |

For our photoshoot, I paired them with refashioned tops (mine and hers) from last summer. Enjoy some of my favourite photos:

It was easier as we walked down the beach... half the way, I had a surprise for her, and sat down to fill two heart shaped ballons. =) 

It's not easy to get her quiet for photos, so I just appreciated the walk, we've played and dad kept taking lots of pictures. I had a hard time to decide which ones to cut off. 

And then it was time to come home!

Knock it off |sew along|

So, I told you about this dress I've been sewing lately. What I didn't tell you is that it was a knock off I had planned when I started it back in January. The KCW was the starting point for me to get my hands on it again, and the knockoff series over Heidi's blog was the perfect timing for me to show the finished product. 

It was done yesterday after dinner. But I thought it was too long, and unpicked, cut and pin in place again. I didn't feel like continuing sewing after that and only finished it this morning. It took me about 5 minutes. 

The inspiration (original) piece was the dress romper from the cathalogue from LaRedoutte. It costs 59,99€... I really liked it, but there's no way I was going to pay basically 60€ plus postage to order it. Especially when I could hit it for free! No cost at all. Oh I am so lucky I can sew some. 

I'm so sorry I haven't got a better picture of the original. =( But I guess it's enough to compare, right?!

I did make a few changes though, and I think it got even better... at least for me! errr...

Most important thing: baby G. loved it and did not refuse to use it. That's a bonus. But she was too moody today for photos. Too bad!

Again, I used fabric and supplies that I already had. The dark denin was given to me by my mother-in-law, and the lining are left overs from single sized sheets that I have turned into crib sheets. Since I didn't have 8 of the same colour buttons, I tried playing with them and mixed two tones of blue. What do you think about it? Honest answers are needed, please!

Oh, and just because I am very satisfied with it, here's one more picture. 

Saving while sewing

How do I save while I sew? Besides all things I have been saying in previous posts, using and re-using all that I already have at home (fabric bought years ago, accumulated stash that other wise would lay there forever,etc); I have another trick to share. 

Once some piece of clothes is settle to go to the garbage because it really is something that can't be used anymore, I literally deconstruct it and keep all zippers, buttons and anything else worth saving. Most of the times I get really good quality zippers that last forever, nice coloured ones too, which I sometimes can't find at stores locally. 

Same goes for buttons, in very curious shapes and colours, and just like elastics. 

Why I am talking about it now? Oh, because I was organizing my zipper drawer and realised they didn't fit properly anymore. A lot of them still had their original fabric attached to it, and my job today as G. is napping was going to unstitch them all. 

Of course, I am bored already, so I choose to write about it instead. Most of the zippers on the above picture are from very old bags of mine. 

What about you? Do you do it too? Do you have any good tips to save while you sew?