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. 

My Weekly Refashion Share #3 |Peter Pan Collar Tutorial|

If you're looking for the giveaway, please click HERE. 

Today I am sharing an outfit I made for G. I've been wanting to share this one on the blog for sooooo long, because it was one of those we fall in love with even before we finish sewing it. In one of my charity shopping trips I saw a pair of women's size flowerly capris, and I had my eye on it. I didn't bring it home because I was convinced to bring only the kind of pieces I went there looking for. But everytime I went there, they were still hanging, calling out for me, and eventually, one of those days, it came home. 

So, for 1€ only, I thought I could make my daughter a new pair of skinny jeans, since I had just made a few pairs back then and it can get quite addicting when you're in love with a pattern. But then something lightened my brain and I was reminded of a great free shorts pattern I had seen many months before, and wanted to try ever since. It was time to do it and so I did. But, not only I made a pair of shorts from these old capris, I was also able to make another Izzy top out of the pieces I had left. AND I have even put up a tutorial for you on how to add a peter pan collar to your Izzy top/dress as I did for my Izzy Paris look. 

First things first, let me start with the shorts. The pattern I've used was the City Shorts Pattern, which is a 3-4y sized pattern, given away for free by Monica, over Another Dress. The fact that it was 3-4y sized kept me from sewing it earlier, especially because I have a skinny princess. I decided to go for it though and if it turned out too big, we could always wait until she grew into it. I just used a little less lenght in the elastic for it to fit her skinny waist as changes to the pattern, for all the rest I followed instructions, and I loved the final results. Once she saw them finished, she loved it too. I had them hanging and everyday she would ask me if those were made for her. The best thing is that I am sure this is something she will be able to wear for a long long time, once that waist gets too tight I can always replace the elastic for a longer one. And, because the fabric is a slightly stretchy denim, she can even wear it in different year seasons, with or without layers. 

Of course, I loved the scraps way too much to part from them, they were begging me to be used too, and I couldn't resist the plea. I had another Izzy Top in mind. I had just finished and publish the Paris look one, and Teri, the designer of this great pattern asked me if I could put up a tutorial on how to add a peter pan collar to her top (or give her permision to do so herself), and I immediately said yes, of course I would do it. It's a pleasure! Here's a reminder of that top:

Today, I am happy to finally share the tutorial on how to draft and add a peter pan collar to your Izzy top too. 

Drafting your own collar:

Start your Izzy top and follow Teri's tutorial up until step 10. Then come back here and draft your collar. 

In the 4th photo above, I've added just 1cm (3/4"), but you can add a bit more if wanted, just depends on how you want your collar to look like. The same happens with the width, mine isn't a very big collar, so you can add as many cm or inches as you'd feel comfortable with. 

Sewing your collar:

For this top I used the same fabric for the outside and inside of collar, but if you check the one above (the black and white one), there's faux leather with applications on the outside and stripped fabric on the inside. If you're using different fabrics too, you should cut 2 interfacing, 2 main fabric and 2 lining fabric pieces. If adding any applications, make sure to add them before you sew any pieces together. When interfacing, you can pick either the 2 main fabric pieces or the lining ones, it doesn't really matter. Then put main and lining right sides together pin and sew as shown on pictures above. 

Go back to Teri's tutorial to seehow to add the bodice lining, and come right back here.

And that's it. If you have any doubts, please feel free to ask and I will help if I can. 

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... 

Snowflakes & Lace Series

I was so honoured to be asked by RaeAnna and Veronica to take part of their Snowflakes & Lace series. My hyper active brain started working, what to do, what to do?! My first thought was making something for myself, then something for my daughter, then something matchy for both... I just couldn't decide, I was so excited about it. Then I had a few things happening in between the time I knew about it and the day I should be done with my post, and I didn't think much about it. 

As my days to work on it started to be less and less I had to make up my mind, and since there is Refashion Month going on, I thought I'd put both things together and do some selfish sewing, after all it's been a while since I last sewed for myself. 

 

I did make an imaginary sketch of what I wanted to do and since I was lacking lace in my stash... - ok, maybe I wasn't, but for this time only I felt like go thrift shopping and I came home with 6 pieces and only spent 6€...- I bought this lace covered shirt for 1€ at a local charity shop. Then I went looking through my refashion clothes stash and found a 10/12 year size undershirt that was almost a perfect fit on me, wasn't it too short on the sleeves... did I ever mention I am a petit size?! hehe The undershirt was kept because I loved the striped purple fabric. I just couldn't let go of it. 

So, yes! I decided an undershirt was perfect to make myself a new top. Only after I was finished I realised I made it for summer, but by then I'll be about to give birth, I don't think I will get to wear it that much this year, but who cares? There's always next year. Besides, I've saved the rest of the lace and maybe I can add some to the sides to get some extra room in a few weeks?!

How did I do it? Well, I started by ripping off the original sleeves from both tops, then pinned the lace sleeves to the striped shirt. After sewing them with a zig zag stitch I cut the sleeves to the lenght I wanted them and finished the seams. I thought the armholes looked too tight for me and decided to make a cut and get it wider. That was a mistake! They got too wide (3rd picture top, below). 

I also had to do something about the collar. It was clearly from an undershirt, so I cut the elastic off, and from the edges of the original lace sleeves I cut at about less than 1", the idea was to add it all around the collar and finish with a bias tape. It didn't worked out as I had envisioned but it worked somehow. At least it looks more like a normal shirt collar now. 

The top was a bit too short, especially because the baby bump is showing already, so I had to enlarge it. To get it done, I went looking in my bin of scraps and leftovers from other refashions, I wanted something white and knit that I could use in my shirt. I found half shirt which was perfect, the width was exactly the same from the one I was trying to fix. Bonus! I used a piece from it, to attach to the striped shirt. I should have put it on and mark right under my breast, but I didn't, so I wasn't very please after I finished and finally tried it on. 

To finish off my top, I cut the bottom of the original lace shirt and added it to my new shirt, giving it a little extra lenght. I was very pleased when I finished and I love my new top. Too bad it's too cold right now to wear it inside. 

Now the interesting part. If you want to be a lucky winner for these:

... make sure you enter the series giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thrift Shopping

picture origin

On the last Sunday of every month, there is a second hand market on a small village nearby. I use to go there because I love to find some little treasures. Sometimes I go there searching for a specific item, but most of the time I just go and look at all the beautiful things I (unexpectedly) find there. 

Last month I went searching for cheap knits to make baby G. her Carnival outfit - ooppppsss I still haven't bloged about that - and we were there again today. The two of us. 

Most of all I went searching for thrift clothing. I didn't care much of the sizes because I was mainly interested in getting some knits and some colours I needed. Those colours were emerald and mustard. I did find the green, and there was a shirt in yellow but not quite refashionable for me, so I passed. Sadly is not an easy colour to find there, maybe next month. 

 

What did I buy there?! Let's see... 

1 - An amazing short brown dress |2€| and it's an S... how lucky I was?! Still I think I might have to take a few inches on the sides to perfectly fit my slim figure

2 - This caught my eye because it was red... with polka dots! Yay, it made my day even before I discovered it was actually a corset! I l o v e corsets. It's an M, and I might have to re-do very boring seams but it is worth is. It looks almost new and it says me me me all over it! |2€|

3 - If there is something I love after polka dots, it has to be stripes. Me buying this shirt came after I seen the number 8 girl's shirt. I thought they were just a perfect match for me to create a mom and daughter look. I don't do that for far too long. |1€|

4 - I just loved this top and got it. |#4+#7+#8 = 1€|

5 - As I've already mentioned above, this shirt had the green I found. I first wanted it for a refashion, I loved the lace around the collar, and it's elastic, but it looks so beautiful as it is, that I might keep it like that or if maybe, just do a little upcycling on it. |1€|

6 - Dark blue shirt. It's an M but fits me well. Will keep it as it is. I found out I'm trying to find my own style (STILL!!! shame on me!) and I need a few basics to compose my dreamed looks (I swear I am trying!). |1€|

7 - A 8 year old sized skirt, absolutely to refashion into something for G.  |#4+#7+#8 = 1€|

8 - As said on number 3.  |#4+#7+#8 = 1€|

Total cost of my finds was 8€! 

Not bad, right?! 

Now let's hope I won't take too long to fix/refashion whatever I have to from this list, because I am not suposed to get any new stash into my thin, remember? I think I've been working quite well into it so far! Wish me luck! hehehe