Refashion Month with Stephanie Woodson

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Fiquei a conhecer a Stephanie há um par de anos, através desta minha série, tal como outras bloggers que adoro, e fiquei fã dela. Como é que ela consegue fazer tudo o que faz? Não sei, mas admiro. A Stephanie tem sempre coisas giras no seu blog, incluindo um desafio anual que consiste em experimentar uma nova técnica todos os meses, o qual eu comecei muito bem no início do ano mas que já falhei redondamente, entretanto. Hoje, ela tem uma reciclagem fácil e simples, perfeita para quem se está a iniciar nestas andança e com direito a passo a passo. Fica o link para a sua publicação abaixo. 

I got to know Stephanie a couple of years ago, through this series, as many other bloggers I love, and I became her fan. How can she make all she does? I don't have a clue, but I admire it. Stephanie always has the cutests things in her blog, and she also runs the year long Try Something New Every Month challenge, which I started good but failed badly to follow already. Today, she's got a simple and easy refashion for us, with a tutorial, perfect for the newbies in town. Here's where you find it. 

Refashion Month with Joelle Wacker

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A Joelle escreve no blog EYMM, e é a convidada de hoje. Ao contrário do que eu fui desta vez, ela é uma excelente anfitriã quando se refere a organizar pattern tours* por blogs. Hoje ela traz-nos o que eu chamo de um desafio divertido e consiste em transformar algo, que a maior parte das pessoas nunca pensaria em usar, numa nova peça maravilhosa. Leiam abaixo o que ela tem a dizer sobre o seu projecto e visitem o link abaixo. 

Joelle is today's guest. She writes over EYMM, and she is a great hostess when it comes to blog pattern tours (unlike me this time - so sorry everyone!). Today she brings what I can a fun challenge. It consists in turning something most people wouldn't even consider, into a new wonderful new garment. You should read what she has to say about it. 

Who can resist a great sale rack find? Not me, apparently even when it's boxer shorts ... especially when the 2-year-old falls in love with them and begs to take home the "superhero shorts." How could I tell him no when I know I can refashion them into something that he can wear and we'll both be happy. Me because he gets a new shirt for just $1 and him because he gets to wear his beloved Avengers! Come on over to EYMM and check out my results!

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Refashion Month with Vicky Myers Creations

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A primeira convidada a participar da edição deste ano é a Vicky, fiquem a conhecê-la um pouco melhor ao mesmo tempo que descobrem o que ela fez, com a ajuda da sua filha, de uma saia comprida (último link abaixo). Vou-vos deixar com a apresentação, pela mão da própria. 

My first guest this year is Vicky, get to know her better if you don't yet, and check out what she did out of this maxi skirt with the help of her daughter. Here's what she had to tell us here. 

Hi, I’m Vicky from VickyMyersCreations. I blog in the main about things I’ve sewn and crafted but also like to share thrifty projects. I'm passionate about reusing items - we don't need to purchase items to be creative. Refashioning & upcycling are a big part of my life but occasionally items are hoarded! I'm grateful that Refashion July has prompted me to tackle my refashioning stash!

I was fortunate and learnt to sew at school, this was followed by three years at art college. As a mother I find sewing easy to pick up and put down around family life.

You can find me frittering time all over the Internet: Twitter Facebook Pinterest Instagram

Find out what I made out with this large woman's knit skirt here.

Refashion Month 2016

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Sentiram saudades minhas? Sei que demorei mais tempo do que o normal, e do que aquele que realmente teria gostado, para voltar, mas as coisas complicaram-se por aqui. Por vezes é necessário afastarmos-nos até das pequenas coisas que nos fazem felizes - como costurar - para podermos voltar à vida novamente, e respirar como devido. Com isso, queria dizer que voltei, embora a passos pequenos, tentando manter o ritmo, por isso, tenham paciência comigo. Agora, podem (ou não) ter-se apercebido que estamos em Julho, e que normalmente isso significa um mês cheio de convidados e muitas reciclagens por aqui. No entanto, já vamos a meio do mês e até aqui nada, não é?! Comecei a organizar o evento há umas semanas, mas depois a vida aconteceu. Porém, e com a ajuda de algumas bloggers fantásticas, o mês de Refashion aqui no blog começa hoje, e até ao fim do mês, serão partilhados os seus talentos connosco. Este ano, e porque fui uma terrível anfitriã, as coisas acontecem ainda mais descontraidamente do que o normal. Não há sorteios - desculpem, sei que são giros, mas faço isto pela diversão de realmente gostar de reciclagem de roupa, simples como isso. Espero que todos aproveitem, quem lê e quem faz. Obrigado a todos por estarem desse lado!!!

Did you miss me? I know it has been taking me longer than usual and what I would have liked to, but things just went a little out of control over here. Sometimes you just need to step aside from everything, even the little things that give you joy - like sewing - to be able to come back to life again, and breath as it should. That said, I am back, and trying to get the groove going. I am taking baby steps here though, so bear with me, please. Now, you might (or might not) have realised that it is July, and usually that means a full month of guests and refashions over here. And yet, we're half way through it and nothing yet, right?! I did start organizing it, but then life really got in the way. However, and with the help of the amazing bloggers that will be sharing their talents with us, Refashion Month quicks off today, and we will have guests over for the next days of the month. This year though, and because I was a terrible hostess, things are going even smoother than it usually goes. There are no giveaways - sorry, I know they are fun, but I am making this for the fun of loving it, plain as that. I hope everyone enjoys it, readers, and makers. Thank you all for being on that side!!!

Começo eu, com uma alteração tão comum, tão simples e fácil, mas que continua a ser das minhas preferidas. Já toda a gente deve ter feito isto pelo menos uma vez na vida: transformar calças em calções. Eu tenho uma colecção considerável de calças de ganga, são o meu uniforme a maior parte do ano, mas percebi que me faltavam alguns calções para o tempo mais quente. Assim que escolhi algumas das que menos usava, transformei-as em calções, e escolhi estes para vos mostrar hoje. 

I start, with a  very common, simple and so easy refashion, that's still one of my faves, though. I bet everyone has done this at least once in their lives: turning a pair of pants into a pair of shorts. I own a pretty large collection of jeans, they're like my daily uniform most of the year, but I noticed I missed some shorts on my wardrobe for the warmer days. So I went through the jeans I used the least, picked a couple and turned them into shorts, I chose these to share today. 

Tudo o que precisei para esta reciclagem foi: um par de calças, rendas que aproveitei de uma túnica (foi a única coisa capaz que restou da peça além de um retalhinho que usei aqui) e linha a condizer.

All I needed for this refashion was: a pair of jeans, lace I saved from a tunic (it was the only thing worth saving from this tunic, besides the scrap I used here), and matching thread. 

Foi assim que fiz.
1. segurei os bolsos de dentro com um alfinete para evitar de os cortar acidentalmente. Marquei por onde queria cortar. 2. Cortei ambas as pernas. 3. Medi a largura necessária para cortar a renda, que não mostro na foto mas que costurei, de forma a formar um aro. 4. Alfinetei a renda às pernas, direito com direito. 5. Cosi e chuleei. 6. Marquei com o ferro os valores de costura para cima.

Here's how I made it.
1. I pinned the pocket bags to the top to avoid cutting them accidentally. Market the lenght where I wanted it to be. 2. I've cut both legs. 3. I measured the lenght of the legs so I could cut the lace in the same lenght, not pictures, I sewed the lace into a loop. 4. I've pinned the lace to the legs, right sides together. 5. Sewn and finish the seams. 6. Pressed seams allowances towards the top. 

Feito e prontinho para este clima de verão.

Done and ready for this summer weather. 

Voltem nos próximos dias se quiserem ver o que as minhas convidadas têm preparado para partilhar connosco. 

Come back the next few days to check out what my guests have prepared for us. 

Real Life Real Sewing

Here I am, participating in Sew 20's first blog tour, it is quite an interesting concept, so I am pretty excited of taking part. This first tour focus on us (or people we sew for) wearing the pieces we made on real life. No posing for nice photos, etc. A while ago I wrote a post kinda similar to this (idea). I had collected a few photos of my kids wearing their handmades on a daily basis. This time though, added to the fun we were given a few questions, and I hope you all enjoy reading my answers. 

1. What do you look for when choosing a sewing project?

Most of all, I look for things that my kids (or myself) are missing at the moment. I like to do a sustainable sewing everytime it is possible. I usually look for projects that I know we need and will use. One thing I totally avoid is sewing items that will be used on a photoshoot and that's it. Of course I sometimes do it, guilty pleasures maybe, but if I can say no to a project like that I will. I also, always try to find a thrifty garment I can refashion into whatever I have in mind, so sometimes it takes a lot of planning and creativity to make these things work. One more thing I look for on my sewing projects is for a comfort and edgy look. 

2. Is there anything you would like to (or wish you could) do differently when selecting projects?

I have a tendency to want to sew all at the same time - don't we all? - One thing I'd like to do, is to get more thoughtful on the projects I take. I'd like to concentrate in one project at the time for a change, and really take my time to each piece of it. I tend to avois simple projects sometimes because they are too basic and won't teach me anything new, but I guess going back to basics is a good thing too and I should work on that. 

3. What is your most used/worn sewing project? This either could be of all time or currently.

Mmm... this is a hard question to answer to. When you start sewing most of your and/or your kids clothes, and you do this for years, there are quite a few items on the made list. I guess the most worn item I made my daughter was this coverall for kindergarden. wore it for two years, almost daily, and now that she's in a new school, her brother used it often in our house (that's him on the photo). 

4. Do you have a project that you thought would be used/worn frequently but just did not end up working out?

I might have sewn a few of those in the past. But when that happens I don't get attached to the pieces and I just pass them away. Usually that is easier if the garment in cause is mine and not from the kids. Then I might keep it for a little longer. One thing that didn't get a lot of use, although I really LOVED it was a blazer I made my daughter. It turned out too small, and she only wear it once, so I could take a few photos before I put it aside for good. 

5. What is your favorite tip or quote that applies to sewing for real life?

My tip(s) is to always look at what you have, either sewn garments (rtw ones, or hand-me-downs count as well). Make a list of what is missing. Go to rtw shops in search of inspiration and start your project when you are sure this will be something that you or your kids/husband/etc really need and will wear, and make sure you ask their opinions (when you are not sewing for yourself), toknow your garment will get a lot of use. 

Do you have any examples of Real Life, Real Sewing to show off? You can play along by using the #realliferealsewing on social media.

6/20 | Sew 20 Tour Kick-off | The Wholesome Mama | Wild & Wanderful | Randoms by Rydz

6/21 | Daydream Believers | Sugarplum Cuties | Friends Stitched Together | The Inspired Wren | PenSeb&Rox

6/22 | Sewstarly | Very Blissful | House of Estrela | The Berry Bunch | Musings of a Seamstress

6/23 | mahlicadesigns | sewingbyti | Candice Ayala | Call Ajaire | Sunflower Seams

6/24 | Beri Bee Designs | Lulu & Celeste | FABulous Home Sewn | Mae & K | Sew 20 Social Media Round-up

6/25 | Sew 20 Tour Wrap-up

EYMM |Daddy & Me Blog Tour|

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Para quem mora nos Estados Unidos (pelo menos), o dia do pai está quase a chegar, aqui já sabemos que foi em Março, mas qualquer desculpa é boa para celebrar a parentalidade. E por isso, usei o os moldes Parker’s Vintage Fit T-Shirt for Children & Men, homem e criança (EYMM), e o meu primeiro pensamento foi fazer uma t-shirt para os meus filhos (menina e menino), mas depois olhando para trás, já fiz vários looks mãe e filha, por isso, reconsiderei e acheique também seria divertido fazer um look só pai e filho, e cheguei até isto. 

Father's Day is around the corner for US residents, at least. It already took place in March in my corner of the world, but I feel like any excuse is a good one when it comes to celebrate parentwood. And so I used the Parker’s Vintage Fit T-Shirt for Children & Men pattern bundle (EYMM) and my first thought was to match daddy and both kids (girl and boy), but then I looked back in time, I have made a few mommy and me looks in the past, with the girl. I thought it could be fun to make something just for the boys too, and here's what we got. 

Lancem-me lá uns fogos de artificio, faxavôre! Depois de tantos anos a dizer que queria e fazia, lá costurei qualquer coisa para o namorido (de roupa, isto é). Hurra!!! A motivação veio mesmo de fazer parte deste tour da EYMM Patterns, com o tema Papá & Eu. Por isso, sim, hoje fico feliz.

Someone throw some firework for me please! After so many years meaning to, I finally sewed something (on the garment department, it is) for the hubby. Hurray!!! And my motto was being on the Daddy & Me tour for EYMM Patterns. So, yes, I am happy today. 

Encomendei o meu tecido da Sweet Mercerie porque o esquesitinho do meu marido não gosta de nenhum dos tecidos que eu já tinha em casa. Comprei então esta malha jersey em azulão, e outra em bege, muito parecidas. Gosto muito de ver o meu V. (namorido) de azul, destaca com o cabelo muito preto e olhos castanhos muito escuros, por isso usei o azul como tecido principal da t-shirt dele, e usei um retalho do bege para o bolso na frente. Para o meu S. (filho) usei o bege como principal e o azul para o detalhe do bolso.

I ordered some fabric from The Sweet Mercerie, because my picky husband didn't like any of the fabric I had in my stash. So, I purchased an electric blue slub jersey and a beige with black speckled jersey fabrics. I really like to see V. (hubby) wearing blue, it stands out with his pretty black hair and dark brown eyes, so the blue was used as main fabric for his t-shirt, and I used a scrap from the beige fabric for the front pocket. For S. (son) I used the beige as main fabric and the blue for the pocket detail. 

Ambos os moldes, de homem e criança, foram bem fáceis montar, cortar e rápidos de costurar. Fiz o do miúdo, depois de tudo cortado, em menos de meia hora. Ambos vêm com duas opções de gola. Escolhi a gola em V porque, se bem me lembro, era algo que nunca tinha feito antes. A primeira foi a do V. e não correu assim tão bem, não ficou centrada a 100%. Acredito que a peça da gola deveria ser um pouco mais longa (ou então meu tecido nãp tinha os 60% recomendado, é verdade que como é bastante elástico eu nem fui confirmar), na minha opinião tive de esticar demasiado a gola. O mesmo não aconteceu com a versão mais pequena. Correu tudo perfeitamente. 

Patterns, both men and children's were easy to assemble, cut and pretty quick to sew. I made the kid's one in less than half an hour after I had everything cut. Both come with two collar options. I chose the V-neck option, which if I can remember well, I hadn't done ever before. The first was the hubby's and it is not 100% centered in the front. I think the collar piece should be a little longer (or my fabric didn't have the 60% stretch recommended in the pattern - mine is pretty stretchy so I didn't even check), I had to stretch the fabric way too much in my opinion. I didn't have the same issue with the boy's version. Everything went smoothly and it looks perfect. 

Já com os bolsos foi ao contrário. O do V. ficou muito melhor. Comecei por costurar o do S. com um ponto zigue zague, mas a máquina começou a repuxar o tecido e quando tentei descoser para voltar a coser, não consegui porque o tecido é fino e a tendência era rasgar.
Assim que acabei por tentar costurar o resto do bolso o melhor possível, e para o bolso do pai já usei um ponto direito. A minha sobrinha estava cá em casa quando terminei as duas t-shirts, e quando lhes mostrei a todos as peças ao acabar, a miúda de 8 anos ficou toda entusiasmada e até eufórica quando percebeu que tinha trocado os tecidos nos bolsos. Adorou! Também fiquei muito agradada. Assenta-lhes a ambos na perfeição.

The oposite happened with the pockets though. Hubby's look much better, I started by sewing the boy's with a zig zag stitch, but it started pulling the fabric which is so thick that it made it impossible to unpick to sew again. So I just tried to do it as best as I could and switched to a straight stitch when attaching the hubby's pocket. My niece was staying over when I finished the pieces and showed them to my family. She's 8 years old and was all excited, noticing the matching switched pockets. She loved it! I was very pleased too. The fit on both of them is pretty good and spot on. 

As opções para o comprimento das mangas são também, mas como temos o verão mesmo ai, optei por fazer as mangas curtas, claro. Cheira-me que vou usar este molde mais vezes. Se ao menos o dia tivesse mais horas.

There's also two options for the sleeves lenght, and because Summer is almost here, I went with the short ones, of course. I see more of these in our future. If only the day lasted a few more hours. 

Make sure to check out all the stops on the EYMM Daddy & Me Blog Tour! (Note: the direct links below won't work until their scheduled day, but feel free to click through and check out their blogs any time!)

June 16

House of Estrela & The Wholesome Mama

June 17

SewJourners & Merri Poppins

June 18

HattieLu Handmade & Blessed x Five

June 19

Pretty and Precious & Adventures With Bubba and Bug

During the tour, all Daddy & Me patterns are on sale! Use coupon code MINIME on the EYMM site to save 25% on the Parker's T-Shirt patterns (Boy's or Men's or the Bundle) or the Hoodie patterns (His & Hers Hoodie or Zander's Hoodie or the Bundle) until June 21 at 11:59pm PST.

#MeMadeMay 2016 - week 4

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O desafio chegou ao fim na passada terça feira, mas só hoje consigo publicar o meu resumo da última semana e conclusões finais. Não usei todas as roupas feitas por mim que tenho no meu guarda roupa e cheguei à conclusão que: 1. tenho de costurar mais peças casuais 2. preciso de costurar mais peças para tempo mais frio 3. as minhas cores são sempre as mesmas. Penso que correu bem, falhei alguns dias, sete, mas o meu balanço é positivo. Até aqui nunca tinha conseguido passar da primeira semana. Uma coisa engraçada, é que mesmo nos dias em que não vesti nada feito por mim, os miúdos vestiram, quando não os dois, pelo menos um deles. Que pena não me ter lembrado de os fotografar a eles também. Infelizmente só não consegui costurar para mim. Acabei as joggers no primeiro dia e foi só. 

The challenge ended last tuesday, but I could only post this today, with my last week's wrap and final thoughts. I didn't use all the handmades from my wardrobe and I realised that: 1. I have to sew more casual clothes 2. I need to sew more clothes for cold weather 3. I always wear the same colors. I think it went well, I failed a few days, seven, but it is a positive balance for me, since I have never made it past the first week on previous years. A funny thing is that my kids were their handmades everyday, even when I didn't. If not both of them, at least one. Too bad I didn't think of photographing them too. Unfortunately I wasn't able to sew myself anything new, I finished the joggers on the first day and that was it. 

E agora para terminar, vamos lá aos looks da última semana. Dia 23: Um vestido reciclado na altura que estava grávida do S. com um casaco de malha de manga curto comprado numa loja de segunda mão. Dia 24: Uma das saias mais antigas que tenho no meu stock de peças feitas por mim. A t-shirt é de compra. Eu penso que fui eu que desenhei o molde, mas sinceramente já não me recordo se assim é mesmo ou se usei o molde de alguma revista.  Dia 25: Como não me apetecia nenhuma das minhas roupas, usei uns brincos, também eles feitos por mim, na altura, para a minha mãe, mas ela achou-os pesados demais e eu fiquei com eles e fiz outros. Dia 26: Voltei a usar as minhas M is for Motto Joggers, o primeiro par que fiz, aqui com uma t-shirt oferecida por uma amiga e uma camisa de ganga fina, de compra. Dia 27: Neste dia experimentei os calções que fiz também grávida do S. servem-me tão bem como naquela altura. Dia 28: Neste dia a escolha recaiu sobre um casaco que reciclei de um vestido de criança, e que nunca mais tinha voltado a vestir (fiz em conjunto com o vestido do dia 23 e podem ver ambos aqui). Por baixo uma blusa de malha fina e calças de ganga de compra, o normal. Dia 29: nada feito por mim. Dia 30: Um peplum que fiz reciclando t-shirts do V. e que vesti só mesmo para ter a certeza que estava na hora de o dar a outra pessoa. Usei como top com calças de ganga de compra. Dia 31: Para terminar uma reciclagem que fiz em Abril ou Maio, de umas calças fiz uma saia. Ainda não está no blog.

To finish this, let's look at the latest week's outfits. Day 23: A refashioned dress I made while pregnant with S. with a thrifted short sleeves cardigan. Day 24: One of the oldest skirts I made and have in my me made stash. The t-shirt's rtw. I believe I drafted this pattern but I can't be sure anymore if it is so, or if I used a magazine's pattern instead. Day 25: I didn't feel like wearing any of my me mades this day, so I went with me made earings instead. I made these for my mom but she thought they were too heavy, so I made them another pair and kept these for myself. Day 26: I used my M is for Motto Joggers again, the first pair it is, and wore it with a t-shirt a friend gifted me and a chambray button up shirt. Day 27: Here I tried on a pair of maternity shorts I made also while pregnant with S. They fit me just like that did back then. Day 28:  on a cardigan I refashioned from a kid sized dress this day, I didn't wear it again since when I made it (it completed the look for the dress I wore on day 23, and you can check them both here). Underneath I wore a rtw light knit shirt and jeans, as usual. Day 29: No me mades. Day 30: A peplum I refashioned from V.'s shirts, which I wore just to make sure it was about time to pass it on to someone else. I wore it as a top with rtw jeans. Day 31: Last, to finish, a refashion I made back in April or May, turning pants into a skirt. Not on the blog yet.