Refashion Month with Miss Castelinhos

Diana, from Miss Castelinhos is a mom of two boys, and she's been a great inspiration to me when it comes to sewing for boys, of course. But she's been sewing for herself as well. I first saw her on a Titchy Threads pattern group, and started following right away. It is a pleasure for me, to welcome Diana for the first time here, for the series. Her idea is also great to use scraps from previous refashions - something I do a lot. Enjoy!

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My husband is a big t-shirt hoarder (don't let him see this!), so every now and then, I get a big pile of old ones. Usually I put them away and forget about them (silly me, I know!), until a pattern perfect for knits, comes along.

I know what you must be thinking... "Three t-shirts! So much fabric... She must have done something big!"... Don't get too excited! I needed three different colours, but don't worry, there's plenty left for more and I manage to save those cute prints! I recently got a chance to test a new pattern from Made It Patterns, soon to be released, as part of the new summer collection, inspired by the Japanese art form of Origami. I wanted to have fun with this pattern, that's why I chose such bold colours and it works great on a 2 year old!

I don't make refashions that often, because usually it doesn't work out as well as I imagine it, but when it does, it slowly grows on me.

I love how it turned out! As if there wasn't enough colour, I still added a contrasting zipper. P-E-R-F-E-C-T! Don't forget to come back and check out the other bloggers. Such talented ladies... can't wait to see what they're up to! Thanks so much for having me Magda!

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

Refashion Month - when the hostess fails

Eu quero fazer sempre pelo menos 4 transformações para a série Refashion Month. No entanto, esta semana falhei. Tem sido muita coisa a acontecer. No passado domingo, tivemos a festa de aniversário dos meus filhos e depois disso o bebé ficou doente. Não tem sido fácil de fazer muito, e ainda menos com ele assim, cheio de febre e chorão. Mas, como falhei a transformação desta semana, decidi partilhar algo que tinha feito e prometido publicar há uns meses atrás, mas que ainda não tinha feito. É a primeira versão teste do molde Phresh Blazer da Winter Wear Designs. 

I always want to make at least 4 refashions of my own for the Refashion Month Series. I failed to do it this week though. There's just too much going on. Last Sunday was my kids birthday party and then the baby got sick, after. It hasn't been easy to do much, even less with him like this, fever and crying.

But, since I failed to make a refashion this week, I'm bringing you a refashion from the past. It is something I said I would be blogging about (soon) a few months ago, but haven't yet. It is the first test version I made of the Presh Blazer pattern by Winter Wear Designs.

Comprei este vestido, não tão giro, mas feito à mão, e com um padrão bem interessante na mesma loja social onde costumo ir. O vestido original estava muito bem feito, mas a sua forma, bem, eu simplesmente sabia que tinha de o transformar em algo completamente diferente. Quando comecei o teste ao molde, não tinha um tecido que tivesse a elasticidade adequada ao molde, por isso, obviamente virei-me para a pilha de roupa por transformar, para ver o que se arranjava, e surpresa das surpresas, a única coisa que me enchia as medidas era este vestido. Fiquei feliz. O padrão era perfeito para um blazer. Assim que usando o molde, cortei as peças do tecido do vestido, e montei-as. 

I bought this not so pretty handmade dress, with a very interesting patterned fabric at my usual charity shop. The original dress was pretty well made, but it's shape, well, I just new I had to turn it into something new. When I started the pattern test, I didn't have any fabric that had just the right amount of stretch to make the blazer, so, obviously I turned into my refashion clothes pile, to see what I could find in there, and surprise, surprise: this was the only thing that matched my needs at the moment. I was happy, I thought the fabric print was perfect for the blazer. And so, I cut the pattern pieces into the dress, and sewn it all together.

Para os folhos atrás, não tinha tecido suficiente, e ai é quando nos tornamos criativas - é uma das minhas coisas preferidas quando toca a transformações, já que somos obrigadas a sê-lo, arranjando soluções e recursos para este (im)previsíveis. Fui ver nos meus retalhos e encontrei restos de uma camisola que tinha de há muitos anos atrás. O melhor, é que esta camisola tinha um folho na base que dava perfeitamente para fazer os 3 mais pequenos no blazer. Bingo!

For the back ruffles, I didn't have enough fabric to make them, and there's when you get creative - it's one of my favorite things about refashioning, it makes you more creative, you have to come up with solutions and resources for this (un)expected problems. I searched into my scraps bin, and I found leftovers from a lace shirt I had many years ago. The greatest thing, was that this shirt had a buttom ruffle, long enough to make three smaller rufflers for the blazer. Bingo for me!

Infelizmente, este tamanho ficou pequeno à minha princesa. E ela apenas o vestiu para a prova e para a foto acima. Ainda tentei aumentar as cavas, mas ainda assim, fica-lhe pequeno. Para a 2ª versão já optei por fazer maior e ficou perfeito (esse também já foi feito com o molde final, e corrigido). 

Unfortunately this size didn't fit my princess. She only wore it to check fit and for the photo above. I tried to fix the armholes, but, it was still too small for her. For the second version, I made it bigger and it was perfect (that second one was also made with the final pattern). 

Fiz uma terceira versão. Podem ver aqui. E para lerem mais sobre a minha opinião a respeito do molde, vejam a minha critica aqui. 

I made a third version, you can check it here. To read my thought on the pattern, you can read my review in here. 

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

Refashion Month with Threading My Way

Pam is a creative lady, from Australia, blogging over Threading My Way. She has been in every single edition of the series. The only one she wasn't part of was the portuguese week edition of the series. This time she comes back with a few tips to make the most of your refashions. Her blog is full of refashions and ideas on how to do it. Go visit her and all her on going link parties. There's so much to see over there! 

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When Magda invited me to be part of the House of Estrela Refashion Month, I didn't hesitate. I think I've contributed to all the Refashion Months that Magda has hosted and every time I find new to me bloggers and lots of clever refashions.

My refashions tend to fall into two categories:

1. Utilising a garment by deconstructing it, trying to maximise the amount of fabric I can obtain, then treating the fabric as I would any other fabric.
2. Keeping elements of the original garment and incorporating them into the refashion.

Today I thought I'd show you how I retain many of the components of the original garment and in many cases, turn them into features that actually make the refashioned item stand out.

Pocket Bag Tutorial

Cargo pants and jeans often have large pockets that can be incorporated into a bag. Not only do they look good, but the pockets are functional as well. Add one to the front of the bag, or for extra storage, put one on the back as well. 

Corduroy Pocket Bag

Look around for pocketed pants in different fabrics and colours. The lovely texture of corduroy makes it perfect for a pocket bag.

Peg Bag

A peg bag (clothes pin bag) is not really a refashion, but rather re-purposing a pre-loved garment. I just had to show you, though, as it's probably the fastest re-design I've ever done - literally takes minutes to turn a shirt into a peg bag. 

Denim Fabric Basket Tutorial

Take one leg of a pair of jeans and turn it into a fabric basket. No need to unpick or cut the seams off. The seams may be off centre, but that just adds to the charm.

Jeans Pocket Cushion Tutorial

Make a jeans pocket the focal point on a cushion. The more stitching on the pocket the better.

Shirt Apron

Turn a man's shirt into an apron. This will be the quickest apron you've ever made. Everything you need is on the shirt.

Board Shorts Refashion

A man's pair of board shorts can easily be made into a pair of board shorts for a boy. No need to reposition the pocket. Make a small alteration to your favourite boys' shorts pattern and leave the side seams intact.

Refashioning a Refashion

Shirring on a woman's dress becomes the elastic waist of a girl's skirt. Add extra shirring to make it the required size.

Wedding Dress Refashion

And if you're feeling really game, turn your wedding dress into a smart day dress, complete with matching purse.

Refashioning saves money and is great for the environment, but it's also a wonderful creative outlet, that produces one of a kind projects, garments and works of art.

Thanks for inviting me to be a part of the House of Estrela Refashion Month, Magda. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

... Pam

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

Refashion Month with In a Manner of Sewing

I've been blogging for a long time now. When I first started, a new lots of portuguese bloggers, but somehow, I've never been that much impressed as I was with bloggers from anywhere else. House of Estrela was created in english, so I could reach more foreign people to exchange ideas with. With the course of the years though, I've started to find one portuguese blogger that I could actually relate to, somehow, or that could actually be an inspiration, All this to simply say, that Andreia from In a Manner of Sewing, has been one of the most recent portuguese bloggers I had the pleasure to be in touch with. She sews for her kids, a boy and a girl, and for herself. I love her attention to details and how beautifully finished her items are. She's way more careful than I am with them (sometimes I'm just too lazy to bother). Today's refashion, is one of my favourite ones from all seasons here at Refashion Month Series. Two out of one is always a favourite for me, but I really loved what she did, especially with the top for herself. You just have to adore it, right? Andreia you are a true inspiration for me!!! 

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I´ve bought this dress at a sale about two years ago, when I still did some compulsive shopping just because the price was worth it. The dress never really fitted me well, it´s too big and baggy, and I always thought about fixing it. Well, fixing it is way harder than just cuting it up and reusing the fabric, and I knew I wanted to make something I would really wear. I decided on an Alice Top by Tessuti Patterns because of that beautiful eyelet fabric.

Regarding construction, I underlined the yoke and armhole bands with the lining fabric from the dress. This was a necessary step since the yoke is fully lined and if i didn´t underline it all the seams would be visible through the eyelets. I then needed fabric for the bottom part; I was in an upcycling spirit, went through every closet, bedsheets, but nothing matched or was enough, except a shirt from my husband, which I imediatelly grabbed without permission (don´t worry, he didn´t use it). I used the back of the shirt for the front part, cuting it accordingly to the pattern, but for the back I didn´t have enough fabric to make it equal, so I had to play with it. The two sides from the front of the shirt were cut equal as big as I could. I then curved the bottom hem at back and front to make them match lenghtwise at side seams. I didn´t want the front to be shorter than it was, so I ended up with a reversed high low: high at the back, low at the front. The back pieces were overlapped by a couple of cm, just enough so I could feel comfortable with it and assure there was no bra seeing, and let the rest of the back open. I also used the shirt sleeves to cut lining for the yoke and armholes.

By now I still had a little of the dress eyelet to upcycle, but not enough for anything for myself, so I decided to use it for my girl. I love the Purl Soho City Gym Shorts (it´s a free pattern!) and thought it would be perfect with this! I needed to be creative when placing pieces to cut because the eyelet had a direction I had to respect, but it was just about enough. As the top, I underlined all pieces with the dress lining fabric. I used a bit of leftover denim fabric for the waistband, colourful pink bias for finishings (which I beautifully stitched in the ditch if I may brag a little, thank you) and added pockets to the pattern.

So, even if that dress was not horrid, it wasn´t getting worn, but now, well... I´ve been using my Alice non stop and those shorts were a great girly addition to her closet too!

Don´t forget to come back and check all the other wonderful upcoming upcycles (say that fast 3 times)!

From a Box * Rebel and Malice * In a Manner of Sewing * Miss Catelinhos * 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

Refashion Month with Rebel and Malice

I don't know where or when I started to follow today's guest. She's Melissa from Rebel and Malice, and I immediately felt into her retro vibe. She's so productive, I am sure she's a familiar blogger to most of you, I don't know how she does it, but I love what she's doing... with five kids around! It already gets pretty crazy sometimes but two only. I'd like to apologise Melissa for posting one day later, especially because she's mentioning this (yesterday actually) as a special day for her. My bad! I'm sorry. It's been pretty crazy with two birthdays here. Anyway, enjoy her twist on a men's shirt refashion, because those are one of the greatest pieces to refashion, your options are endless. 

Hi my name is Melissa from Rebel and Malice. I am a mom to 5 crazy kids who I sew for, while trying to be frugal. And wouldn't you know that my first love of sewing is upcycling because it is unique and one of a kind. Today is a special day, it is the birthday of my father who passed in 2012, so it only seemed fitting to make a men's shirt refashion. I know we have seen plenty, but I decided to put my twist on it.

I have a great stash of clothing waiting for their new life. I found this white rayon men's shirt just begging to be chopped and painted. Since it is also a holiday this weekend, I decided it need a festive spin.

You can do so much with men's shirts, and I wanted to create a bohemian style for summer with it.

I cut off all the buttons because I am going to seam that closed. I cut around the armholes to create an armscye and up to where the yoke in the back hits. This was the perfect length for a carefree peasant style dress. I wanted that off the shoulder ruffle all around, but not enough fabric. I used the sleeves to  create the volume for the off the shoulder fluttery look I wanted. After i cut all the pieces out, I mixed acyrlic paint with amedium to make it for fabric and painted random shapes and squiggles all over. i used red and put stripes on the sleeve section. Then I sewed it all together, put elastic in the top and made a braided belt.

I love how the colors softened after being washed, like it was a wartercolor. It gave an ode to 4th of July without being in your face. And now she has a soft carefree dress for summer.

Have you painted on fabric before? It is fun, gives you some stress relief while you create designs and you get to make one of a kind fabric. You should give it a try to personalize something you make.

Thanks for having me Magda!

Stay Rebellious!

From a Box * Rebel and Malice * In a Manner of Sewing * Miss Catelinhos * 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

Refashion Month with From-a-Box

When I first started by blog series, I was personally inviting each blogger to take part. As the editions passed, I started opening spots for every and anyone that would like to join. This has been wonderful, because I got to know a whole lot of new bloggers that I didn't before. This time, spots were full within a couple of hours, I was so surprised and happy at the same time. Being active in a lot of fb groups, a lot of names sound familiar to me, but sometimes (most I guess), I can't relate the blogger to the blog. It's like this with my first guest, Stacey, blogging over From a Box. Although I Stacey is pretty familiar from fb to me, I can't say I know her blog for too long. Actually I went there to really get to know her stuff because of her participation in this series, and I really liked it. I love that she sews for everyone around her, and how perfect her creations look. Not to mention i got inspired by a few of her boy sewing. Let's see what she's got for us today... 

Hi, I am Stacey and I blog at From-a-Box where I share my sewing projects for my family, friends, and home, along with some cooking and some family adventuring. I am happy to kick off Refashion Month July 2015 with House of Estrela. There is such a fabulous list of bloggers to follow me, but today I want to share with you my refashions from bed sheets into clothes for my girls. I hope these refashions will inspire you to find your own ways to reuse, upcycle, and create new garments. ENJOY! 

Clothes from bed sheets... who knew that would become my thing... but after 4 projects upcycling bed sheets into clothes for my girls, I can call it my thing.

 

Bed sheets are a wealth of fabric! and you can find such a variety of unique fabric types. There are high-thread-count sheets that are super soft. There are T-shirt sheets with large patterns. There are vintage wovens with a border print. And there are , crib sheets in high quality knits and minky. Perhaps you have these sheets in the back of your linen closet, or you can find them at thrift stores, or find on sale in the stores. Upcycling bed sheets offer so much potential in such a large square of fabric. And remember to save for future projects - just cut off the hems and elastic corners, fold, and store. For the July 2015 Refashion Month, I am sharing my bed sheet refashions. First from crib sheets, I made the sleeves and pants for this warm & cozy outfit for my daughter. See all the details HERE. This is a pink minky crib sheet used for the sleeves and the pants. Since there were some unusable parts of the crib sheet (you know, baby stains), I simply position the pattern just-so to use the good sections of the fabric.

 

Then another crib sheet refashion to make a shirt for my daughter. See the details HERE. The bodice of the shirt is from a yellow knit crib sheet.

 

Next, I have refashions from woven bed sheets into dresses for my daughter and for my niece. This is a vintage bed sheet that I found in very back of a cabinet at my parents lake house. See the details HERE. I love the big design and the retro colors. And I love it even more as a maxi dress on my niece.

 

This is bed sheet used by my oldest daughter when she moved to her big girl bed many years ago. See the details HERE. My youngest daughter loves the butterflies. One day she came to me wrapped in the sheet to ask if this would make a beautiful dress for her. I agreed and hope you do too.

 

For me, sewing is more than a yard of fabric and a pattern. I like sewing with a theme. I like sewing with a creative challenge. Refashioning and Upcycling bed sheets to garments is a thing for me. Look around. Do you have high quality or interesting & unique or ready-to-donate bed sheets? If so, then start refashioning! Stay tuned for more great refashioning during Refashion Month July 2015 here at House of Estrela!

 

From a Box * Rebel and Malice * In a Manner of Sewing * Miss Catelinhos * 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

Refashion Month |July 2015 edition|

Para quem é novo a seguir este blog, talvez seja novidade, mas para quem já nos acompanha há algum tempo, de certeza que sabe e espera de Julho, um mês cheio de bloggers convidadas e muita, muita transformação de roupa por aqui. Desta vez, por falta de tempo e alguma organização da minha parte, confesso, quase que não levava a ideia avante. Porém, embora de uma maneira mais descontraída e sem sorteios alguns, o Refashion Month está de volta e espero que desfrutem destes dias que se seguem. 

For someone who started following this blog recently, this might be new, but for those who have been here for longer, sure know what July stands for, a month of guest bloggers and a lot of refashioning around here. This time, due to some lack of time and a bit of organization from me, I confess, I almost skipped the series. However, Refashion Month is back, in a friendly, stress free, and giveaway free edition. I hope you still enjoy the next few days.

Desta vez começo eu, na minha tentativa de partilhar pelo menos um refashion por semana, afinal, foi assim que a série começou há 3 anos atrás. Escolhi fazer algo para o meu menino. E o que me apercebi entretanto? Que para ela faço aquilo que aparece em testes e tours, e para ele faço aquilo que me apetece, no geral. Possivelmente porque ele ainda é demasiado pequeno para as medidas de alguns dos últimos testes efetuados. Para além das duas t-shirts de mulher da foto acima, usei também uma t-shirt castanha do pai, não tenho ou não encontro a foto do antes - sorry!

I start it off this time, in my attempt to share a refashion every week, after all, it's how it all started 3 years ago. I chose to make something for my baby boy. And guess what I realised? I make the tests and tours items for her, in the other hand, I make just whatever I want to for him, mostly. Possible because he doesn't fit the measurements from the latest patterns. Besides the two women t-shirts from the photo above, I have used a brown t-shirt from daddy as well, I didn't take a photo or I can't find it at least - sorry!

Comecei pelas calças. Usei o molde Rocking da Ottobre 1/2015 e na blusa usei o molde Crocodile do mesmo número. Mais uma vez constatei que os números são demasiado grandes e que na dúvida, devo escolher sempre o mais pequeno. Fiz este em Março ou Abril, tamanho 12M para durar mais tempo. Na altura ainda estava fresco, por isso a manga comprida. Ele ainda vestiu bastante e o bom de ter ficado grande (demais) é que poderá voltar a vestir quando o frio voltar. Quero fazer mais calças destas, gosto muito de desenho e são super confortáveis para crianças pequeninas.

I started with the pants. I used Ottobre's 1/2015 Rocking pattern, and for the shirt I used the Crocodile pattern. Again, I was aware of how big the Ottobre sizes are, and when in doubt, I should always go with the smallest size. I made this outfit in March or April, hoping that it would fit for longer I picked size 12M. At the time it was still quite cold, hence the long sleeve. He wore it a few times and the good thing about it being so big, is that he'll be able to still wear it when the cold weather returns. I want to make more of these pants, I really like the design and they are super comfortable for small children. 

Gostei muito do desenho da blusa, e a aplicação a lembrar um crocodilo, mas não creio que volte a fazer uma igual tão cedo. Quando vestida perde-se um bocadinho essa ideia e acho que é daquelas coisas que não se tornam tão práticas para o dia a dia, apesar de super giras. Tentei aproveitar todas as costuras para evitar fazer bainhas e poupar muito tempo. Bainhas é das coisas que menos gosto de fazer.

I really liked the shirt's design too, and the sort of crocodile addiction too, but I don't think I'll make another one so soon. When he wears it, the crocodile effect is a bit lost and I think this is also one of those things that aren't as practical as I look for at my kids clothes, although they are super cute. I tried to save all the original seams so I didn't have to hem, and also save time. Hemming is one of my least favorite things. 

Das imensas fotos que tentei tirar ao S., esta foi a única que ficou escapatória. Pelo menos não ficou tremida, nem ele a fugir.

From the lot of photos I tried to take to S., this was the one one that was kinda ok. At least this one's not blurry, nor he is running away. 

Aqui fica a lista das bloggers que farão parte desta série. Voltem amanhã para verem o que a Stacey do blog From a Box tem para nos mostrar.

Here's the list of bloggers that will part of this series edition. Come back tomorrow to see what Stacey from the blog From a Box has to share with us. 

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