From Frumpy Sweatshirt to Cozy Wrap-Quick Fix!

I can not believe the things I find at the Dollar Store these days! I bought two of these sweatshirts with plans of making one of those pretty and cozy wraps.


First, I cut the front off of one sweatshirt following the side, sleeve seam, and shoulder seam.

On the second shirt, I cut straight up the sides through the sleeves, and then across the top just under the collar.

Then, putting the bottom edge ribbing of Piece 1/Sweatshirt 2 on the collar of Sweatshirt 1, sew the short end to the first sweatshirt following the side and sleeve seam. I found it fit better if I cut the remainder sleeve off of the piece where I sewed it. I think you will see what I mean when you put this together.

Bottom Ribbing at the Collar of Sweatshirt #1

Sew both pieces on this way.

That's as easy as it gets! I trimmed a little from the front bottom edge of the two pieces for my own tastes (and height).

Pretty in Plaid: Link Party Feature Plus Another Clothing Makeover

So the Link Party wasn't a smashing success. I still hold out hope, though. I would like to make it a regular feature here, so please let me know in the comments if you would actually participate. Remember, Link Parties are a great way to cross promote your blog and find new favorites.

Emma from Flytape was lovely enough to share her recent makeover of a side-of-the-road-find. Check out the transformation:

She made this pillar a great place to keep her laptop!

I also love Emma's other projects, like...

Bottle cap Catcher

Watchband Makeover

Christmas Lights Ball

 Head on over to Flytape and get to know her!

Pretty in Plaid

Oh yeah, rockin' a plaid jumper. The label says it's a "Ty Original"... sorry Ty, there's nothing original about a plaid jumper.

I am diggin' the plaid, though. So I think I'll just make it over.
First to go are those pockets.

Then a cut just above the waist to sever the bodice (I'm keeping this and it may make an appearance later)

The skirt portion is split on both sides and fringed at the bottom (who says a 3rd Grade Teacher can't be sexy?), and that's gonna go.

I cut some 4in. strips from a black lining fabric...

Made some bias tape from a piece of the fringed bottom...

and put the two together...

Next I did the ruffle shuffle...

and sewed it in place at the bottom edge.

After some elastic at the waist, I have a new skirt.

I really must pay more attention to those threads BEFORE the picture is taken. LOL

Business in the Front, Party in the Back: Making a Halter Vest

On the same thrifty trip as the Plaid Skirt, I also scored a pretty awesome tweed vest.

Check out the velvet accents at the collar and pockets

In the back, I cut a little above the bottom of the arm hole. Then again, beginning at the shoulder/arm hole and around the back-under the collar.

I finished the raw edges with a little stitching and a zig-zag.

 



Under the collar, I folded the edge in and stitched it down.

For the new back edge, I pressed a fold...

...then stitched elastic down just below the fold line.

I folded the edge over the elastic (pulling it tight), and stitched it down.

There it is. A Halter Vest.

Business in the front...

...party in the back.

Jean Pocket Slippers: Last Minute Gift or Just Plain Fun

Those of you from my Facebook Friends, will know what's coming. I made a pair of these for myself just a few months ago, and I love them. Jean Pocket slippers are fun, a little funky, and a great way to use the stylish back pockets from jeans that have seen better days.

So here is the how-to for Jean Pocket Slippers (Sorry for the poor picture quality. I had to use my phone camera):

You will Need:

• A pair of jeans with back pockets
• Stuffing (i.e. batting scraps, fiber fill, or foam)
• Puffy Paint

1.) To start with, measure your feet, length and width. Add 1.5 inches to each measurement. [For point of reference, I wear size 6.5 to 7 in (U.S) Women's shoes and I will be using my measurements]  Draw and cut out a rectangle of these dimensions on paper. Round off one of the short ends.

Mine is 5 inches wide and 10.5 inches long.

2.) Using a seam ripper, detach the back pockets from your jeans, and press the edges open.

3.) Cut four pieces of jean using your paper pattern.

4.) Sandwich your pocket pieces between your jean pieces and pin in place...

Jean pieces are right-sides together

You will notice the pocket pieces are larger than your jean pieces... if they aren't you won't have room to slip your feet into them. To pin the pockets in the proper place, put the points of the pocket at the edges of your Jean pieces. Then adjust the straight sides of the pocket so that they match the side edges of the jean piece.

Here, one side is done so you can see the difference.

Once pinned you can trim the fabric following the points of the pocket.

5.) Starting where the jean piece begins to curve, sew 1/4 inch around the edge (catching all the layers) and stop on the opposite side where the curve begins. This leaves the back open for stuffing. For added durability, I like to zig-zag the edge.

6.) Turn right-side out, and stuff.

This may seem like a lot of batting, but as the slippers are used, the batting will smoosh down.

7.) Starting under the pocket, top stitch around the back edge folding in the open curve edges. (you can also top stitch around the pocket if you prefer)

8.) Lastly, to avoid slippy-sliding use puffy paint to make tread lines on the bottom. Your slippers will be ready to wear when the paint is dry.

These look great when you use the pockets with rhinestones and special embroidery!

Rock Star Slippers

Giving a Plaid Skirt Some Punch

If it wasn't for Thrift (second-hand) stores, I might just sink into a Post-Yard Sale Season depression. I do love a good deal.

I found this beauty recently.

Not so flattering, eh? Yep, it's a full-length, red plaid, wrap around skirt...about 2 sizes too big. Believe it or not, the fact that it reminded me of a blanket actually was a selling point for me (it's cold here in Michigan!). However since I didn't want it to remain blanket-like in appearance, I cut off the plaid dreads going down the one side.

and a quick flip and stitch to keep that edge from raveling...

Next I shortened it to just below my knee (in hindsight I should have cut it just a little shorter, but I was winging it).

Then took it in on each side.

It's pretty much fully lined... how awesome is THAT!?

Now that I had my basic skirt, I wanted to spice it up a little bit. So I cut a nice curve in the front panel.

I don't have a serger, so I finished the edges with a zig zag stitch.

Now as to the extra fabric I cut from the length... I cut the strip in half length-wise, then sewed a hem in one of the strips (the other still had the original hem) and finished the raw edges with a zig zag.

Zig zagged edge                                   Hem        

Sew these two strips together, and I could make a ruffle trim.

The last step was to pin the ruffle on and just stitch it down.

Fin