Let's Make a Mashup!

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Mash up! What is it?

Many of you know that I love hacking patterns...even my own!
But a "mashup" is the process of combining patterns to create one look.  

This is something I do quite often as well as hacking! 

And yes, yet again...I'm entering it into an Instagram challenge. This #sewcialmashup challenge is being hosted by @insidethehem and @girlsinthegarden.  

I have not joined as many challenges as I did last year.  I'm determined to make garments that I will actually wear and use fabrics that I love.  It's working, so far!  😍

For this look, I chose Butterick pattern 6455 (view A) and the sleeves from McCalls pattern 7542 (view B).

This print chiffon was gifted to me and the solid black chiffon was taken from my stash.  As soon as I saw the black and white print, I knew it would be a top!

After constructing the sleeves, I wasn't too sure about them, but I continued!

 I finished the sleeve by doing a serged roll hem.

I hemmed the bottom with a folded top-stitched hem.  Then tried it on.  The sleeves were a fail!  

They just kinda just hung there.

  I'd made the top before, but had never made this sleeve!

I was not happy!  

The very next day it dawned on me that adding horsehair braid would be the solution!  

But, I let it sit for a few more days while I thought about it. 

Should I use 1/2" or 1" braid?  

Hmmmm!  

I finally decided on using 1/2" horsehair braid.  I sewed it to the right side with a 1/8" seam allowance then turned it to the wrong side and stitched the sleeve hem! 

 I am sew, sew happy with the results!

Look at that curl!  Oh yes! It was no longer floppy!

Sew Much Drama!!!!

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Chiffon Duster Re-Fashion

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Chiffon Duster Re-Fashion

I purchased this chiffon print to make a duster.

Keep reading to see how and why I re-fashioned it!

Then I read about the @Sewcialists Mini Challenge.
Yes! I still love sewing challenges! 😍
  We had 4 days to complete the challenge.  The only requirement was that it contained one of the colors of their logo.

We went to their blog to spin the "color wheel".  The color you landed on was to be present in whatever you made. I happened to land on coral, but it happened to be the only exception.
We could use RED instead!
With that spin, I was all in!

So I pulled out my fabric (which happened to have all of the allowed colors) and made this self-drafted duster! I posted it on Instagram with the hashtag #sewcialists just in the nick of time!

I love the shirt-tail hemline.  

But...after it hung around a few days, I realized it needed more structure and that I probably wouldn't wear it as it was.  I was not 100% happy with it.

I really couldn't decide how I'd "fix" it...until this new #alteritaugust challenge hosted by @sewnorth surfaced!

And...the "fix" also fits the Sew Much Talent Facebook group August Re-fashion and Alteration Challenge!  

I love it when I can sew one garment that works for more than one challenge! 😉

I looked through my stash for this RED linen blend that I've had for much too long.

It was as perfect a match as I thought it would be! It was also the perfect weight for my re-fashion plan.

Ummm...I forgot to finish the edges before I washed it! But all was well!

I had to put some thought into how I wanted to add the RED front and sleeve bands to my duster.  Did I want to unpick the narrow hems (Which would take forever) or did I want to cut the hem off? 

My rotary cutter and I decided to cut it off very carefully.  

I chose not to interface the bands, because I was already happy with the weight of the fabric.  

I sewed the new front and sleeve bands on, then serged the seam allowance.

 Tada!

 I now have a new and improved duster that I am 1000% happy with and love to wear!

It is no longer flimsy and inexpensive looking!

The center back originally had gathers at the neckline.  When I refashioned it, I decided that those gathers should be changed to an inverted pleat. 

Sew Much Better!

I'm thinking my favorite black dress would look great with it!  

But my leggings and skinny jeans look great, too! 

I love what the weight of the linen did to this duster.  

It gave it structure - which allows it to hang well when I'm moving!

I love the air and flow this gets! 

I believe I can fly! 

😎

                                                   What you altering or refashioning?

Photo Cred: @karbearbozeman

Happy Endless Sewing!

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Wrap Pants - Camo Style

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These camo print wrap pants - yes pants - were sew much fun to make

and even more fun to wear! 

They feel like a maxi skirt and secret pajamas all at once!

I'm in love!

💓💓💓

And I love it with my self drafted cold-shoulder hi/low top!

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There are many video tutorials out there for these wrap pants. 

But, I chose the You Tube tutorial by my sewsister, Tree - of Stiitchless TV. 

Click here for her video.

 These pants are truly zero waste! Your scraps become the ties!

To wear them you tie the front 1st, then pull up the back and tie again.  

Of course you can use buttons, snaps or even hook and loop tape to fasten your pants, but for those times we need a bit more room in the waist, believe me - ties are better! 

There is only one seam - the crotch seam - just one!  

Of course I used my serger on this lightweight knit fabric.

Chiffons, challis, linen blends, cotton, rayon and medium weight knits will work as well.

The sides and bottom only need a narrow hem.  I'd suggest that you hem the bottom 1st (as Tree discovered).

I had to put my label in as soon as I stitched the crotch seam, because I didn't use notches yikes). 

And even though my front crotch is smaller than my back crotch (go figure) I would not have known the front from the back once they were stitched together!  LOL!

Once the bottom and sides were hemmed, I added the waistband - which included the ties.  I pressed the band in half lengthwise - to prevent crazy shifting.

I centered the waistband on the front and stitched it from side to side. 

I then sewed the ties from one side to the other, turning under as I sewed. 

I repeated the same steps for the back.

I made a cotton muslin (woven) first.  

As suspected, it opened on the side from the hip down when I walked.

Flashing is not good!  Hahahaha!

But the lightweight knit worked sew much better - the sides only opened from just below my knee.

No flashing, right! Yay!

I love how it flows and how the wind picked it up and how comfy it is!  

I was thinking to buy more of this fabric and make a maxi skirt, but these pants also fit the skirt bill!  

Did I say that I'm in love with it!

💓

💓💓💓

Photo Cred:

Kari Bozeman

@karebearbozeman

Happy Endless Sewing!

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