Day 10: Find a Closet Orphan

I think that most of the things we have as "closet orphans" are probably so for a reason....that reason most likely that they are frumpy. Do you agree? Because that's my take on the situation. Exhibit A:

 The above face describes my feelings perfectly.

This shirt is definitely frump. Did you know I made this? Yup, from Built By Wendy 4111.

I saw a really cute version of Six one Seven and hers looks really good. But not mine. Besides the fact that I made this about two years ago and my sewing skills were not where they are now, the pattern just did not work out for me. Why is that front thing so awkwardly low?!?! Can you tell me that?

And empire line? What was I thinking? The only reason I still have this is because I can't get rid of things that I've made. Can you blame me? Maybe a little.

So I put this on and wore it around for a while and then remembered that I had a true closet orphan that I could actually wear. Exhibit B:

A black dress. What's not to like? I realized I've had this dress for many a year. Too many maybe. It's black jersey and not in the best shape, you know how jersey gets. But I still think it's kinda cute. The only real problem with it being that it's kinda short now- you can't tell in the picture. But I like it.

And just because I like them:

Day 5: Belt it.

I love belts. I love them. Can I put that out there a little more? The song "I'm so in love with yoooouu" is playing in my head. A trip down memory lane: my friend and I in high school would always hit up the thrift store and would love when we found belts. Those elastic 80s ones with crazy fasteners, like metallic butterflies and circle attachments (how do you describe something so unbelievable). I wish I still had some of the ones from before. I do still have a few, but guess what? 20+ years starts to make the elastic...not elastic anymore. And gross. You  know when it stretches out and then just doesn't stretch back in? Yeah. That's these. I was totally surprised when a few years ago those became popular again. I wasn't in a crazy belt wearing phase then, nor would I have paid full price at a 'real' store, but I've found a few gems in my recent adventures. I'm sad to say that I haven't been thrifting very often lately. And I know I never finished my thrift store review. Shame on me!

This purple shirt reminds me of one from Natalie's blog: The Bobby Pin. She posted about Zara and a green polka dot top that wasn't unlike (in the print) the one I'm wearing. This one came from the thrift store a while back and I changed up the sleeves but never wore it because it still didn't fit right. But, I took the sleeves off. Actually it has no finished sleeves under my sweater- it's a secret! It's on the top of my list of things to finish. I've also had those green shoes for oh, about 6 years now. Or maybe 7. I love the color of them still. However, I think they're a little too pointy for now. I mean 7 years ago was about 2004, and in 2004-05 heels were definitely in the point stage. And they are so comfortable. That's the difference with Steve Madden and Charlotte Rusee (et al). One is more comfortable and holds up very well...and the other...yeah.

Super Easy Maternity ReCon

I think I can scratch off  a little bit from my Summer Sewing Goals as I tailored this shirt sitting in my refashion pile

It started out as a cute, but frumpy maternity shirt. It also had a whole other layer underneath from the bust gathers down....I've never been pregnant, so I'm not sure of the function that this plays? Keeping the belly button  a little more subdued under two layers? Fill me in.

(doesn't actually have any kind of stain)

I started by cutting that out, since, well, that would be quite warm.All I did after that was just reshape the sides and the bagginess in the arms.

I told you it was super easy!

Mens Button Up Shirt to cute ruffle front shirt

I know, I  know. There are one zillion mens shirt refashions. And you know what? I love them all.

This men's button up shirt refashion is pretty straight forward. I  don't haveabefore picture but just imagine a large blue and white mens button up shirt. (ha) I cut off the sleeves, sewed up the sides, cut off the collar (but left it so it was like a mandarin collar, made the sleeves smaller and shorter and sewed them back on. The last thing I did was to take some leftover pieces from the sides, ruffle them up andsew them next to the button placket. Does that sound like a lot? It really wasn't. I'm sure I'll do it again.

Big shout out to the free bin for providing me with this shirt and to lex from Made By Lex for providing me some inspiration.

My camera can't handle the tiny check! It's doing some crazy designs. I left the ruffleand collar with raw edges because I liked the way it looked.

Oh yeah, I put a little piece of elastic in the back waist to give it some shape.

Pink Shirt ReCon

I'd liket o thank the freee bin for giving me the materials to make this shirt happen.

 It started as a regular [bubble gum] pink crew neck shirt and a white and gray stripped shirt.

First I cut the neck of the shirt off. It was cute but a little too constricting. I lined up the shoulder seams and just cut a circle out of the front to create a scoop neck.

This is the only in-progress shot that I took of the shirt while making it. After I cut the scoop I interfaced around the edge of the shirt with lightweight interfacing to give it some stability. I mostly just used scraps and small bits to go around the neckline since it was fusible. Here's what I mean..

Don't mind the food in the background; the only space to iron is on the kitchen counter!

Simplicty= Boo

I keep  hearing lots of people lately say that patterns aren't made like they used to be. In the fit I mean. Also there are issues of standardizing the sizing. I am in favor of fixing both of these issues. Let me draw your attention to Exhibit A:

I bought this pattern at JoAnns when they were having one of their crazy pattern sales (Hobby Lobby also has great sales as well, being $.99 or $1.99). I think I was drawn in my view C and D with the fluttery sleeves. I don't know. Maybe my first mistake was buying it, but I had it in my patterns for many months and decided to make it this past week. I have this interesting plaid-like sheer material (Also on major sale at JoAnns) that I wanted to use before I moved. I don't have a lot of patterns here in Hawaii- a left most of them back at my moms house in Kentucky. So I thought I'd try it out.

The result was something less magical than I'd hoped. You're probably wondering why I'm not wearing in the picture....well that would be because after I made it, the blouse didn't fit!

The overall design of the shirt isn't great. They seriously don't make the beautiful fitting and use of interesting technique sewing  patterns like they do in older patterns.

I have older simplicity patterns that I do like a lot, although now that I think about it, none of them are really fitted. They all seem to be loose and flowy. Not that there's anything wrong with the potato sack look....

I was horribly disappointed to realize that after I'd sewn the whole thing together that it was too tight in the chest and arms. I cut this pattern out in a size that I have used for other garments by the same manufacturer(simplicity 12) and often it comes out just a tad too big. So I thought I'd err on the side of large because it is loose blouse. So why did it end up too tight?

WHO KNOWS?!?!!

Also, I realize that the front gathers and insets are a bit ski-wompous. But it would have still been wearable had it actually fit...

Sham on you pattern manufacturers with you ambiguous fitting and poor sizing continuity!

My picks of the Week: June 21

First order of business: my picks of the week. This summer is all about stripes, neutrals, and subtle floral prints. Here are a few of my favorites from anthropologie. Always beautiful!






Always beautiful!
However, I absolutely love the neck detailing around the neck on this one:

Source

I don't know if I'm loving the acid wash/tie dye thing though. I think I will put this in my variation pile.

It reminds me of the top of this dress from Butterick 4657. I think this might look better with a simpler skirt, and throw away that jewel, but the neck line is sooooo great.
Perusing their patterns, I cam across this one that I also really like. However, it's only suitable for knits, which worries me about the clingy factor.


Source

I also like these two casual tops from Simplicity

source

What the ruffles? Hahah. Version C of this tunic/dress is okay, but what the ruffle is around the hem of your dress? Noooooo. Haha. Too much, simplicity. Let's not get carried away.