Linen and Lace

 This outfit was a combination of an old linen vest I've had for years and a tiered skirt that I picked up in a resale shop. The reason this works is that the fabrics are worn, soft, and in complementary colors. Scraps from my lace bin finished it off. This is a bit short for me to wear "as is" so I will probably wear with linen pants.

Linen and Lace

And yes, that's a little antique crocheted handbag added for my cell phone.

Tiered skirt, before.

I keep my eyes open for these types of skirts because the layers can be cut up and are already gathered. This one I used inside out because I liked the raw edges with a bit of fraying to them to give the feeling of age.

Side View

April is almost here and I will enjoy wearing this for Spring.

Can't wait for those flea markets and auctions to start!

What a Difference a Dye Makes!

Before                                 After

   

 I purchased this white coat ages ago, probably more than a decade, and it's hung sadly in my closet ever since. Even though I liked the shape and fit, whenever I tried to put it on it didn't feel right. I finally came to the conclusion that it was the white color which felt more like a lab coat than anything. As much as I admire people who wear lab coats, I am not one of them.

So I decided to try my hand at dye, which turned out to be totally fun and easy. First I ordered my Rit Dye from Amazon Prime (LOVE Amazon Prime). It cost $4.06 and was on my doorstep the next day. For this project I chose Denim Blue, but there are many colors to choose from.

This came in powdered form

Although the dye can be used in a washing machine I decided to keep life simple by using my recycling bin with very hot water and stirring it up with a wooden spoon. So easy.

And it turned out marvelously! After the success of this project I am definitely going to start using dye in more of my projects going forward.

       

Refashioned Infinity Scarf to Kimono

Before

This pretty infinity scarf was found at the thrift store for a couple of dollars. Any scarf with enough fabric will work for this refashion. I find it easiest to find a scarf in a width that is pleasing for the length of my kimono. It can be longer or shorter, depending upon your taste. Lengthening or shortening a scarf/kimono can be done with trims or additional fabrics, but I found that keeping it simple gave me a nice clean kimono shape.

Since this scarf had only one seam I cut that off and then hemmed the edges, which then became the center front.

Next I cut the arm holes. I made mine 10 inches deep. You can cut more or less if you like, but this worked well for me. Next you will fold the right sides together so that the front seams are in the middle and the arm slits are on the sides. Then sew across the top edge to create the shoulders. Finally, hem the arm hole edges.

This project took less than an hour to complete, and I was taking photos!

Voila!

Finished kimono jacket, a very light cover up for warm days.

Morning Glories and Lilacs, Men's Shirt Refashion

Check out those Morning glories in the background

 This week I pulled another men's shirt from that "fill a bag for $5" stash that I'd scored several months ago at the local thrift store. I also had picked up a batik style beach wrap for $1.00 at a garage sale. It was in the same color family as the shirt and I liked the combo.

First I cut the sleeves and collar from the shirt.  The sleeves were sewn to the front, cuffs up, below the bust line. The beach wrap was cut to fit and sewn to the back along with a pretty embroidered piece cut from a damaged table runner.

Are these lilacs?

I used a tight zigzag to applique the embroidered piece to the shirt.

Finally hemming the bottom of the sleeves and adding some lace trim to finish off the raw edges in front.

I wore this top this weekend to an auction (one of my favorite summer activities!) and managed to spill coffee down the front. So now it's totally broken in!

Happy Sewing!  --The Elevated Bag Lady

Vest Refashion with Applique

I picked up this vest at the thrift store recently.

There are several things about it that I really like:

1. Fits great!
2. Sturdy 100% cotton
3. Has interesting details like those grommets, snaps, pockets and collar.

There are a couple of things I don't like about it:

1. Those rhinestone palm trees on the lower back!
2. It's boring!

Um, No.

I decided to spice up this vest with a vintage remnant that was gifted to me by some vintage relatives (sorry, that was a weak joke at the expense of the relatives) who've spent time in Africa. This piece is too small to do much with, but the color and pattern are so pretty. Those flower and birds in blue and yellow look almost Scandinavian, but that interesting circular pattern is definitely African or even Aboriginal in design. For a vest that hints of safari, I think this will do nicely!

It is probable that you do not have vintage African fabric in your fabric stash. No worries! You can use any large print, like maybe Aunt Mabel's tablecloth with the giraffes? Haha. If the fabric you would like to use is too fragile you can purchase an iron on interface to give it support.

When doing applique you want to make sure that your fabric doesn't shift around. On this refashion both fabrics were sturdy enough to stay where placed when pinned (pins are your friends). When I was able to fold down the edge I did a straight stitch. When I was sewing a raw edge I chose a zigzag.  And to shake it up a little I made sure the front wasn't symmetrical, but if that's your thing, by all means . . .go for it!

I'm looking forward to wearing this with jeans or a denim skirt.

Stay cool and have fun,

The Elevated Bag Lady

Upcycled Men's Shirts, and an Auction Adventure

There is almost nothing more fun than an auction in the summer. I had a blast this last weekend attending one. The weather was just perfect for a June day in Wisconsin, and I ended up bringing home boxes and boxes of books which I am having fun sorting through. I wish I had completed this men's shirt upcycle before the auction so I could wear it there,  but it's done now!

I've combined three men's shirts in the same color family, along with an old T-shirt from my own closet. I did NOT cut up all of SW's shirts for this (!) but I was lucky enough to hit the thrift shop on a day when they had "fill a bag for $5". So I loaded up on men's shirts in various sizes with colors that pleased me. It was a terrific bargain. The back of this top is made from sleeves of the shirts, something I borrowed from a post on Pinterest. The front is a layered look which includes buttons and pieces from the shirts. There is a surprising amount of fabric in a men's shirt, especially the XXL ones, so there is plenty of fabric to use in other projects if I choose.

To make the top super fun I added a shirt pocket and this vintage clothing label which I picked up along with a box of others at an antique store about ten years ago. Rescuing them from obscurity, is how I think about it (although sitting in my supply bin for ten years did not bring them out of their exile very quickly, haha).

Suzy Perette was not a real person. This is a 1950's clothing label from a manufacturer that copied Parisian designs for cocktail dresses. I do not cut labels from vintage clothing, but since someone else did, I thought I'd use it. Now if anyone asks about Suzy Perette I can tell them all about it.

Here's one of the books I got at auction.

Guess I should start reading up on this. Haha.

Stay cool out there, and try shaking things up with an upcycled fashion of your own. It's fun and easy! --The Elevated Bag Lady

Country Rose Dress from Duvet Cover

What do you do with a worn out duvet,

What do you do with a worn out duvet,

What do you do with a worn out duvet early in the morning?

(sung to: What do you do with a drunken sailor)

YOU MAKE IT INTO A DRESS, OF COURSE

Country Rose Dress 

After about 15 years, my favorite duvet was finally wearing out.  The fabric had worn thin on the edges but it had a wonderful washed and worn feel to it.  I was just too much in love with it to toss it out...and just look at all that fabric! In addition to the pretty roses on the front, the back was lined with a pink plaid.  

My plan of attack was to take another jumper/dress that I really liked, and use that as a pattern.

Since I was using the pink plaid as a lining for this dress I just placed the jumper on the duvet cover, lining the seams up in the middle of the pattern (the duvet cover had two vertical seams to make it wide enough for a bed.) I put one seam in the middle of the dress front, one seam in the middle of the dress back. I did need to flip the dress over, as the pattern was slightly different (higher) in the back.

After sewing the pieces together I trimmed with old tablecloths and lace, damaged pieces that I've been collecting for years.

Favorite worn out bed duvet 

This was a before shot of the duvet cover.  Now when my mom says, "It looks like you slept in that dress", (thanks Mom, for always noticing my ironing skills) I can say, "Yes actually, I DID!"  

More good news:  I have enough leftover fabric to make a dress for my brand new granddaughter.  My project list is getting longer!

Upcycled Denim Shoulder Bag

Have you seen all the cool upcycled denim bags on Pinterest?  So many choices, so many ideas.  With these bags in mind I quickly snapped up a ginormous pair of men's jeans on a 25 cent pile at a garage sale.  This bag is made from one of the legs.  I could probably make 4 more bags of different designs from that one pair of jeans, that's how big they were!  Thank you BIG MAN, wherever you are!!  

The strap on this bag is made from the waistband of a jeans jacket I no longer wore,  The pocket was lifted from there, also, and the strip down the right hand side is the cuff of the arm.  Just cut it off and stitch it on.  Easy.

This is the back of the bag.  The pocket is from the giant pair of jeans, and nicely holds a cell phone.  This bag should be perfect for those flea markets I like to attend all summer.  Can't wait!

If you are going to try making this bag you might want to get denim weight sewing machine needles.  Mine did not break for this entire project.  Also, I used gold thread, which I found both denim clothing items used and my stitching just blended right in with theirs.

See you at the Fleas!  --The Elevated Bag Lady

#upcycleddenim  #denimbag  #sewing  #recycling  #upcycled

Green Sweat Jacket --------> Vest

 

AFTER

BEFORE



 



BACK

 

The little green sweat jacket that grew up into something more fun!

 

I found this green jacket in a thrift store at an amazing BOGO sale, so the cost turned out to be $1.50.  I know, crazy, right?  I had actually seen a green "army vest" in a department store for mega bucks and I new I could fashion something similar from this green jacket. 

 

First I cut off the arms and the collar.  The collar was then split in half and sewn to the bottom of the front to give it a little more length.  I also cut off one of the cuffs on a sleeve and sewed it to the back for more detail.  I have an amazing assortment of vintage buttons that I've been hoarding collecting.  Should I use those amazing buttons on this piece or save them for something better? I decided to use them here.  If something more amazing comes along I'll just cut them off and re-use them. 

 

This vest can be worn with jeans or with a peasant or jean skirt.  

Getting ready for the farm, Country Girl Plaids

I keep thinking of all the clothing I've gotten rid of over the years, and all the ways I could have re-worked those clothes to be more fun and interesting.  This outfit started with a tan skirt and denim vest that, in my opinion, lacked excitement.  So much so, that they had been relegated to the "give-away" pile.  But since purchasing my farm in Wisconsin I've decided I need more "country clothes" and both of these items were good candidates for a make-over.

So this outfit is a combo of:

• one boring tan skirt
• one boring denim vest
• two boring men's shirts (plaid)

The vest can also be worn with knee-knocker denims or jeans. 

Ecru Jacket Lacy Make-Over

Some day I'm going to do and say everything I want to do and say, and if people don't like it I don't care."  --Scarlett O'Hara, from Gone with the Wind

I thought of Scarlett today as I was fashioning this lacy jacket from scraps in my lace bin.  Scarlett probably wasn't the first woman to turn a trying situation into a triumph through altered couture.  Her green velvet dress made from her plantation home curtains saved the day!  Sure, Scarlett was a little sassy, too.  Sometimes it takes some spunk to take a chance and come up with something original and one of a kind. 

Today's project was taking a simple Ecru jacket that I've had in my second closet for a long time and haven't worn.  Sure, it was nice.  Too nice to throw out, but also a little boring.  So I gave it some length and laced it up! 

After: 

 Before

Don't forget the back!