Shorts Refashion

I didn't get all my To-Do's done over the last two weeks.  But I have really good excuses.

Really!

Here's the condensed version:

• AC went out
•  had close encounter (of the torturous kind) with jalapeno peppers (see story here)

•  had precious visiting family
•  and an 80th birthday party thrown in (my loving daddy's). 

So, I didn't get my jelly made.

 And I didn't get many Refashions completed, well only one actually, but here it is. 

My Shorts Refashion

Now don't laugh at my Before picture. 
I can't believe I'm actually posting this unflattering picture for everyone to see. There's a reason you don't see my face (it was verrrrrry early in the morning).  Oops, there I go with my excuses again. :)

I found this refashion quite a bit more challenging than I expected.

I bought the Express shorts at the thrift store for $3.49. They actually fit pretty well in the waist/hip area. I thought I could just trim those loose legs down by taking in the side seams.

But, after searching on the internet for directions, I found that I also needed to take in the inner leg area.

So, I tried the shorts on ~wrong side out~ and pinned them the way I wanted them to fit. I then took the shorts off and basted (long hand-sewn running stitches) where I had the pins.  I ended up taking them off and redoing this step several times before getting the fit right.

Then I serged them along the basting stitches.

Lastly, I tried them on again, pinning up the hem and hand-stitching it in place.

But I'm quite happy with the results. Actually, they're the best fitting pair of shorts I've had in a looooong time!



The post is a participant of:

Made by You Monday
Life Made Lovely
Metamorphosis Monday
Making the World Cuter Monday
Sew Cute Tuesday
Take-A-Look Tuesday
Wow Us Wednesday
Whatever Goes Wednesday
Whatever You Want Wednesday
Transformation Thursday

Show and Tell Friday

A week of Refashioning

At least that's what I'm hoping to get around to this week. I started my refashioning project many weeks ago. 

I also hope to make up a new batch of my apple cinnamon jelly this week (click here for recipe).  I opened my last jar for my breakfast toast today.

With all this in mind, I got up with the chickens this morning...

... made the bed, fed the animals, cleaned up the kitchen, washed the clothes, and hung them out on the clothesline.

Then, trying to beat the summer heat, I set off up the road for my walk in the early morning coolness.  I try to forget all the to-do's running around in my head and enjoy my walk on this beautiful, clear new day. The sun has come out and burned off the early morning fog.  Not a single car goes by to intrude on the peacefulness of my surroundings.  Squirrels are playing back and forth across the road.  The birds are singing.  Cows are contentedly munching on their breakfast grass as I walk by their pasture.  The young calves pause to look up at me and we share a moment of happiness on this beautiful day. 

Then I get to the end of the road and turn around to head back, and what do I see!? 

My little Maggie!

She had followed me so silently that I didn't even know she was there.  She knows she's not so supposed to follow me unless she's invited, so she turns around before I get to her and walks/runs ahead of me all the way home.  It's not that I mind her going with me, it's just that she thinks she owns the road and that cars (if any should come by) should get out of her way, so I don't let her go unless she's on her leash.  But of course, she was nowhere to be seen when I left home for my walk so I couldn't tie her up or put her on a leash. 

Don't let her fool you, she only looks sweet and innocent.  She's much smarter than I am.

But I'm not going to let Maggie spoil my day or my walk.  I'm home now.

Maggie has collapsed on the front porch, in her favorite position, ready for a long snooze.

And I'm going to get busy with my refashions.

Wish me luck!

Refashions

These are my first two attempts at refashioning.

I didn't get a before picture of this blouse, but I did change it quite a bit.  Just use your imagination and see a puffed-sleeve, maternity-looking, too long blouse.  I made cap sleeves, put in princess seams and hemmed it shorter. 

I paired it with my thrifted Limited skirt and am very happy with the results.

In a way I'm sorry that I did get a before picture of this next one.  Pretty pathetic, huh?  It didn't help that the only time I could remember to get sweet hubby to snap the before was at 6:00 in the morning.

This dress was two sizes too big for me so I fitted it by taking up the side seams (including the low arm holes) and taking in the princess seams more.  I also took off about 10" at the bottom and hemmed it.

You'll so NOT see my third refashion attempt! Who knew that you would end up with  huge armholes when you take out the sleeves?  I can't get it right no matter what I do. Bummer! It was a light blue pure linen blouse that I loved!  Oh well, it was a cheap mistake.  As I mentioned before, I got all these garments at a church yard sale for 19 cents per article.

Have you tried your hand at refashioning yet?  I'd love to see what you've done.  Please leave me a comment with links to your work and I'll come a-visiting!
                                                      

New Project Alert!

New Project Ahead!

For the past several months I've been staying away from yard sales and thrift stores.  Yes, I've had withdrawals.  But now my dear friend, Kathy, has introduced me to refashioning.

Thank you, Kathy!

So, I went to a couple of yard sales early last Saturday morning.  I hit the jackpot at a church sale and came home with a bag full of projects for only $5.00!  A few of them are lined up waiting on me.

I now have enough projects to keep me happily occupied for weeks, and all for the amazing price of 19 cents per garment!

Stay tuned and I'll keep you updated as I begin my new hobby of refashioning.

Note: Are you interested in refashioning?  Just Google it and you'll find tons of inspiration!