Someone gifted me a chiffon scarf a while ago. They'd seen my previous scarf projects, and decided their own scarves would be better off in my fabric stash than unworn in their closet.
I already have plenty of scarves, so I decided to turn it into a cardigan.
The project:
I kept things really simple for this project. I reused my 1 hour dress pattern, or more specifically the one I drafted based on Mary Brooks Picken's drafting guide.
Instead of turning it into a dress like the original pattern, I cut the fabric open at the centre, and made the sides flare out.
I folded my fabric in half, then drew my pattern onto it and cut it out.
[ID: a black see-through scarf with blue leaves printed on it with with white details. The scarf has been folded in half and laid out flat on the floor. The sides are pinned together. A cardigan pattern has been drawn onto it with pink chalk.]
I used French seams to finish off the seams because the fabric was very prone to fraying. I then finished off my raw edges with a rolled hem (except for the sleeves, as the sides of the scarf were already finished).
[ID: a black see-through cardigan with blue leaves printed on it with with white details handing from a hanger in front of a white background.]
[ID: a black see-through cardigan with blue leaves printed on it with with white details lying flat on a wooden floor. The cardigan has kimono sleeves and flared sides.]
Conclusion:
This scarf refashion was nice and easy. The result was an airy cardigan that's perfect for warm weather nights when the temperatures are starting to come down a little.
I made the cardigan larger than needed for my specific body shape. This gives me wiggle room in case I gain weight in the future. It also gives this garment a better chance of finding a new home if I ever stop wearing it, because this style of cardigan looks flattering as both an oversized piece and a fitted piece which means it can be worn by a variety of sizes.
I can't believe how easy it was to transform a pair of pants into a groovy new top! 🌸 Check out the bonus no sew dress tutorial too + stick around for more cool things in my house! 😎🏡
We reworked this super awesome Venom tee with a blue and white plaid flannel. This one isn't quite your style? We've got new reworks dropping in our store regularly! Follow us @Mystikeyta on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and here on tumblr for wips and drop times!
My first time (semi) drafting my own pants pattern!
A few of the sewing details if anyone is interested.
They're definitely not perfect, but I just wanted something cozy and comfy and I had this sturdy double knit fabric in my stash that was perfect for a trial.
I started with the ES Florence pants, which a beautifully drafted pattern but is meant for woven materials. I've made two pairs in a super drape-y viscose/linen (but never photographed).
(This is a model shot of the pants.)
I was a little worried about the sizing issues since this is not meant for knits but I hope/figured the stability of the double knit wouldn't be too far off.
I cut the XL Short size since those matched my waist and height measurements just like the woven pairs I've made but made these changes:
-I took an inch out of the total rise
-an inch and a half off the height of the waistband
-just did a normal channel waistband instead of the attached the pattern calls for
-used 1.5 inch wide elastic instead of 2 inch
-took two inches off the length since I didn't plan to hem these because the fabric won't unravel or fray
-seamed with my serger instead of sewing
-and did no topstitching
-I haven't done it yet, but I think I will go back through and add four vertical lines through the elastic waistband at the sides and front and back to keep the elastic from shifting
I think I will definitely try this again with a bamboo/rayon fabric with the following changes:
-in addition to the rise alterations, I want to figure out how to take a bit out of just the front crotch since so much fabric seems to gather there
-I might try to take some of the width out of the legs since the XL in knit fabric doesn't drape quite the same as woven fabrics
-might take just one inch out of the length
This photo makes me look a little bit like a hobbit, but I am only 5'4" so...lol.
Also, the shirt is one of @mr-highlynerdy's that no longer fit him so I chopped off four inches of the length and took of the sleeve hems. Please pay no attention to how outrageously pale my stomach is...it never sees sunshine lol.
Ready to add a dash of style and comfort to your wardrobe? Look no further! I've got an exciting new tutorial on my YouTube channel that you won't want to miss. 🧵✨
Introducing the Mini Wrap Skort – the ultimate fusion of a skirt and shorts, perfect for your active lifestyle. 🏃♀️🌞 Whether you're hitting the streets, the beach, or just lounging with friends, this skort has got you covered. The best part? I've included a FREE PDF pattern to make your sewing journey smooth and enjoyable.
In the video, I'll guide you through every step, making the process super easy to follow even for beginners. Sewing your own fashionable skort has never been this exciting! Get ready to strut your stuff with confidence and style.
Stay tuned because in my next video, I'll reveal how to sew a stunning top that complements this skort perfectly. And yes, you guessed it – I'll be sharing another FREE PDF pattern to make things even more delightful.
So, don't miss out on this creative sewing adventure! Head over to my YouTube channel now and let's sew up some fashion magic together. 🌈👗✂️ See you there!
I bought a parcel of random vintage textile scraps a while ago, which included a pile of cotton handkerchiefs. This reminded me of this wonderful handkerchief to top refashion by Sew Historically.
While I love Edwardian fashion, I decided to go for a more modern spin on Sew Historically's top and turned my handkerchiefs into a tank top with insertion lace.
(Image source) [ID: photo of a person modelling a white camisole top made out of handkerchiefs, followed by an outline of how to cut and sew handkerchiefs and lace into said camisole. Text: "Handkerchief To Top. Edwardian Handkerchief Camisole. www.sewhistorically.com".]
The project:
I have four white cotton handkerchiefs, but decided to use only three of them because one of them has a beautiful hand-embroidered monogram that I want to keep for study purposes rather than crafts. The other ones are blank.
[ID: three white cotton handkerchiefs. Two have been folded into triangles and are lying next to each other. A third one lies unfolded on top of the other two. The handkerchiefs have decorative white stripes crossing each other woven into the fabric at the edges.]
I started out by folding my handkerchiefs into triangles and playing around with shapes. I originally planned on making a matching yoke, hence the paper pattern on the photo below, but decided against it and went for straps instead.
I ended up with a somewhat similar layout as Sew Historically's top: I folded my rectangular handkerchiefs in half on the bias. Once laid out together, I got a rectangle that was sufficiently wide to cover my bust and has enough extra room to be slipped over my shoulders. I only needed two handkerchiefs for this, which meant I had a spare one for straps and extra details.
[ID: three white cotton handkerchiefs folded along the bias to form one large triangle and two smaller triangles. Put together, they form a rectangle. A paper pattern for a yoke lies above the handkerchiefs.]
I ironed my handkerchiefs, drew my cutting lines on them with chalk, then cut them up.
This gave me two large triangles for the centre front and back and four smaller ones for the sides. I could've just used four large triangles instead of two large ones and four smaller ones, but I wanted to add insertion lace at the sides.
[ID: two white handkerchiefs lying on an ironing board. Purple chalk lines have been drawn on both. The handkerchief on the left has one diagonal chalk line while the one on the right has two.]
I hemmed my raw edges and took a final picture of my pieces laid out flat so I had something to refer to in case I forgot what I was planning halfway the project. ADHD is fun.
[ID: three white cotton fabric triangles laid out as to form a wide rectangle.]
I attached my lace to my triangles with tiny whipstitches. The lace I used for this is a cotton lace with a simple design and straight edges of which I had two reels in my stash.
[ID: two pieces of white fabric lying next to each other. An end of white cotton lace is lying in between them.]
I sewed my lace and fabric together into a tube, then slightly gathered the fabric at the top and added a lace trim above the gathers. This concluded the basic construction of my tank top.
[ID: a white fabric tube made out of triangular pieces of cotton attached to each other with white insertion lace. The tube is slightly gathered at the top.]
I then used my third handkerchief to make straps and trims, and finished the top and bottom of my tank top with said trims and extra lace.
[ID: a white cotton tank top lying on a wooden floor. The top has white insertion lace and thin cotton straps.]
My new tank's all done! The top part is fitted to my bust thanks to the gathers while the bottom part is wide enough to slip over my shoulders without needing fasteners.
[ID: a white tank top made out of cotton handkerchiefs and cotton insertion lace, handing from a wooden hanger in front of a white background.]
Turns out my new top matches my summer petticoat. This means I now have the perfect hot weather underwear combo to protect my clothes from sweat.
[ID: a white tank top lying on a wooden floor, along with a white cotton petticoat with a button closure at the side and a long pointy lace trim at the bottom with flower embroidery.]
Conclusion:
The light weight cotton of my handkerchiefs is the perfect material for underwear and summer clothes. Combined with the ventilation of the insertion lace, this resulted in a great hot weather tank top. I can wear it as both a top and an undergarment.
A project like this is a fun way to use up old handkerchiefs or small fabric scraps. I kept my tank's shape simple, but you could add some shaping to the top if you want so it sits closer to your collarbone without digging into your armpits.
Adding eyelet lace like Sew Historically's version is also a great way to add versatility to a top like this. By running a ribbon through the eyelets, a top like this could be tightened or loosened on the fly. This allows the fit to accommodate for weight fluctuations.
Materials you need: 1 secondhand fleece sweatshirt. Some colorful fleece. 1″ round shank button (contrasting color from the fleece, doesn’t have to be the same as mine). Thread and sewing needle. Scissors. Soap and water.
1) Cut 2 diamond shapes from felt that’s just big enough to cover the buttons.
2) Hand wash the diamond felt in hot soapy water (pre-shrinking).
3) Cut a small vertical slit on the diamond felt that’s slightly smaller than the button thread knob. Push the thread knob through the slit to combine the button and felt.
4) Sew the button eyes on the sweatshirt.
5) Sew a couple loose stitches on the diamond felt behind the button face to secure it and prevent it from turning.
6) For the clown nose. Pull apart some felt scrap into fluff. Much more than below. You may now question your method of craft.
7) After gathering enough fluff to a good size ball. Roll it with hot soapy water until it agitates itself into a felted ball.
8) Sew felt nose onto sweatshirt.
9) Cut a kidney bean shape from felt. Sew a curved stem stitch in the middle to separate the lips and secure the lips.
10) You have a good enough clown top to wear to work.