A bit more than a year ago, I "
officially" told you I am a fan of
the blog
Skirt Fixation. 13 Months have past, and I am still one of
Audrey's groupies. Besides all the fun things she organizes on her blog
she has taken up an organizing role in
Project run and Play and in
Top Stitchers! Yes, I am feel some positive jealousy about both positions.
At the beginning of the year, Audrey and her daughters posted a
list of goals for 2016 and one of them was continuing the "
Ugly skirt challenge".
For a while already, I felt the desire to participate, but I assumed
that postage to Europe would be an obstacle, but it wasn't! In the last
weekend of February, I received my ugly skirt challenge package and
today I show you the result of the battle.
I feel I was lucky
in my skirt draw. All the fabrics were 100% cotton, that is something I
can work with! The best refashions use elements of the original
garment, look at these
refashion patterns for great examples of using original elements. Looking at
the skirt, this refashion quickly came to mind. The waist drawstring
became the halter, done, easy-peasy. A true no-sew refashion.
You
knew I was joking, right (or just remembered the first picture of the post)? As you can see on the picture, the skirt was a
huge maxi skirt with so many different fabrics that it kind of gave me a headache. The fabrics themselves were fine, more than fine (there even was an uni-color black underskirt). Black-and-white is totally trending right now. Before I could start my refashion, I
first wanted to see what I had to work with. I spend a few hours seam
ripping almost all of the seams, but it was totally worth it. At first
glance I had not realized there were four different prints, the upper
two just looked too similar. As I have four kids I decided that they
all would get a fabric. I am a huge fan of black-and-white print mix as
you can see in
this and
this post, but these prints just did not
mix the right way.
After total deconstruction I started
sewing pieces back together. I started with the fabric that had been on
the bottom. I had a few meter fabric, but with that height I could only
create skirts. I therefore sewed three stripes on each other to create a
decent fabric piece and turned it into a dress for my eldest. I used a
free pattern from
Flosstyle, the
Paradise dress to make a peasant style
summer dress. I went for a bit wider dress (I put the pattern piece a
few centimetre from the fold) and I added shirring elastic to the waist.
I
used the original drawstring as bias tape. After I took out the seams, I
simply refolded it (sandwiching the fabrics between it) and sewed it
with one seam in place. That counts as using original elements right? Of
course, I also added pockets. This fabric print is simply perfect for a
peasant dress, but I wanted to spice it up a little bit. I took two red
beads and a red textile marker and added a splash of red to the black-and-white print. It is very subtle, but I feel it makes a difference.
Although the dress has some vertical seams, they are not really visible.
One became hidden in the shirring elastic, but a lower one is hiding in
"plain" sight, it is visible not does not bother me.
The second
fabric that quickly got a destination was the mostly black one with
white paisley's on it. I felt it was a perfect print for a button up
shirt for my son. I hope to make him a flower version once, but let's
work up to that one. I made another
Theo. An official one with buttons
holes, my sewing skills have developed over the
past year. I had to sew
two fabric pieces together to create a wide enough piece for the back. I
matched the print and the seam is hidden in the back pleat, so it
really is invisible.
I used the black underskirt to cut the
upper back and inside of the collar from, there was not enough "main
fabric for those pieces. The outer collar had to be pieced together. I
managed to create a matching front, my front overlaps less than usual,
so the buttons are relatively close to the side, but it works. My son
was allowed to pick his own buttons. I love the splash of blue.
For
my youngest, I combined the underskirt and top fabric from the original
skirt. The waistband print and upper piece were the same print, but
they were separate pieces. I could not do a print match and just sewed
the pieces together to make a high enough piece for a bodice. I was
inspired by
her, who was again inspired by
her. I started with the
Sally bodice, but heavily redrew the bodice.
I had planned to
have such a big neckline that her head would just fit, I was not
successful and ended up cutting the back bodice in two. To save width I
used one of the original dress hangers (less wide than the drawstring)
as bias tape. I solved the back closure the same way as with
this dress.
This dress also has pockets. I machine embroidered pink flowers on the
original underskirt hem.
The last piece of fabric that
remained was a piece that kind a hurt my eyes if I looked at it long. I
really did not like it. I considered just turning it into a skirt, quick
and easy, but then another quick and easy plan came to mind.
This trouser refashion is still one of my favourites, and I felt that this
piece would be a decent pair of trousers. So,
Domi* to the rescue. I had
to make the leg pieces slightly narrower, or else I could not cut them
from the fabric, but it worked.
I used the waist and wrist
cuffs from an old sweater for the waist band and leg cuffs. I even used
the original elastic, after a good steaming it was as good as new. The
trousers have inseam pockets because having the typical
Domi* pockets
would have been to much for this fabric. She loves her new trousers, and
I have to say that even I like them. The shirt is not the best colour match, but
in my defence I managed to talk her out of the skirt she was wearing on
top of her trousers.
So no pictures of the four of them
together, but I think three at a time is a fine score. My background
might even be too narrow for four kids. What do you think, who won, me or
the skirt? Did you get inspired to enter the same battle, send a massage to
Skirt Fixation and you might be the next lucky one to show your strength.
I love to hear what you think of my creations. Feel free
to leave a comment in the language you prefer (although Google
translate might have to assist me if you choose something different than
English, German, Dutch or Hungarian). If you buy anything through my
affiliate links (*), I get a small commission (the price stays the same for
you), I am very grateful for everything that feeds my fabric addiction.
