Ugly skirt refashion challenge

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.