Three into One Patchwork Hoody - Stash Smashing

I am still on a stash smashing trail but in a slightly different way this week.

My other half has been collecting lots of jumpers that he does not really like and never wears. All were presents over the last 6 years or so and all were taking up room in his wardrobe and all were unworn and brand new. He just did not like them. So he was going to send them all to the charity shop but I decided to intercept and make a new top for him. Its inspired by the lovely Nepalese tops you see at festivals but is made from a mix of dark grey/black marl chainstore boring jumpers of various fibre mixes but all quite thick and warm.

For this I used 3 jumpers all from chainstores/supermarkets and all having either a full zip or a half zip up the front which he did not like. They were all a bit "old man". Whilst cutting out the top I had to make it patchwork because it turns out that although every jumper was actually too big for him they were all more fitted than the pattern I used.

I used New Look 6142 for this but instead of making a zip front jacket style hoody like the pattern, I made an over head hoody instead. It took some working out and I ended up making each half of each front and then sewing the two halves together. The same for the back because the jumpers were different textures so I needed to try and get some sort of balance to the design.  I used the longest sleeves off just one jumper so the sleeves are not patchwork and the hood is made from a fishermans rib type of texture so is just the one fabric.

I overlocked everything on the right side to give it a crafty Nepalese look and it is actually reversible really but I intended for the overlocking to be shown. I have seen some similar stuff on Pinterest as well as at festivals and had something like this in mind for a while now although I was not thinking of my other half. I think it worked out very well although I wonder how long it will actually last. It does not really matter because these jumpers would have been sent to the charity and although 3 became one I think at least it is wearable for weekends and doggy walking and slobbing around so now the jumpers are going to be used and keep my partner warm when otherwise they would have just been wasted which is a shame.

It was great fun to make this. I am not too sure how often he will wear this because he does not buy festival style clothing normally so its a bit unusual for him but it is still closer to his style than the starting material was and he says he likes it. Either way its an improvement on the unworn old men jumpers he had in his wardrobe for the last few years. I very much enjoyed this make. It was a challenge getting the top out of those three jumpers. Three into one sounds like lots but it stretched me making this.

Thanks for reading

Bracken

Fish tail skirt or high low skirt - Stash Smashing

I found this blog post a while ago now:
http://www.deliacreates.com/easy-diy-fishtail-circle-skirt-tutorial/

Its an adult version of skirts from other blogs. Well it is not really something I would normally wear but I have the fabric and why not. I will wear it if I own it because that's life but as with the multi-media T shirts

I would not shell out hard earned cash to buy one.

But as I am realising more and more when you make your own clothing YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL!

Yay!

So following the directions from Delia Creates I made this skirt using black powermesh. I originally followed the exact pattern but in the end I decided to chop a further 7 inches or about 18cm off the length because once made it was trailing on the floor. When I went back to the original blogpost yes it is there as well so it is not just me being too short.

Much as I like a skirt with a train it does not fit into my world. I already have two makes with trains here:
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/95-and-96-skirt-and-top-for-tms-bright.html

and here: http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/85-simplicity-1772-dress.html

and I do not wear either of them often because of this.

Delia lives somewhere summery and hot and gets to take photos on the beach with her feet bare on the sand. I live in the UK where it is usually damp and often downright pouring with rain. Also you think its a nice day when you get dressed at 06:00 but by the time you get to work by 08:30 it can be the most horrible weather imaginable so no, skirts with trains do not work well in my world!

 

I am still undecided whether to do a rolled edge with the overlocker around the hem of this, but so far have resisted because actually I quite like the raw edge and it looks fine and very dancerish.

So for this as directed I used 2m of fabric. Mine was wider than Delia Creates used so there was more wasteage but I really could not make it any longer than the original and in the end as already explained I chopped the edge off after finishing. By the way best to do this before you make it really because the elastic gathers it in a bit and means you have to be extra careful if you do it at the end as I did.

The only difficult bit with this skirt is keeping the slippy fabric from moving when you are measuring for the waist and the skirt edge and of course you then must fold it to make it high-low but its still a very easy skirt pattern and I would say well worth making.

This skirt will also look good with the two tops made using this powermesh which you can see here:
http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/74-quick-party-top.html

and here:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/95-and-96-skirt-and-top-for-tms-bright.html

Thanks for reading and if this is your kind of skirt I would encourage you to make one. I am very impressed!

Bracken

Multi Media T shirts - TMS October 2017 Stash Mash

I am a bit late blogging this week since am enjoying this months challenge. Smashing my Stash is a brilliant way to update my wardrobe for winter - fast!

I seem to have fabric and patterns everywhere in little piles with patterns on top while I work out what to do with what. Sooooo exciting!

So what to use from my stash next? I was at the hospital the other day and noticed there were several people wearing long sleeved T shirts with mesh sleeves. Well I like!

So I cut out 4 different tops - all from my stash. I have not had time to make them all as yet but these are the first two. So challengwise, first heres my pink scuba and big mesh sleeved top.

Stashwise heres the pink top:

	Stash Smash Project Points
Pink scuba	Meters Used	0-1 m	5 points	Yardage magician
	Stash Time	2-3 years	25  points	like fine wine
	Preciousness		10 points	I like it but won’t cry if it’s a fail
Black wide mesh	Meters Used	0-1 m	5 points	Yardage magician
	Stash Time	2 months	10  points	Buried under new pretties
	Preciousness		10 points	I like it but won’t cry if it’s a fail
	POINTS TOTAL:		65 points

 
Then I made this black version using some 4 way stretch black silky fabric which I have made a nice top from previously so I know I like wearing this as a top and in this version I used black powermesh for the sleeves. It is hard to see in the photos but the sleeves are slightly transparent.

 These are both made from Butterick 5562 View D which I have owned for ages but never used. I really bought this pattern for the different sleeves variations but have ended up using the ordinary non- gathered, non-puffed sleeve and missed off the wide cowl neck as well. Its got a very nice boat shaped neckline which I love and is more wintery somehow than my more used T shirt patterns.

 For the black T shirt stashwise:

	Stash Smash Project Points
Black silky fabric	Meters Used	0-1 m	5 points	Yardage magician
	Stash Time	2-3 years	25  points	like fine wine
	Preciousness		10 points	I like it but won’t cry if it’s a fail
Black powermesh	Meters Used	0-1 m	5 points	Yardage magician
	Stash Time	2-3 years	25  points	like fine wine
	Preciousness		10 points	I like it but won’t cry if it’s a fail
	POINTS TOTAL:		80 points

I have previously made other projects from most of this fabric which will make for nice "outfits" though to be honest I very rarely wear outfits really. In reality, I find things work best mix and matching rather than wearing as "suits".

In case you want to see though the pink scuba type fabric leggings are here:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/38-side-panel-leggings.html

I used the black reverse of this fabric on the side stripes for this look which I have not bothered with in my new top.

and the black silky fabric has previously made some yoga pants here:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/22-plain-black-yoga-pants-made-in-rush.html

and a top here:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/74-quick-party-top.html

Oh and I nearly forgot this top here made from the powermesh:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/95-and-96-skirt-and-top-for-tms-bright.html

I suppose this is the good / or bad side to bulk buying fabric. You end up with lots of items made from the same materials and although they do "go" together often you do not want to wear them that way.
Well I am very much enjoying this months challenge. What to make next?

Thanks for visiting my blog,

Bracken

Bright Red Cropped Hoody - YSR, TMS October Stash Smash challenge

   

I saw Dr T's post a while ago now with this Mimi G pattern (below right). 

I quite like this pattern but what struck me most was the similarity to this free pattern from Your Style Rocks (YSR) ( below left).

 

There is a definite similarity though don't you think?

The YSR pattern has been around for ages now but the New Season Simplicity  pattern from Mimi G is new. The Mimi G pattern is Simplicity 8392.

So I recognised this pattern. Of course I have no idea who the original designer was. Maybe it was Mimi G herself.  Or maybe she was inspired by the YSR pattern. Who Knows but this YSR pattern is free, is definitely old, 2012 I think, even if this design is New Season to Simplicity.

AND I have owned it for ages. So I decided its time I made it.

As I understand it YSR were a collective who had competitions. The contestants designed an outfit to fit whatever the challenge was that season.

Then the people who used to run YSR would make and grade the patterns which you could then, and can now, at time of me writing this still  DOWNLOAD FOR FREE.
I used to visit and admire but never entered the competitios. Until now despite having downloads of most of the YSR patterns I still have not made one.


No idea why but I think there were two people behind YSR but from memory thats how it was. They did state they were not a pattern company, they just ran the site and competitions for fun. There are lots of competition entries well worth a look although the patterns were mostly never made but they are still quite a few free patterns here and going by my results with this one I shall finally get round to making the rest of them.

I really liked the Mimi G version because I currently need a sweatshirt or cardigan but am after something a bit different but that I can wear for everyday life as well as dressing up. The only sweatshirt fabric in my stash is some bright red brushed back fabric of unknown fibre.  It wears well though because I have worn these trousers regularly and they are still going:

http://brackencrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/3-lekala-free-pattern-for-sport-trousers.html

So this is a nice pattern.

This also fits in with the current October Monthly Stitch Challenge and I have been a bit quiet and missed lots of challenges recently. Since I have had the fabric for two and a half years and the pattern since 2012 its kind of a double stash buster.

So using the TMS Stash smash table: 

Stash Smash Project Points
Meters Used	1 -3 m	10 points	Chipping away
Stash Time	2-3 years	25  points	like fine wine
Preciousness		10 points	I like it but won't cry if it’s a fail
POINTS TOTAL:		45 points

The YSR version seems more elf-like than sportswear although both are really the same thing.The clasp was an inspiration. Mimi G uses a zip which could also work here although would alter the construction. The YSR version uses hook and eyes. I was thinking originally of the kind of hooks and eyes you use on fur coats because I know I have some but then I found this old belt buckle and some red velvet ribbon. Ideally it should have been sewn into the front seam but I never though about using this and did not want to risk recking this lovely top by undoing overlocked seams so I folded it over on itself to give a neat edge and used a zipper foot to sew to the inside. Not perfect by any means but I think its fine for a first attempt at this.

 I used an overlocker for most of the sewing but did the fiddly bits on the bottom from using a normal sewing machine. I stitched in the ditch along the outside shoulder seams to keep the inside facing lying down.

This is the messy inside where I used three bits of red velvet ribbon to secure my belt buckle to the front neck. It looks good and is unusual but does keep dropping open if I lean forwards. Means to wear this I must stay standing upright! 😊

In case you were wondering this magnificent creature is Emily who is a very long lived chicken. She has not laid eggs in years but who cares. She a part of the family:

She hates cameras and was about to attack here.

Thanks for visiting my blog

Bracken