Upcycled Furry waistcoat

 

This is essentially a free project. It also is a very quick sewing project for when I am recovering and unable to sew with a machine. Its actually been on my sewing pile for years and because I needed to hand sew the hem has stayed there. Every winter it comes out again. Every spring I put it back away not having finished it. I even wore it with dangly threads and a chopped lining inside it when I went out shopping a few times because I really like it but never got round to this small bit of hand sewing. 

Anyway that does mean this project will not be a waste of time because it has been worn half-made for years!

Originally this waistcoat was a second hand fur coat which I bought to use a piece of the fur around the hood of a jacket. 

I do not actually remember what the coat cost, but not much, which is why I used it for my trim. It was also much better quality fur than I could at that time source so it ticked all the boxes. It did seem a shame to waste the rest of the coat though. 

And then of course I was left with the rest of the jacket. I took the sleeves off a while later - not too sure what happened to them but suspect somewhere in my fabric stash. If I find them I am considering making a muff. Anyway the jacket pretty soon became this waistcoat, just I never finished sewing it. I sewed around the armholes by zigzag ages ago. Probably after about a year of just wearing as it was around the house. But the hem just stayed this cut off frayed mess. 

Then about a week ago it occurred to me that I am sitting here vegetating because I am not allowed to sew. I had a total hip replacement. Though as you can see I can now stand without crutches! I do not actually walk really as yet but physio will hopefully make me stronger very soon. I want to be normal again and really need to be able to use a sewing machine. Anyway, time to do the bits of hand sewing I can manage and this is very basic easy sewing because you cannot really see if I do not do perfect stitches and to be honest I am rubbish at hand sewing. 

The waistcoat is worn here with a pair of my camo joggers and my green velvet top ( and my new hat!). Also because this was originally a coat it has more hooks at the front than most RTW waistcoats of this type making it much warmer to wear. 

I am starting to feel very wintery now. I really need to find out the other items of hand sewing I need to do. I do not have many because using a hand sewing needle is something I actively avoid but there is a couple of other things I could do now that will mean I get stuff sorted out that has been left in most cases for years. Otherwise I am stuck with reading and doing the odd bit of knitting and I am very slow at that as well. 

Have a great week and hope to see you again soon,

Take care

Bracken

Upcycled leopardskin print mesh skirt.

 Some of my me-made clothing is so old now I have worn it out. 

This particular high low top is possibly the best item of clothing I ever made. Its certainly one of my most worn tops hence its gone all out of shape and no longer looks good on me so I decided its time to recycle.The problem is even though you love it and you actually made it these clothes still wear out!

So along with several other old clothes (mostly me-made because its what I own nowadays) I stuck this out for recycling.

But the recycling company ( for a local charity) never turned up. Well I ended up removing this top and 3 LBDs from the four bags of clothing I had put out. It made my partner laugh!

Anyway I made the sleeves into a version of the sleeves I made a few weeks ago. These are OK but being an upcycle not really as good as the first set - which incidentally were also an upcycle. But I used a pattern to make them from scratch and with these I just chopped them off the body and hemmed the tops. Thats the difference and quite a difference there is too, although both sets of sleeves are wearable. I do not have any photos of these as yet but will add when I get round to wearing them.

Then I was looking at the rest of this top and I decided that its the body thats worn out and the hood is like new so I started off just cutting off the hood and then ended up also salvaging the facings inside the neck.

The main part (but inside out so the plain outer becomes the new lining) was a possible skirt and the facings could become a sort of waistband.

Then I sewed it all together. Its not perfect but then its an upcycle of the class - "you can so why not?" rather than use a nice pattern to make a new item from old cloth.

The waistband is a little twisty - but then thats a fashion statement!

It works. And needs no elastic because the leopard print powermesh over the grey cotton lycra is stretchy enough and works really well and with comfort!

and the skirt is high low - another fashion statement.

The only quibble I really have is the back seam is slightly off centre ( due to the original garment being somewhat out of shape I think)  but I enjoyed wearing this and its very lightweight yet also warm so I can ignore that minor problem and get some extra wear from a rather unexpected new clothing item in my winter wardrobe.

And its such fun!

So it really is an "I made it cos you can" item rather than a well planned, well made skirt. 

Its been years since I did something so instantaneous with my old clothing but it used to be something I did all the time. My clothes were definitely not as well made then but they were cheaper and usually they were fun. I probably should be looking to do this more often I think. 

And to top this off, I get extra wear from my original fabric and a small bit less makes its way to landfill for now, which has to be a good thing.

Its worn here with a basic black top. I do not really much like this top hence despite the age its in great condition. Still its a basic for the every day life I suppose.

Have a lovely week and I wish you all the best of fun...............

Bracken

An Easter basket for Egg Hunting, Upcycles and my socks

 

I made an Easter egg hunt basket for a small person I know. Its made from synthetic and very cheap felt from Amazon. I bought the felt ages ago meaning to use it for finger pupperts. Well that never quite happened so its available in my stash and I decided this basket will be needed and why buy one when you can easily make one.

You do not get enough of any one colour in the packs I bought from Amazon to do for example a base from one colour so I did it as quarters and the sides as narrow strips.

 It kept me busy last Sunday morning but did not really take long at all. The base is lined with white cotton to give it a bit of strength and I glued a top layer over this with fabric glue after everythig else was constructed (see below). That makes the inside look nice but is not otherwise needed.

It was a bit tricky to sew the circle sides but with some twisting and slow sewing it worked.

The handle is two pieces of ribbon sewed on top of each other to make the handle reasonably strong. It only has to carry a few eggs though of course.

Top is edged with ribbon folded over and sewn down. That will stop it stretching.

Et Voila!

With glued base

Looking back at my last month's or so's posts I am so aware how rubbish is my new mobile. I use the camera to take the photos - or my other half does. But there is no clarity. They are just rubbish. Its a Samsung A14 and I have to say I would avoid and buy just about anything or just wait until you can afford better if I was you. Its an awful phone. Not at all like my previous Samsung. It often will not turn on - as in the screen stays black when someone rings meaning if they ask me to turn off the call I can't. Or not unless I actually login. The fingerprint recognition works once in 20-30 times - no I am not exagerating. Face recognition is slghtly better but still more times than not it will not work. Its the worst phone I have owned in 10+ years! 

I do not have a ton of money to spend on a mobile but this one is particularly bad. I have only had it a few months but it has to go. I usually keep my mobiles 3 years or so, usually until something vital stops working or I drop it once too often and the screen completely messes up. A small crack I will live with for a year or so. I do not upgrade very often because I prefer to be environmentally concious and I think its wasteful doing so. I do not go for contracts either unless its an amazing deal. I haven't found a good deal in a while, so just stick with Tesco Rocket packs which work well for me and I do not feel tied in because I am not. I just hate contracts. Anyway mobile phone rant over, but apologies for the really bad photos. I will sort this asap.

So this week I feel I have achieved something on the sewing/ crafting front. I actally made another pair of trousers 

I sewed up my trousers - these are new and were planned at New Year so at least I achieved something in sewing this week. I think they will be great for spring once the weather starts to warm up a bit. Its a polyester/lycra fabric so warmish but not warm enough for colder weather and probably far too warm for summer so spring/ autumn clothing, so perfect for making just now when the daffs are coming out. Hopefully it will stay around 10DegC for the next few weeks and I may even get to wear these to go somewhere.

They are worn with my top which is upcycled - kind of. Or at least "updated".

 

Its now a kind of long top/ mini dress:

Probably best right now with leggings but this has potential as a dress when it does evenyually warm up a bit. When I made this, I made it the same as several similar tops, but this one just did not work. The hems kept rolling over - wrists, hem etc, so I have now added ribbing to them and it does seem to have solved the problem. Since I love this fabric and the style its good to make it work at last. Though I do wish I had actually lined the hood. usually with this pattern I do but I decided the grey inside was OK. That was a mistake I think. Its kind of slippy which stops the hood working.  Does not matter too much and its too much hassle to completed take it to bits to add a lining, so we will see if I can live with that. Its much improved now I think anyway.

 

This top also had a pull cord in the neck which I decided I could not get on with so that went and was replaced with a proper hem. Sewn single stitched though so not with a stretch stitch, so I will see if it lasts. The original top before alteration is here:

 

You can even see the rolling hems in the original photo. It got so annoying when worn I just stopped wearing this top. I found I was constatly fiddling with the wrists and hems. Otherwise I think this is still a good top and hopefully now I will wear it. I like it much better now and it would be a shame to just recycle this because I like the fabric very much. So far I have worn it twice without problems so I am hoping I sorted this one out. 

AND I also nearly cleared the massive pile of repairs and upcycling that seems to build up on my sewing table. Much of which I have to say is not even my own mending. Its been this way since I was in my 20s. Girl has sewing machine, therefore she will fix everyone elses clothes for them. I do not mind as it goes, but recently the pile got so large I was really put off even doing any sewing at all. Except for my very much ongoing coat its all gone now so I am ready for a new challenge at last.  

I do feel I have not yet really got back into my sewing after Christmas and New Year and being nearly March thats not good.The Egg basket has helped me a little, but its like I just cannot quite get my mind into sewing.

Having got to the end of repairs on other peoples clothing, I upcycled my old red dress into a new skirt. I love this but my partner hates it so we will see how it goes with wearing it. Sometimes ( very occasionally!) he is right. 

 I thought the fur was a great idea but maybe it would be better on a heavier weighted fabric but the available upcycle was this stretch red skirt made from a dress that never worked out right -------Oh ages ago now. In fact you can see how much the blog has changed when you see those old photos!

This "skirt" is not new. I made a really badly fitting and rubbish dress back in 2016. Its sat in my wardrobe being hardly worn since. I suppose really I hung onto this because it was such an early make and at the start when I made this, it was worn, but as time passed its just been there taking up room. I could not bring myself to chuck this. I should have. Then about a year ago I cut the top off. I wore it with an unfinished waist several times as a skirt and so it had to remain taking up room.  Then a few days ago I got inspired to add the fur trim to the hem. And because I liked it I also actually added elastic to the waist and its become a proper skirt.

I think maybe I pulled the elastic slightly unevenly? 

Still it will not be seen and it does look ok when worn.

Its worn with my jumper. And I feel they go very well together.

The the other thing I got round to was I unpicked the first sock ------------here is what I have now...........

 

So sad!

But my second sock is coming along nicely and I will redo this one later once I finish that one. I actually cast on this sock again the other night but thats all so far. I will finish sock two first then redo sock one. 

It took me two evenings to get it undone because I never spread my yarn over more than a couple of stitches and I weave it in all the time. That makes it very neat on the reverse but it turns out to be absolute hell unpicking it like that. I never had to unpick so much before. Anyway now its just 3 balls of yarn.

But it will be remade!

Other than that I messed up the welt pockets on my coat. I sewed one onto the front of the pocket and the other onto the back! So useless at welt pockets! I cannot get away with leaving them as they are so have to take them appart again which inevitably means one will end up larger than the other. Or thats what happened the last time I did this!

I think I can sort them but we will see. I am really in need of a course actually on making welt pockets. I avoid them usually, but decided the challenge was good. Hopefully I will actually get the coat eventually and not just abandon this.  It would be such a waste of decent fabric to throw it away. Its going to have mismatched pockets as it is but I can live with that. I do need to do something about making welt pocket things though. I need to learn properly from someone and preferably in a proper class not on you tube etc. I need the face to face for this one. I might with a bit of luck get to show you the actual coat next week. Its my aim to get this one finished so I can wear it.

Otherwise, I have a now cleared sewing pile and I am inspired at last to get something made off my New Years list - and that does include the coat!

Have a great week and thanks for popping by and its really time to be visiting a few of other peoples blogs. Isn't the internet wonderful really that we are able to do this so easily. And to know and interact with people from all over our lovely planet. Amazing!

Take care lovelies,

Bracken

Denim Jacket updated

 

 

Well I have not actually made this. But I do love it so I decided to share it because its a very easy way to update a tired basic and a bit boring denim jacket. 

It also did not take very long at all. Mind you I bought the lace patch probably two years ago. I have an identical black patch. Both cost about £2 from Ebay. 

Jacket was second hand and about £1.25 several years ago from a Charity/ Thrift shop and originally from TopShop. Its stretch denim and a bit more fitted than I remember - I think I put some weight on!

The lace patches came direct from China and I will be buying more of this kind of thing because a similar lace patch, but with a less interesting design, though arguably more wearable, was what I used to sort out a top that would have otherwise been a disaster and would have ended up being thrown away.

These lace panels are surprisingly useful and good to have in stock if you come accross them. They vary greatly design-wise and I found skulls much harder to find - and they cost more. The panel on the black top was considerably less costly than the skull designs but they are both useful and both are really very cheap to buy. Though because they come direct from China they can take a month to arrive so not much use if you want them yesterday. I buy them just because they are there and they are useful to have for when I ( might) want them. 

I am now serously debating whether to do a black skull on black denim jacket as well. Well I seem to have stopped wearing both my denim jackets so why not. I already have a pattern to make a denim jacket should I really want one another year and its a way to continue wearing what I already own. Black on black would be much more subtle but that might be good too. I have a rule - I wear whats in my wardrobe at least once each year else it goes out. So that in itself is a good idea to update my other denim jacket then. 

To attach the patch I just pinned carefully in place, tried on to check position and then used a zigzag stitch and followed the outline of the patch, then also followed the outline of each eye to make sure it stays put and that will hopefuly stop it getting ripped because it is relatively delicate. But then lace is delicate and I think it makes for a great contrast with the denim.

 

Have a great weekend and thanks for popping by

Bracken