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From: phyllsplace
Date: 01-19-2006, 06:45 PM (1 of 13)
| Does anyone here reconstruct clothes? Ya know - like change jeans into a skirt or make a t-shirt look different? |
User: phyllsplace
Member since: 12-21-2004 Total posts: 6 
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From: blackie
Date: 01-19-2006, 07:23 PM (2 of 13)
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I have done it. It is fun, low risk, and affordable. My favorite piece is a sexy little skirt I made from a t-shirt, I get compliments all the time for it. What do you want to know about it? see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: Scratch 'N Sniff
Date: 01-19-2006, 08:24 PM (3 of 13)
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Yup, I make corsets out of old jeans.
~debie
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User: Scratch 'N Sniff
Member since: 01-02-2003 Total posts: 46 |
From: emermuffin
Date: 01-20-2006, 02:16 PM (4 of 13)
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my favorite is a sarong made into a regular skirt. I'm petite and heavy and could not tie on a sarong in any wearable way. Just not enough fabric length for adequate coverage! But I love sarongs and have several fabulous prints that I couldn't wear. When I felt confident enough in my skills, I did this: I folded it over to get a staggered layer a fringe at the hem cut out the excess length at the doubled over waist used the excess to make a waistband casing for 2" wide elastic (to ride at my tummy excess) I sewed the side seam of the inner layer to just above my knee and left the out layer open. The result is really feminine and flattering. Rayon has such great drape - the shorter outer layer is really flowing and the fringe flies! It shows just enough leg to be playful but not enough to horrify! I just feel pretty in that skirt... I've many other reconstruction projects on my mental sewing list but that's the only one so far. and the results were great! and if they weren't, I have five other sarongs in my armoire to try again! Next time I will try some darts to eliminate some bulk at the waistline and perhaps a zipper... have fun! emermuffin
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User: emermuffin
Member since: 03-29-2003 Total posts: 55 |
From: Magot
Date: 01-20-2006, 03:24 PM (5 of 13)
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I have done the jeans to a skirt thing with my daughter - converted a HUGE baggy shirt to a fitted 3/4 length sleeve shirt (I felt so proud) and have recently pulled apart a lacy overdress (black) to try and think what I can make with all this black lace.....I have also got a black blouse with lace sleeves - there must be something I can rustle up - I could make a shrug with the lace or those nifty little tops that people wear these days but I don't ever have the occasion to wear it . I have a wedding coming up but I am reluctant to look like Morticia Addams as the Mother of the Bride... http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=25199 has some great ideas - I want to have a go at customising shoes.. love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: blackie
Date: 01-20-2006, 04:10 PM (6 of 13)
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my favorite is a sarong made into a regular skirt. ... "not enough to horrify" made me giggle! This sounds great. I don't really know *exactly* what a sarong is although I'm thinking it's a big rectangle. I hear you on the rayon drape - it does look nice. Is there any natural fiber that emulates this? I don't wear synthetics. Anyway, if I find one cheap somehere I will have to try this out. Besides t-shirt skirts, I have also made girlie t-shirts out of larger ones. You buy a huge men's t-shirt and cut all the sides off, put your darts in for your bust (I'm a 38 DDD but now that I'm weaning, moving to DD), then shorten the shirt, scoop the neck, take the sides in, make girlie sleeves. I did an FBA on one and it turned out pretty good. I still never know what order to do all these alterations, BTW (if anyone does know, they should tell me!). There are some great LJ communities out there and craftster.org has great ideas too. see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: jenny-o
Date: 01-20-2006, 06:19 PM (7 of 13)
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My favorite sewing projects involve recycling clothes into something cool! As a matter of fact, just yesterday I whipped up a shoulder bag out of a pair of jeans that nolonger fit my hubby (he has lost a lot of weight in the last year) and they were almost brand new. It was really fun, I sewed the seams on the outside and lined it with a great printed skirt that I'd been saving for something for years. I cut into the raw edges about every half inch and they frayed beautifully in the wash. I used the back pockets on the sides and the waistband for the strap. I also used 2 D rings on the strap so I could adjust it for over my head or just on the shoulder. I'd post a picture but I'm still incompetent in that area. My thrifty side gets a big thrill in reconstructing, especially when I get compliments from others. Jen |
User: jenny-o
Member since: 08-28-2005 Total posts: 132 |
From: trini
Date: 01-20-2006, 09:40 PM (8 of 13)
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I have been doing this quite a bit lately;I think that it is creative, Just two weeks ago I converted a two piece oufit into a pair of pyjamas and a top.The skirt was slightly gathered and it provided the width I required for the crotch area. The fabric is soft and silky and it is really comfy to sleep in. I also made a plain dress from a wrap skirt; I barely got seams though. I enjoy doing this. |
User: trini
Member since: 09-17-2005 Total posts: 74 |
From: Shellymoon
Date: 01-20-2006, 10:30 PM (9 of 13)
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scratch n sniff.....Jeans into corsets? You've gotta post a picture of that!
Shelly Moon
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User: Shellymoon
Member since: 05-27-2001 Total posts: 240 |
From: phyllsplace
Date: 01-20-2006, 11:17 PM (10 of 13)
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Everyone ~ please post pictures of what you have done! They all sound wonderful! I'm not looking for anything specific, I just like seeing what people can do and get ideas from them. |
User: phyllsplace
Member since: 12-21-2004 Total posts: 6
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From: mommgsews
Date: 01-20-2006, 11:57 PM (11 of 13)
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I often will convert the crew necks on t-shirts to v-necks. I cut off the hem of the shirt and use it to create a band for the neckline. I also shorten the sleeves to more of a cap-sleeve and of course, re-hem the shirt with a double needle. T-shirts make nice undies as well. Especially the cotton t's when it is 100 plus degrees outside. I'm currently working on sewing my oldest dd's synchronized swimming t-shirts into a quilt top. We already made one top out of her high school shirts. She wants synchro on one side and school on the other. We'll eventually fashion them into a duvet cover. |
User: mommgsews
Member since: 03-15-2004 Total posts: 73 
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From: mommydionne
Date: 01-21-2006, 08:11 AM (12 of 13)
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I do this a bit, I scour the used clothing bins for good fabric in large sizes. I just converted a pair of Abercrombie jeans I picked up for $4 to a skirt (copied the skirt idea from LouLou a style shopping mag). Sometimes you can get an XXXL jacket and then have metres of a fab wool that would cost you a fortune in a shop.
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: Scratch 'N Sniff
Date: 01-21-2006, 11:30 PM (13 of 13)
shellymoon: i don't have any pics currently, but maybe this could be a good excuse to make a new one! 
~debie
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User: Scratch 'N Sniff
Member since: 01-02-2003 Total posts: 46 |
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