Friday Fashions #12, Knotted Paisley Tee

This week for Friday Fashions, I made this blue paisley shirt with a knot at the bust line. 

 It add a little interest to what could otherwise have been a very boring shirt.  I have had this fabric for ages, it was passed along to me from my mom (I think).  I haven't really known what I was going to do with it.  The paisley pattern is too busy for me to make an embellished tee, but I didn't just want to make a plain shirt either.  In my stack of patterns, I came across a tshirt pattern that had this knot variation on it, and I decided to give it a try.

 The front is made up of 2 of these pieces. With right sides together, sew along A.  Then on the right-side panel, sew the dotted lines together at B, leaving a small opening (C).  This will form a hole that you will pull the left-side panel through, creating a knot. D becomes the plunging V-neckline.

This is what the front looks like after that! 

 After that, I began working on the sleeves.  I love using a flat panel construction for sleeves when I am working with knits.  It makes them easier and faster.  This method doesn't work as well with more tailored pieces or stiff fabrics.  So for those, stick with the traditional set-in sleeves.  But, if you are going to work with knits, try the flat panel method next time.  You will love it.

 First, you sew the shoulders together. 

 Then, carefully pin the tops of the sleeves to the shoulders. Sew. 

 This is what the shirt now looks like. Wasn't that easy?

 Next, with right-sides together, sew the side seams of the shirt from the edges of the sleeves all the way to the bottom of the shirt.  

 Make sure that you carefully line up the seams along the sleeves and the shirt. 

That way, when its right side out, it looks like this, and the corners line up. 

When you are done, turn the shirt out.  You have now set in the sleeves and sewn the side seams!  This method is so fast!  You now just have to hem the sleeves and the bottom of the shirt, and you are completely finished with the shirt.  From cutting out the fabric to the sewing, this shirt only took me 1 1/2 hours from start to finish.  Not bad! 

I love this shirt and will probably wear it tonight on my date with Mr. Right.  I think that this shirt pattern could easily be lengthened to make a comfy, casual dress.

Project Restyle #2: Ugly Orange Chair Becomes Vanilla Oasis

Yeah!  I am finished with my Ugly Orange Chair redo.   Now, instead of the ugly orange chair, I am calling her The Vanilla Oasis.  Isn't she beautiful?  So simple and elegant.  

 Remember what she used to look like?

This is her new look.  Very light and very neutral.  I don't usually go with such a neutral color scheme, but since this project was so time intensive for me, I wanted a neutral chair that I could move from room to room  easily without having to take her apart and repaint every time.  So, when I move her around, I plan on just changing out the pillows. 

So, how did I refinish her?  

A. First I unscrewed the seat. 

B. Then I ripped off the black backing. 

 Once I was down to the wood, I lightly sanded the surface and then spraypainted it with Rust-oleum Heirloom White.  This is a very warm white.  I didn't want pure white because I thought that it would make it too stark. 

Next, I started on the upholstery.  I had two pieces to recover, the seat and the cushion that goes on top.  I started with the seat. 

 I had to pull out all the staples holding the old orange velvet. I used needle-nosed pliers along with a flathead screwdriver. 

Once I had the old fabric unfastened, 

 I took the velvet over to my camel-colored fabric and used it as a pattern.  I cut out the square I would need. 

Then, I began stapling it to the seat frame. Pull the fabric till it is taut.  Then put in a couple staples to the north, then the south, then the west, then the east, gradually working your way around the edge.  This way, the fabric will be pulled evenly and straightly on your seat.   Trim away the excess fabric once you are finished. 

 Next, I needed to make the piping to go around the edge.  

 I cut a thin strip of the camel fabric. 

 I inserted the cord into the middle of the strip and sewed it shut using my zipper foot. 

I now had a long piece that looked like this. 

 Now using my staple gun, I stapled it to the edge of the seat, going all the way around. 

 Flipped the seat right-side up and set in onto the chair.  Screwed it into place. 

Now I was finished with the seat and it was time to tackle the cushion!

 The first thing I did was undo the zipper and take out the cushion. 

Then I turned the cover inside out to study the construction.  From here on out, I just tried to made the cushion cover look exactly like the orange cover.  I took it apart and used the orange pieces as my pattern.   I knew the first thing I would have to make was the side piece with the piping, and the zipper.

 I sewed my zipper onto a strip 

 After the zipper was on a strip, I sewed another strip (A) to the zipper piece (B).  After that, I sewed the cord onto the sides (C).

Here is a view from the right side. 

After this, I cut out the top and bottom of the cushion cover, using the old pieces as the pattern.  I sewed them on to the side panel I just made.  

(I got a little frustrated at this stage and stopped taking pics in my frustration.  Sorry.  I didn't measure the length of the side panel correctly and I ended up having to pick things apart and add fabric to the panel and then re-sew it).  Finally I was finished.

Now, I will enjoy the look of my new chair. 

Project Restyle #1: Baby Romper

Last week while craft blog surfing, I stumbled across this super fun embellished tank made by a woman named Anne over at Wobisobi.  She completed it as part of her weekly "Restyle" challenge.  She is recreating something from her closet every Monday this entire year, for a total of 52 projects.   The Project Restyle Challenge has been issued by bloggers Elise and Rachel over at A Beautiful Mess.  You have to take some you have, or something you've thrifted that you aren't currently using and re-purpose it so that you can again enjoy this item.  It can be anything from clothes to household items to furniture.  This is right up my alley, so I think I'm going to join the challenge.  Its a little late, so for I while I am just going to post as I complete a project.  Hopefully I will catch up soon, and then I will post weekly for the rest of this year.  

Today as I was sorting through newborn baby clothes to loan to my SIL, I came across this corduroy romper.   I made this romper 4 years ago for Buzz Lightyear when he was just a little guy from a dress of mine that no longer fit. I loved it, but after having children, I am just not willowy thin anymore, (more like pleasantly plump!)  

Since I was never going to be able to get into that dress again, I cut it up to make this cute spring romper.This was long before I was blogging or documenting my craftiness, so I don't have a before picture of the dress, or any pics for a tutorial.    

Its all one piece, just gives the illusion of overalls, which is so much easier for a baby.   I didn't have to worry about anything coming untucked.  I just love the little collar.  The white "shirt" was made from white muslin fabric scraps.

It has a zipper in the back.  This is one of the first zippers I inserted as grown-up, away from home and with out my mom nearby to help me step-by-step.   I managed, barely :)

 It was really fun and nostalgic for me to come across this little romper.  I can hardly believe how quickly the time has flown by.  In many ways it seems like yesterday that Buzz looked like this:

 Now he looks like this.  He is so grown up!

I also realized that I really haven't sewn that much for my boys.  My excuse has been that since they are boys, I can't sew for them since I won't be making little dresses.  While its true that I shouldn't be sewing dresses for my boys, I could still be sewing for them.  That romper was adorable.  Why didn't I make more little clothing articles for them while they were toddlers?  I just need to be a little more creative and find things to sew for them.  So, expect to see a few more kid posts in the future, kay?

Friday Fashions #11, Striped Skirt with Purple Gores

A couple years ago I saw the prettiest skirt, and I have been casually looking for one with similar lines ever since.  This skirt was knee length with princess seams to form a slender A-line. But to add interest, it had triangular inserts along the seams in a coordinating fabric.  These inserts added such a fun flirtiness to what would otherwise have just been a normal pretty skirt.  I have never since seen such a skirt.   After a little research, I learned that these inserts were called GODETS and/or GORES.   
   What's the difference? According to Wise Geek:
A godet is an extra panel of fabric inserted into a skirt or dress which causes it to flare. Flouncy, springy patterns often use godets, which also allow more freedom of movement on the part of the wearer. People who are seeking out flared skirts may want to look for godet patterns, as should people who want a wider range of motion in a skirt. Any type of fabric can be used in a godet skirt, although some fabrics may perform better than others.

A related concept is the gore, a triangular piece of fabric which fluffs out a skirt and makes it more flowing. A flare starts close to the top of a skirt, and is often used in patterns such as a-line skirts. Unlike a gore, a godet is inserted in the bottom of a skirt, starting at least halfway down the skirt and sometimes further. This means that the top of the skirt hugs the hips, and the godets cause the skirt to flare out as it reaches the knees or calves.  

I decided that I wanted to try my hand at one of these skirts.  I found a pattern with gores and godets for my first try.  I didn't want to try creating the pattern while trying to learn a new sewing technique.  I ended up sewing a skirt with 8 gores.  I had some pink and purple striped cotton fabric in my stash that I originally had planned on using for a peasant blouse.  I decided to use it for the skirt and buy a coordinating purple for the inserts.  
The main skirt pieces could have been sewn together to make an a-line skirt with princess seams.  

I think this opens up a world of possibilities for the thrify/restyle sewer.  You could take a skirt found at a thrift store and simply open the seams partially up the skirt and add inserts in a coordinating fabric. 

Notice how much fullness is added to the skirt once I added the gores.  This will make a very full skirt so be sure to choose fabrics that lend themselves to swirls and swishes.  I made a technical mistake here.  My striped fabric is very soft but my purple gore fabric is not as soft. So, this has made my skirt hang a little funny since my fabrics don't drape to the same degree.  I am hoping that after I wash it, it will be a little softer and swishier. 

 I'm still kinda on the fence with my thoughts on this completed project.  I feel like I learned a ton sewing this skirt.  But there are definitely things I would change for me next time.  I think for my figure, it would be more flattering if my main skirt was a little straighter and then I inserted godets halfway down instead of gores at the waistband.   Also, I would choose cotton fabrics more similar in weight.   This skirt is no where near as cute as my inspiration piece and I am feeling a little disappointed.  However, it is still a decent skirt;  and I will definitely wear it at least a few times.  And, as I wrote earlier, I learned a ton with this project. I love learning and I'm sure my next attempt will turn out even better.

My Apologies...

I'm running a little behind this week for Friday Fashions.  Well, more than a little behind.   I still have a few HOURS of sewing left to finish the skirt I've been working on for today.  I'm going to blame my tardiness on a few things!
1.  I've been totally absorbed in my UGLY ORANGE CHAIR restyle.   I just kept working on it yesterday instead of taking a break from it and beginning a fashion project for today.   So now, I am in the midst of a mess from 2 projects and neither is close to being finished.
2.  I worked last night.  While many people might say, big deal, let me explain.  As a nurse, I work 12 hour shifts, all night long from 7pm-7:30 am.   So, those quiet evening hours after the kids are in bed are lost to me for crafting purposes on the nights I work. I'm also exhausted after pulling an all-nighter.  I work many Thursday nights, but Mr. Right doesn't usually work on Fridays, thus enabling me to get a couple hours nap while he watches the kids.  This morning he had an orthodontist appointment though, so I came home from working all night to stay awake with my darlings all morning.  I did get a nap, but not until this afternoon, and I just wasn't really productive creatively this morning.
3. I wasn't productive creatively this morning because I was talking to my mom on the phone.  She trumps crafting for this blog.  So there!

I'm tired.  Its time for bed.  So goodnight to my 8 faithful followers!
I will finish up the skirt tomorrow and post accordingly.