Refashioning Tips & Tricks

Earlier this week, I was asked to speak to a group of women from my church about refashioning.  Here's a few of the tips and tricks I shared with them that I thought you might find helpful as well. 

WHY REFASHION?

• It's saves money.
• It's environmentally friendly.
• It's fun to create an unused item into something new!
• Create original clothing.  Once I showed up at church and two other ladies had on the exact same dress that I had purchased in Florida.  I was sure my dress would be unique because I'd purchased it so far from home. While talking to the other ladies, we laughed about the fact that we had each purchased our dress in a different state!  If you refashion your clothing, I can almost guarantee that you'll never find yourself in this situation.
• Create an article of clothing that preserves the best features but changes it into something new & more fashionable.

REFASHIONING TIPS:

• Gather together the items you want to refashion and put the elements into a pile, include a photo or sketch of how you want the refashion to look like once it's complete.  

• Change the color of the item you want to refashion by using: fabric dye, tea staining, staining with coffee, tumeric, paint, bleach, Sharpie markers or stamping.

• Resize an article of clothing by making it smaller or larger.
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• Add a pocket, stitching (embroidery), additional fabric, or layer on lace.

• Transform one thing into something completely different.
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• Combine more than one item into a refashion.
•  Look at your fabric. What can it do? Is it stretchy?  See through? How does it drape? Is it heavy? How does it feel?  What kind of item would profit from these properties? 
• Reuse the best features of the garment you’re refashioning. Ask yourself the following two questions:  What don't like about the garment? What do you like about the garment?
• Always turn the garment wrong side out to re-size.
• Invest in a good seam ripper and sharp fabric scissors.

REFASHIONING TRICKS:

1. When possible, use the original hem of the garment (like in this Hand-me-down Blues Dress.)
2. If you're going to purchase something to refashion, buy the largest size possible.  You almost always spend the same about of money but you'll get more fabric.
   
3. Shrunken wool sweaters make great stuffed animals & baby pants (felted wool is very absorbent for baby clothing).  See HERE & HERE.
4. Have no fear, just hack away.  Mistakes can result in some amazing refashions not originally thought of. (per Karen Ellis of Rude Record)
5. Sometimes just changing the buttons on an old article of clothing can give it a pick-me up. (per Agatha Lee of Green Issues by Agy)
   
6. You can also add a fun pocket to give new life to an article of clothing.
7. Keep all scraps you've cut off the items you're refashioning until you’re completely done with the refashion.  You never know when a small piece of fabric might be needed.  
   
8. Sometimes, simply change the neckline will make your garment more wearable.      
9. Keep a lint roller near by, it'll help pull loose threads out of fabric and off you as you unpick and rip seams. 
   
10. Look for unusual sources for your fabric like, pillowcases (as pictured above), curtains, sheets and tablecloths. (per Amy Mayer of Sews n Bows)

Great blogs with fun refashions - Remember the old saying,  "A picture is worth a thousand words"?  Find refashionists that you enjoy and learn from what others have created. I've got quite a few refashion projects on my blog which I hope you'll check out HERE.  Four of my favorite blogs that feature refashioned projects are: 

•  Second Chances By Susan (Featuring really nice and modest refashioned clothing.)
•  Creating My Way to Success (Hundreds of links to refashioned clothing.)
• Refashionista (Funny and crazy before photos.)  
• At Second Street (Cute ideas for children's refashions.)

You might want to find other blogs that showcase their projects by searching Pinterest. For additional inspiration, I created a Refashion board HERE. Please feel free to join.  

It's still Spring which is a perfect time of year to clean out your closet and start having fun refashioning what you don't wear. If you have a tip or trick to refashioning that I didn't mention, please leave me a comment & I'll add it to this list.  xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Crafty Allie, Diana Rambles, Sustaining The Powers

Transform Your Old Sandals

Do you own sandals that you hardly ever wear, but you just can't bring yourself to throw them away? If you do, this post is for you. While putting away my winter shoes and pulling out my summer ones, I came across a pair of sandals that I've had for several years.  They are super comfortable for my wide feet but I hardly ever wear them because of the colors in the fabric.  

I've been wanting to try this project ever since I saw this post but I'm not a big fan of regular flip flops.  So the "bones" of these sandals was perfect for this transformation.  First, I gathered together these supplies:

• 7/8" ribbon (other widths can be used)
• a variety of shell beads (mine were upcycled from a shell belt & necklaces)
• clear seed beads
• pearlized beads 6mm
• thread
• needle
• pins
• strong epoxy glue like E6000

And I proceeded to transform my sandals like this:

I took the end of the ribbon and tucked it into the bottom of the strap. Add a little glue to the ribbon's end or pin this in place. Then I started to wrap that ribbon around the strap until I got to the toe strap.  I wrapped it once around the other side and then looped it back to wrap the toe area.

Then I wrapped the ribbon back and forth over the middle area.  Once that was done, I added a bit of glue to the end of the ribbon. 

Then I add seashells, seed beads and pearlized beads.  For one sandal I glued all the accents on ahead of time, and for the other I simply started sewing these elements on as I went.  The nice thing about using this type of sandal was that the straps were all fabric, making it was easy to sew right through those straps. 

I'm quite happy with the new look from my old sandals. Try transforming an old pair of sandals yourself and see what new look you can create! xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Crafty Allie, Diana Rambles

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How to Make Tutu Pants

Do you have a place you often go to get inspiration for your creations?  My inspiration seems to come from the same places lately. Once again, I recently found inspiration at the dollar store.  It happened when I saw this tutu skirt.  

This granddaughter, pictured below, loves wearing tutu pants! What are tutu pants, you might ask?  Well, they are leggings with a tutu attached. Of course.

Last fall, I made these bright pink tutu pants for her and the fact that she still loves wearing them is an understatement.

She has another pair of black tutu pants that her mom purchased for her, but she wore them so much that there were holes in both knees.  I took those hole-ridden pants and cut the skirt off of the pants and resewed it onto another pair of black leggings. Problem solved.

Knowing she loves these pants, I purchased that dollar store tutu and then bought a pair of leggings from WalMart.  I don't mind telling you I spent a whole $5 per pair to create these granddaughter-pleasing tutu pants.  If you'd like to make some too, here's how I did it:

I unpicked the elastic from the dollar store tutu. Then I added a gathering stitch back onto the tutu. 

I pulled the gathering stitch to adjust the tutu to fit the leggings.  
I then pinned the tutu onto the leggings below the elastic waistband stitches.

I plugged in this stitch into my sewing machine (a large zig zag stitch) and sewed that cheep tutu onto those inexpensive leggings.

After the tutu was attached to the leggings, I pulled out the gathering stitch.

 

In under 30 minutes, I made one more pair of these tutu pants so she and her cousin would have coordinating tutu pants.  I must say, after I gave these to my granddaughters, I had two very happy girls in their simple tutu pants dancing and playing!  My oldest granddaughter even wore hers to the beach.  

Give this technique a try, I'm sure you know a little girl who would love wearing tutu pants too!  xoxo Grandma

Linked to: Craft Gossip, Diane Rambles, Totally Tutorials, Crafty Allie

Make a Color Block Maxi Skirt From Tee Shirts

Some of the most comfortable articles of clothing I own are maxi skirts. They're great for traveling, lounging around, or to wear to work... or anywhere. I love them. 

I had a bunch of old t-shirts around my house and decided to turn them into a maxi skirt. So, gather those old t-shirts and let's make you a comfortable maxi skirt! You'll need three shirts to make it happen.

From the two tee shirts you want for the middle and the top layer, cut off the original hems.

Next, pin the bottom layer to the middle layer and then pin the middle layer to the top layer.  Sew those layers together with an overlapping stitch.

After unpicking the cowl neck from the moss green tee shirt, I discovered that this fit around my waist.  I cut two inches off of the narrowest part of the cowl neck to create my waistband.  I didn't need to finish the top of the waistband because it's edge (since it was a cowl neck) was already finished.

After gathering the top layer of the skirt, pin the waistband in place and sew onto the skirt.  You should now have a color block maxi skirt to wear.

This project takes about 1 hour to make... unless you unpick a cowl neck.  Add extra time for that fun chore.  Just for fun, here's a few photos of the tee shirt remains after cutting them up to make this skirt:

As you can see, there's still extra tee shirt fabric to make another project or two.  

I have a simple rule I follow when I sew something for myself: For every new item I make myself for free, I get to buy new shoes. I love the new shoes that I purchased for this skirt! xoxo Grandma

Shared at:  Crafty Allie, Nap-Time Creations, Diane Rambles, The Dedicated House, The Dedicated House, Sustaining the Powers

Ebleskiver - Breakfast Choice of Grandchildren

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We are taking a break from our regularly scheduled craft time to bring you this very important post on breakfast.  Yes, breakfast. These babies in that above photo are the most requested item I get from grandkids to make for breakfast. They are called Swedish Ebleskiver or aebleskivers. They are light, small pancakes, They take longer than regular pancakes to make but they are so worth it!  Just ask any of my grandchildren!

To make these, you'll need a special pan that looks like this:

This is the recipe that I use.  If you want to download this recipe go HERE.

While you're mixing up the ebleskivers, let your pan heat up on the stove.

Danish Ebleskievers

2 cups buttermilk

2 cups flour

3 eggs, separated

½ teaspoon salt

1 tsp. soda

2 T sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

Put egg whites in one bowl and the yolks in another bowl.   Beat egg whites and set aside.  Beat egg yolks , add sugar & buttermilk, then slowly add flour, soda and baking powder.  Lastly, fold in stiffly beaten egg whites.  Place small amount of butter in each depression of the ebleskiver pan.  Fill 2/3 full of dough.  Cook over low temperature.  Turn with a fork or skewer.  Serve with maple syrup.

I like to make all the batter into ebleskivers and then put the ones we don't eat into a storage bag or container for later.  Later just warm them up in a microwave and watch your little ones be happy because they can eat these every day while their grandmother is taking care of them.  xoxo Grandma

Polo shirt Post HERE
Photo taken by Nu Image Studios

Shared at: Crafty Allie, Sustaining the Powers, Nap-Time Creations, Diane Rambles

How to Make a Fabric Fairy House - a Refashion & Tutorial

You are in for a treat with this project, because although it took me a while to create, this fairy house now tops my list of favorite creations! So who is ready to have more fun than you can imagine creating this gem using a shrunken sweater, a corn meal container and a few odds and ends from around your house? 

Supplies needed:

• empty corn meal container
• X-Acto knife or box cutter
• embroidery floss: 2-3 shades of green, brown & beige
• felt or felted wool sweater (a shrunken sweater)
• 1 button (for door knob)
• beads - from old necklaces
• fabric water soluble marker
• 9001 Epoxy Glue, clear
• thread
• scissors
• small pieces of lace curtains or netting
• optional items: decorative bird and or butterfly (I purchased mine from a dollar store)
• green felt or felted wool for the leaves
• 3 pipe cleaners
• cut 3 pieces of green felt 7/8" x 13", cut one end of each piece like this: 
  

Download templates for the door, window and leaf foundation color patterns HERE and the basic house pattern HERE.  

Cut two fairy house leaf foundations from felt and one from stiff interfacing.

1.  Draw the door onto a corn meal container.
2.  Turn the container upside down, using a sharp box cutter or X-Acto knife, cut along the door lines.
3.  Tape the windows in place and draw around the window pattern.  
4.  Cut the windows out with the box cutter.

5.  Wrap the felted sweater around the container. Cut enough fabric so it goes around the container and add at least 3/8" for a seam allowance.  Cut the felted sweater as follows:

Now, pin the door onto the fabric and cut out the door opening.

6.  Pin the window pattern directly over the cut out on the container.  Trace around the pattern with a fabric marker.

7.  Cut a small hole through the back side of the fabric and cut around the traced pattern.

8.  Cut out the door from felt. With a fabric marker, trace the wood lines onto the felt.

9.  From old lace curtains (or netting) cut 3/4" overall larger than the window pattern.  Pin over the window openings and sew in place.

10. Using two contrasting colors of embroidery floss, chain stitch around the openings of the windows.

11.  Sandwich interfacing between the 2 felt doors and pin. Zig zag using various widths the wooden lines onto your door. 

12.  Finish the edge of the door with a blanket stitch.

13.  Stitch the fairy house together to form a circle. Using a straight stitch, sew the door to the left side facing on the door opening.

14.  Blanket stitch all the way around the door (I hand embroidered this area.).

15.  Pin the door over the cut out area.  Add elastic cording by machine stitching to the right side facing of the door 3" from the bottom. Add random beads around the door opening.  Hand sew a button for a door knob to the door.

16.  Sandwich interfacing between the fairy house leaf foundation and sew around the edge at 1/4". Now sew the centers of the leaves. See the pattern for all the leaf details. This pattern is the actual size of the foundation.

17.  Blanket stitch the felt around the pipe cleaner.  

18. Pin the leaves to the top of the fairy house.
19. Stuff the felt vines into the hole at the top of the house.
20. For the rose leaves, make a stem that you'll attach the leaves to by cutting off some of the "fuzz" from the pipe cleaner.  Then apply some tacky glue to the pipe cleaner.  Now, wrap reddish brown embroidery floss all around the pipe cleaner.  I wrapped 3 1/2" inches for my stem.  Add the rose leaves to your house and glue on a rose or two.  
21.  Put strong adhesive all around the outside edges of the corn meal container, especially the windows and door.  Pull the house over the container and press the edges into the glue.

22.   I added paper clips to the door area to hold the house tightly against the corn meal container.  Set the house aside and let the glue dry.
23.  Add the house onto the leaf foundation and pin in place.
24.  Sew the leaf foundation to the house.
25.  If desired, add a few additional extra leaves, a butterfly and or a bird to your house using your adhesive.

26.  Create several fairies and watch your child or grandchild have fun!  For fairy creating tips see THIS post.


This fairy house is for that child in your life that likes playing in a world of make believe. You can turn this into a darling night light by tucking an LED light through the door. Just look at the soft glowing light that comes through the little windows once the light has been added:

Take your house outside for a while and see if any fairies want to take up residence in this cozy, whimsical little home.

If you don't want to take the time to actually make a fairy house but love this one, please stop by my Etsy shop.  xoxo Grandma