Waist not, want not

Have been on a tear lately, what with altering seams, hems and such to personally tailor ill fitting garb. Chrysanthemum gave me a Burberry plaid skirt and the waist band either made me cry ~or~ I wouldn't button it. Even moving the button over wouldn't cure the problem but the skirt otherwise fit perfectly. Instead of blaming my own body, I deemed it to be a manufacturing misfit as the waistband was simply too small. But you know I loves me some plaid so out comes the seam ripper.

The waist band is gone, I tell ya.

Serged the lining and the skirt together.




Attached grosgrain ribbon from my stash.

Folded the ribbon to the interior of skirt.


Hand sewed the ribbon for hidden stitches.


Top stitched the skirt, following the tartan plaid for less obvious machine sewn lines.


WooHoo!
It's plaid!
It's a skirt with a no-cry waist band!

The life of one free shirt

Brother-in-law received a freebie shirt for participating in a golf tournament but never wore it so sis Rikki Tikki Tavi gave it to me to add to my thrift store drop-off but I had an idea for it. Remembering a sewing revamp online, I cut it into an easy and casual skirt.
With the remaining fabric, I made a This Mama Makes Stuff baby gown and sent it to Baby Cutie, son of Ernest and Eileen.
Eileen told me that Baby Cutie wore it as a small baby and just today sent me a pic of him (9 months) wearing it as a shirt with jeans.
Hey, exactly what is Cutie sneaking out of that wine 'frig? He's a quick learner, I tell ya!

Baby gown from recycled shirt

Remember this shirt?

Cut off the sleeves and used the remaining fabric to make a baby gown from a tutorial by This Mama Makes Stuff.

Refashion a large shirt

Sister gave me this brand new golf polo with a corporate logo. Her husband never wore it so I cut it straight across under the armholes. Looka, a cute summer skirt with fold-over elastic waist. No hemming necessary!

Cat food tote bag

Inspired by this

Thinking that folks can make a tote bag from juice bags, why not a cat food bag?

Hey, looka, polka dot lining!

The interior green ribbon is a key loop and the tote strap is made from a plaid necktie.

Utilitarian denim tote bag

Man, I love making tote bags, what with the straight line sewing and all but this is a heavy duty bag made for heavy stuff, thus, denim from cast-off jeans. Cut 2 legs, turned so that bottom hem is the top edge, split the inside seam and joined them. Removed 1 back pocket and restitched to outside. Ripped off the waistband and used that for the tote strap.

WooHoo - new Skitzo Leezra labels inside the pocket!