Refashioning

 I've become frustrated with a few sewing machines, only stitching backwards, won't stitch in fabric but makes perfect patterning on cam settings, sticky dials and insides, so after a few days of that I turned to sewing for an ego boost.  While moving things around I found a bag of clothes I set aside because they were just too nice to toss and I hoped to bring them back to life as a different item. There were two men's shirts that I wanted to make into full aprons, not the half aprons I've made in the past, so I made up one as a sample

Man's Shirt now a full sized apron

and I liked it but that's as far as it went.

There were two skirts with border prints that just begged to be made into little girl dresses so that was a great project. Using the following patterns

I used a blue skirt with a border pattern to make

Simplicity 1673, size 3

but I didn't have enough for the neckline band. However, I did have some collars so when I combined them with a set for the front

and another set at the back

all I had to do was to sew them together at the shoulders. I did have to make up the neckband in white and laid the collar pieces on top but I think the collar shows off quite well. 

Next up was a skirt I never wore but I bought because of the border print. Using McCalls 336 (2010), I made up this model

adding the tie belt/sash because it seems quite wide! I also made the shoulder straps adjustable by using three buttonholes with fairly large buttons so they would look like decoration if they weren't all used due to the length needed. The straps seemed too thin for buttonholes so I added grosgrain ribbon on the back. As long as I had the ribbon out I added my granddaughter's name on it so now she can tell the front from the back

The final refashion was a bridesmaid dress from Evelyn's mom. I said I would donate it to a free prom dress cause but it was just too old and not at all prom-like

Bridesmaid circa 2004

I loved the dresses from Simplicity 5638 (2003), but the bridesmaid dress had a separate skirt, with gores, and a highly structured top, I wasn't sure this was going to work. But it did:

Front

I actually laid the front pattern piece right onto the front of the beaded bodice and cut from there. When it came to the back I did the same thing, especially since it was a separating zipper so I wanted to keep it in place as well as the row of buttons

Back

Because we live in the land of cold, I thought a little jacket might work out well and there was just enough fabric left over for a bolero type shown in the pattern

From bridesmaid to little maid

I struggled with all those gathers on the skirt and came to the conclusion bridal satin is not made to be gathered. I ended up taking it out and making pleats but it still seems to stick out even after pressing. Lesson learned but it was all for free! I didn't dare line the skirt but the bodice is fully lined. All three dresses were approved by Evelyn's mom and I loved the whole process. I honestly don't even care if she doesn't have the opportunity to wear such a fancy dress, I now know I can do it.

Sewing machines are awaiting and maybe now I can face their problems again but wait, I hear the call of winter mittens out of fleece and old sweaters that also want to be refashioned. Will it ever end? Let's hope not!