A Refashioned Halloween

Halloween turned out to be a busy season.  Costumes, costumes, costumes and face painting galore.  Three parties, and a bunch of happy little pumpkins.  It was a whirlwind amazing time, but...  I am tired.  

I had the best intentions of posting some tutorials, but all I have to offer are some random before and after photos.  Enjoy.

I found this button up at a local thrift store for $3. I turned it around and made a sleeveless tunic.  I then painted a pop art design with fabric markers.

Front.

Back.

The whole family.

A little robot.  I stitched on felt to a refashioned mens t-shirt and made the mask and head piece out of felt. The buttons were covered with aluminum foil.

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A friend's daughter brought over her old costumes.

And I refashioned her a mermaid costume.  What a cutie!

We also dressed up for a Dias de los Muertos party.  I love sugar skulls.

Polka Dot Period.

I'm calling this my polka dot period.  I can't stop making things with polka dots.  I made the above two dresses using a pattern.  Just can't get enough!  I love these two dresses so much...  

I can't say the same for this dress, however.  Yet, again I couldn't pass on the polka dots, and the stretchy fabric is perfect for a pencil skirt.

I cut the top off.  

And used my favorite Top Shop pencil skirt as a pattern.  

I thought I'd be extra crafty and make the top right side a little scrunchy.  So, I cut it a bit taller. 

Then, I pinned pleats and sewed over the top.

Hmmm....  I didn't plan so well because the back side ended up being higher than the top.  

Easy enough.  I just trimmed it up.  Next, I pinned the sides together and stitched each one. 

Lucky I have a serger.  I serged the sides up, and now it looks so professional : ).

I used an inch wide piece of elastic for the waistband. 

And I pinned it around the top.  

Loving this serger!!  I serged the elastic to the top of the skirt - on the wrong side.  If you don't have a serger, you could use a zigzag stitch.

When you flip it over, you have a nice elastic waistband. 

I stitched along the side seams to keep the waistband down.  Super easy. 

Ok...  So... The bottom didn't turn out exactly like I had planned. Neither did the side pleats add anything that obviously creative.  But all hope was not lost. 

I found a skinny piece of elastic and sewed it into the side of the skirt.  Sorry, I don't have photos.  I was so focused on making this work that I forgot to take a photo of the installation.  I was planning on "re-enacting" the photo with another piece of elastic, only to find out that I had no more. 

Here's a pretty good tutorial for sewing elastic. 

Nice and scrunchy.

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Now I have a lovely pencil skirt to add to my growing polka dot fashion collection!

Summer Isn't Over Yet.

Happy times at the pool.  "Throw me again, Daddy!"  This kid is a little fish.  Already swimming and growing up so fast. 

So... Surprise!  I actually finished a refashion, and here I am posting again this month.  Remember this dress? 

It's been hot and humid here - uncomfortable for Hawaii.  I've been wearing the most airy clothes I can find, and this refashion came at just the right time.  I started with this dress. 

This Tori Richard dress came to me through a consignment shop.  I found it on the rack with the tags on, and couldn't believe that it was only $20 (retailing for $125).  Then I tried it on and realized why it was such a deal.  There were holes on the bottom half.  When I showed the owner, she insisted on giving it to me for free.

I tried to wear it as is, but it wasn't so comfortable and a little loose in the bust. It was a prime candidate for a 60's style summer dress.

I used my 60's dress as a pattern and cut a V and armholes in the bottom section of the Tori Richard.

I then used the top part of the 60's dress to draw a pattern for the neckline and sleeves.

There wasn't enough fabric for two layers, so I used one of my husband's old shirts for the neckline and sleeve lining.  Can you believe he was going to throw it away?

I made the back pattern section a bit longer than the front so that the shoulders would hang nicely. 

I used what was left of the top to make the outer layer of the neckline and sleeves. 

Ugh!  Sometimes I don't think things through very well.  I cut two of the same piece.  I ended up having to sew scraps together so that I could cut another piece. 

Good thing it's a busy pattern. 

I added interfacing to the outer layer. 

In the next sections, you'll see that I stitched the lining to the outer layer.

I ironed them down. 

I then stitched the front and back together. 

And flipped them inside out.  

I sewed the front and back together at an angle. 

And sewed it to the dress. 

I added bias tape around the armholes and patched the holes.  Once I figured out the pattern, this dress was super easy to make.  I love it!!!

So much more practical. Oh!  And I got the DKNY slippers at a garage sale for $3.  Score!

 

May your remaining summer days be blessed.