Refashioned Tank from Men's Button Down

My b-n-law gifted me a stack of clothing after a closet clean out. Is there anything better for a refashionier? It was a little while ago, but I am so pleased to get around to one of his pieces! After gathering plenty of "pinteresting" ideas for men's button downs, I am happy to give one a try...

For the direction I wanted to go with this, I knew this old blue, ribbed, Anthro tank with lace trim would be the perfect partner in crime.

I tried it on first, drawing in chalk approximately where I wanted the pieces to fit together, and made sure to cut below that line.

Then piece two got the axe.  I cut off the arms/chest/collar all in one piece, thinking I may use that portion for another refashion someday.

It took the power of my whole brain to figure this puzzle out: right sides together, top portion upside down, so when sewn and flipped up, full article will be correct. (Yikes.) 

Starting with the underarms in place, then front center and back center, I stretched the tank to match the button down, like you would with elastic*, creating a bit of gather.

A zig-zag stitch seemed right to use to sew these two together, so there would be a little give, and then I trimmed off the excess.

*In hindsight, I would not do this exactly the same. The knit fabric pulled too much in the back especially, and had a funny, puffy effect. I suggest not to stretch the tank portion, but pin the dress shirt to it in the same manner. But, rather than taking the stitches out and starting again, I created a few little darts to get the back to lay more flat, which helped, and was quicker solution.

All in all, I think this is a completely wearable summer top. Luckily for me, I have more dress shirts to play with, so I'll have ample opportunity to put to use the lesson learned here.

...and in the meantime, I'll stop and smell the roses. 

Linen Pant to Skirt Refashion

Despite my loathing of ironing, I love linen. It makes no sense, I know. But it's so casual, easy-breezy, comfy, effortless, and cool- I can't help it! This favorite sandy linen pant bit the dust last summer, so I had to find a way to rework it into my wardrobe for this summer.

After teaching loads of music classes, crawling around the floor with the kiddos in them, these pants were worn through at the knee.

So that is where they got the first chop, at the knee, after which, I split open the inner seams of the legs.

Pulling those inner seams together, right to left, instead of front to back, I marked a nice straight, center line with chalk, for a skirt seam.

After removing some of the excess fabric, and pinning along the line, I sewed her up. Then flipped over and treated the same on the other side.

Very carefully, (undoing a few of the stitches I'd just sewn) I got the lines to match up perfectly on the right-sides, and continued the top-stitch detail all the way down both faces of the skirt along its newly constructed seams. This part made me super nervous- but it turned out ok!

In front of a mirror, I tried it on, and pinned it up and down several times before deciding on the desired length; then chopped once again. I went rather moderate, but can certainly shorten it further if I have a change of heart.

Finishing the bottom with an easy little hem was the final step...

... besides stepping back to admire my work.

And wearing it, of course! Is there anything more perfect for a beach mini-vaca than a little linen skirt? (Even if it is wrinkly again after a 4 hour car ride?)

Thing is, I have a dark brown pair too, with the same worn out knees... trying to decide what to do. Something different I think, but not sure what!?

Weekend Bag Fix

Ready for the partner to last week's Makeup Bag Fix? Here she is:

The gold trim was in terrible shape, but I love this bag for a weekender and wanted to find a way for it to be user friendly again. No more fairy dust in my car and all over my clothes all weekend long, thanks. I'm not sure why this happened, nor why it happened to me twice. I guess my selection of cheapie, metallic-painted fabric is the culprit, so I have only myself to blame.

I took quite a bit of time continuing with the corrosion process that had started itself for me. I picked, scraped, and wire-brushed for hours. And hours.

My first cover attempt was with this blue Hawaiian flower style duck tape. While I love mixed prints, and in my head (in the store) this was going to look precious, I hated it. That's when I decided I'd use it for the makeup bag.

Back at the craft store, I found this blue pin dotted fabric duck tape. YES. This with parts of the natural canvas underneath left uncovered turned out ever so lovely. 

As did my weekend at the beach.

I love you, Josh. Happy anniversary.

Makeup Bag Fix

This one is kind of a teaser for an upcoming post that's even more exciting. It involves the same problem, a strange, metallic material, crumbling and peeling away, as well as the same/ similar fix: duck tape. And no, I don't mean duct tape, I mean Duck Tape!

Now this disaster of a makeup bag, which had been leaving annoying, glittery dust all over my bathroom closet, is altered to a once again fully functional object, and does not have to be thrown out. Yay! 

Curious about the sister project? ...It's even more impressive. At least to me! ;)