Some Rehab

Me-Made-May generates the urge to rehab old clothes, for me. I've learned through social media that I am not alone. Here are a few of my recent rehab projects.

First up is this San Diego shirt. The pattern is from the Sewing Workshop (TSW), of course. The fabric is a wonderful silk-linen blend that I bought at Textile Fabric in Nashville TN many years ago. I love this shirt but it tended to pull open across the bust line. The one button holds it closed and there is a wide placket that extends to just under my bust. You can just see the top-stitching on that placket.

I simply sewed a rectangle of top-stitching above the bottom of the placket up past the bust line. Voila! Problem solved. And it still slips over my head.

This next one was a little more complicated but the final fix was super simple. It's a Zen shirt (from Now and Zen by TSW) made in my one-and-only Liberty of London piece of fabric. Zen is the one with the double collar.

The day I made this, I wanted to try to imitate the placket and cuff on David Coffin's book cover.

Unlike Coffin's lovely shear linen shirt, mine renders all that work invisible. More importantly I miscalculated the length of the sleeves and they were always too long. That's not a problem I usually have and it's not immediately obvious how to fix it without re-cutting the sleeve.

My first thought was to fold up a pleat or two above the placket before reattaching the under cuff. Since it is full-on summer here in Atlanta, I changed my mind. I cut off the plackets, gathered the sleeves onto a simple cuff.

For the new cuff, I used a cool Japanese remnant from a previous shirt, rather than the left-over cuff. Now the sleeves are 3/4 length.

I really like this slightly more feminine detail with such feminine fabric. And I balanced it a bit with the square on back.

Next was a white shirt made up in TSW's Liberty shirt. There were stains, probably tea.

I tried and tried to remove them to no avail.

The pin marks the top-most stain on the offending sleeve.

I brought this project with me to NH for a visit with DS and family. I knew I would have a good bit of free time. They let me set up a little work area in DS's guest room.

I had some remnants but none long enough for a new sleeve. If I cut and hemmed both sleeves at the place of the highest stain, then the sleeves would have been an awkward length. So I added these cuffs.

I can wear it with the cuffs down, but I prefer them up.

My original make included a self-drafted stand collar. It was always just a little too tall, especially for warm weather. So I opened up the top of the collar and shortened it about 1/2". You know, it's the little things...

I am quite happy with the result. I hope to wear this white blouse a few more times before I stain it with something else.

I have one more white shirt in need of rehab. I accidentally washed it with some red PJs that I had washed multiple times before. There was some free-floating dye and it attached in a number of places, staining more than one piece of the garment.

It's all across the shoulder, extending to the sleeve and front. This one will get dyed. Someday.

I also gave myself a little rehab.

Before

After. I'm too lazy today to apply make-up.

MMM Day 31

Here it is, the last day of May, and so the last day of Me-Made-May for 2017. I actually thought I'd skip it this year but changed my mind. In previous years I posted to Flickr and I was unsure I could realistically post to my blog every day. Well, it worked out just fine. And I learned some helpful ideas for refining my wardrobe.

Top:

The tunic is made using Vogue 9171. This is a pattern designed by Marcy Tilton. I like it quite a lot. I raised the neckline as I always do with Marcy Tilton designs, and I changed the sleeves a bit, omitting the gathering at the cuff. I really like the cleverly engineered pockets and the easy fit. The fabric is Brussels washer, a linen-rayon blend.

Pants:

These are my cropped Helix pants made with a firm black ponte. Both pattern and fabric are from the Sewing Workshop.

Here is what the girls made at Camp Sew 'N' Sew today, a towel with an attached bag. You stuff the towel in the bag and wear it as a back pack. There's still room for a key, swim suit, sun screen and so on. Kudos to sewing sista' Rena for its design.

Lastly, here is a shout-out to anyone who has followed my blog this month. I've enjoyed seeing some very nice comments. Thanks so much!

MMM Day 30

Me-Made-May is almost over. And, as usual, I've learned some things about what I like to wear, what I like to make, and the intersection between those two!

Top:

This shirt is from Just A Pinch, a pattern from Cutting Line Designs. The name originates from the horizontal pin tucks down the front. I omitted the tucks, and more recently took about 3 inches off the back length. The cheerful yellow fabric is a Japanese cotton, also from Cutting Line Designs.

I really like that vest but have not made it yet.

Pants:

These are my newest make with the Quincy pattern from the Sewing Workshop. The fabric is a washed linen I purchased in Paris. It was already highly textured, as you might expect from a *washed* linen. I tested it to make sure because it doesn't behave exactly like linens I used before. It is much better behaved. And it was wonderful to sew.

I omitted the tabs on the side seams. And I think mine are too long for summer pants. I'll take them up 1/2 inch. I don't like for my pants legs to pool on top of my feet.

It was another fun day at Camp Sew 'n' Sew. Here's what we made today:

Aren't they adorable?

MMM Day 29

Today is the first day of Camp Sew 'n' Sew, a one week camp I've organized each summer now for 9 years! It's always fun and occasionally challenging. Totally worth it.

Top:

This is a tee shirt made with Grainline Studio's Lark Tee pattern. The fabric is rayon jersey, black and white striped. I love stripes!

Pants:

These are my newest favorite pants pattern - Eureka! Pants that Fit from Fit for Art. These are the first pair I made in white denim. The pants pattern is quite basic with front and back darts, ordinary side seams and inseam, with a tapered silhouette. For these I used a lapped center back zipper with a tiny on-grain binding at the waistline. I also cropped them for summer wear.

And here is what the girls made today:

Camp Sew 'n' sew is for girls temporarily living in a group home. This year, some have had sewing experience and others were brand new to sewing. They all seemed to have a grand time!

MMM Day 28

As I compose this post, I am anxious, anxious to go sew. For me.

And I'm preparing for a week of Camp Sew 'n' Sew next week. So. No sewing me. But lots and lots of fun!

Top:

This is the updated San Diego top from the Sewing Workshop. It came out years ago as a jacket with dropped shoulders. They've updated it to include a closer fitting top and an interesting tunic. So far I've only made the updated top. This is a silk-linen blend that I think I purchased a Textile Fabrics in Nashville TN. I think I must have lengthened the sleeves a few inches.

Pants:

These are the Quincy pants, also a TSW pattern. The pattern contains a jacket and these narrow leg, elastic waist pants. Mine are made from either a brushed silk or maybe a brushed rayon. Super light weight and lovely to wear.

I have a new pair of Quincy pants cut out and ready to sew.

MMM Day 27

oday I spent a fun morning with sewing pals at City-wide Couture (part of ASG Atlanta). I wore my latest make - the urban tunic from Indygo Junction. The fabric is black linen. Modifications included lengthning, adjusting the bust dart, and bias binding in place of armscye facings.

I want to find time to make this again - it is so easy to make and wear.

MMM Day 26

Today was a super busy day with babysitting and preparing for next week's Camp Sew 'n' Sew. I wore something I haven't worn yet this month - hooray!

Top:

This top is view B from Cutting Line Design's Simplify Your Life. It's made in a medium weight linen with added breast pockets. I omitted the shoulder buttons - it slips over my head.

Pants:

The pants are from the Sewing Workshop's Trio. They have an interesting shape and are almost too comfortable - elastic waist, low pockets on the side panels (yes, they are working pockets!), lantern shape. The waist is the signature waistline from TSW with a flat front. The fabric is probably Brussels washer (linen and cotton).

MMM Day 25

Cooler weather today means I can wear long sleeves and knit pants. Hooray!

One of the things I like about me-made-may is that I go through my closet and notice items I haven't worn. Sometimes I just need to put it in the donate pile. Other times a quick repair is needed. Or maybe I just forgot to wear it. The truth is that I have way more clothes than I need but I love to sew!

Top:

The top is a knit shirt made from Butterick 5925, a Katherine Tilton design. As I'm wearing this, I'm trying to figure out why I made a top from this pattern only once. I love this top. I made view A with a V-neckline. I no longer remember the source of the rayon knit, but isn't it cheerful? It's a good one to wear if I need a spirit lift.

Pants:

These are of course my favorite knit pant - the Helix pants from the Sewing Workshop - this time slightly cropped.

MMM Day 24

Today I'm wearing a topper from Folkwear and pants from the Sewing Workshop:

Top:

This shirt is a fun piece to make with its reversed neckline facing that creates a V-neck and an ethnic look. Called the Egyptian shirt, it is designed and sold by Folkwear. It also has clever pockets in the side panels. I've made the longer version, but of course this is shirt length or perhaps tunic length.

The fabric is a light-weight linen with a beautiful geometric weave. I purchased it from Marie DeGeorge in one of her sometimes annual purge of her design studio.

Pants:

Having worn these all day long, I decided to cut out a new pair. They are so easy to wear (and make). These are the Quincy pants from the Sewing Workshop. They are pull-on pants with an elastic waist and narrowed legs. The pattern shows a button and loop on the side of each leg. I omitted that.

The fabric used in today's Quincy pants is a mystery. It is one of those pieces that marinated in my stash long enough for me to forget its source. It feels like a brushed silk, but it might be rayon. I should do a burn test to see if I can tell. They are lovely to wear.

So that's it for MMM Day 24!

MMM Day 23

Today is a good day, 'cause I get to sew.

Bonjour! mini-quilt

Top:

Today's top is the Olive view from the pattern Alex and Olive, by the Sewing Workshop. I added navy striped knit piping to accent its interesting lines. I did not add the decorative back zipper.

Pants:

These are the Hudson pants also from TSW. These are made in yummy navy blue silk noil. I think I need another pair of these pants.

What I'm sewing today, I think: