Refashion, Repurpose, Redo...

Refashion: Toddler shirt into dress

RefashionMama — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:24:37 +0000

My children always seem to outgrow the length of their clothing long before the width! Pretty ironic this happens when I’m barely 5′ myself.

Anyway, I’ve been wanting to try adding ruffles to the bottom of my daughters shirts that are a bit too short. So, I took this shirt, which is a size 12 mos.

My daughter is just shy of 17 mos. She has lots of shirts that still fit her but are just too short and I think I’ve solved this problem…plus, ruffles are always cute!

So I decided I would use the lining I cut out of a skirt I’ve already refashioned (way to use ALL the parts, right?!?). I set my machine on the further stitch and tension setting and sewed about 1/2″ down from the top of the skirt lining. Make sure you leave several inches of thread at the beginning and end of your stitch so that you can pull the thread to create your ruffles.

Next, I added this to the bottom of the shirt, leaving the hem of the shirt on the outside.

Then, sewed it into place.

Lastly, I folded the skirt portion under and back up inside of the dress creating a bubble skirt. I sewed this into place.

I think I may sew a piece of lace around the waistline or add a fabric flower, though I’m not sure yet.

Now, I do know what I’ll be doing with all of her little shirts that are a bit too short though!

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Finally something for a little boy!

RefashionMama — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:34:40 +0000

Tonight, while pondering what to make for a little toddler boy, I was clueless. I didn’t sew when my boys were little so almost everything I’ve learned to make is for girls.

So, I started looking through my fabric pieces for inspiration when I came across this men’s dress shirt.

I had already cut it up to make a little girls dress…and one look at it and I was inspired to make little boy pj bottoms!

I took the sleeves and cut them off…

Laid them out and I KNEW I could make this work.

I took out several inches of stitching, lined up the fabrics to create a front and back portion, pinned and began sewing.

Lastly, I added an elastic waistband.

And I created these awesome toddler pj pants (so proud)!

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First project in my new craft room

RefashionMama — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:28:04 +0000

I couldn’t wait to lock myself in here tonight and start sewing. So, here we are…hard at work, enjoying our new space!

My new craft room

RefashionMama — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:38:44 +0000

It’s hard to believe I’ve spent the last year sewing at my build in vanity. Don’t get me wrong…it’s beautiful and my machine fit perfectly…lighting was great, especially the dimmers when my daughter fell asleep on my bed just feet away. The main thing my old sewing area lacked was a place to lay my fabric out to measure, pin, cut. I often used the floor because there isn’t much counter space.

So, today I moved in to my NEW craft room! I’m so utterly excited that I want to share my photos with all of you

A little background…I got a new sewing machine in December…my husband also bought me a dress form and tripod for my (December) birthday.

Pic of my birthday present…dress form, tripod and Uggs…plus a beautiful seafood dinner on the river. I’m spoiled!

Today, I repurposed my boys old dresser to use in my craft room. This dresser has been *hiding* in my sons closet for over a year! I painted it and filled it with plastic bins full of sewing supplies.

My husband bought me a new l-shaped table and desk at Ikea. I also bought a new thread organizer that I painted last night as well as a pink cutting mat.

I really wanted to create a fun, cozy space for my little toddler. I repurposed one of the dresser drawers making it into a small bookshelf for her. My parents had given her the butterfly rugs a while back and they seem to fit perfectly. She picked a few toys and we decided to use the pink/white basket to hold things.

My husband found a great pink bean bag chair for her…and she LOVES it!

Here’s a few more pics around the room. I really like how it’s coming together…still need to hang my peg board and a few things on the wall. Also would like some vinyl to spruce things up a bit.

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Refashion: Pretty silky dress turned into a top

RefashionMama — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:49:00 +0000

I love the fabric of this dress. It’s the whole reason I bought it! However, the style and length weren’t quite my style.

I have a friend who started following my blog since day 1…I made her a cute silky top from the bottom portion of the dress.

So, I chopped the whole bottom portion of the dress, pinned and hemmed it.

Next, I created a neckline and sleeves by adding two small stitches at the top of the shirt (what was the bottom of the skirt). The skirt was wide enough that I was able to create the neckline and sleeves from the whole bottom portion instead of cutting arm holes on the sides.

Now, it’s a beautiful silky top!

Before/After pic

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Homemade baby wipes (or eye make-up remover)

RefashionMama — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 06:23:59 +0000

When my daughter was born, we used only cloth wipes on her little bum. Well, since then we’ve mostly used Huggies…until I started making homemade wipes. These wipes are twice as nice because I also use them as an eye make-up remover

You will need a roll of paper towels, large non-serrated knife, two tupperware containers, a measuring cup, water, coconut oil and baby body wash.

First, cut your paper towel roll in half. Heat up 2 tablespoons of your coconut oil so that it is melted.

Now, in a mixing bowl combine 2.5 cups of water, 1 tbs of coconut oil and a squirt of baby wash for each container. Pour into Tupperware containers.

Place the paper towels (cut side down) in your plastic containers and squish them down with the lid to shut. It never looks like the lid is going to close but it will!

Now, turn the containers upside down to make sure the mixture reaches the whole paper towel.

Now wait 5-10 minutes for the solution to soak through all of the way. My daughter likes to play the drums on the containers…today she banged on the containers with cuties (oranges).

Flip the containers back over and pull out the center of the paper towel roll.

Pull the first wipe out from the center and you’ve got yourself homemade baby wipes and eye make-up remover! This is all we use and I make them about every 2-3 weeks.

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Pretty flowery skirt into shirt

RefashionMama — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:42:13 +0000

A friend of mine recently cleaned out her closet and asked if I’d like the clothes she was getting rid of…so, of course, I couldn’t resist!

Here’s the first item. I chose to refashion this one first because the print was so pretty.

First, I needed to remove the elastic waistband.

Now, I flipped the skirt upside down to use the wider portion on top. I made two small zig zag stitches on top creating a neckline and two sleeves.

See the new neckline?

Next, I folded the fabric over twice on the bottom of the new shirt, pinned in place and hemmed.

And 15 minutes from start to finish…I have a new flowery shirt!

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New Facebook page

RefashionMama — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:06:28 +0000

Please like my new Facebook page at RefashionMama

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Alteration: My new favorite way to keep original hem on jeans

RefashionMama — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:57:17 +0000

Reblogged from Refashion, Repurpose, Redo…:

I am short. There is no other way to put it. I’m barely 5′ tall. I think I’ve only bought two pairs of used jeans in my life that were already hemmed to my length…ever…in my life! My mom always hemmed my pants, even as I got older. Then, I started taking them in to a shop for alterations to keep the original hem which cost me $20/pair. I love how the original hem looks so I paid it. Well, recently I’ve tried a few different techniques and I’ve found one I really like. This is the tutorial I followed …

My creation: Mama+baby+sling sleeve DIY

RefashionMama — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:22:05 +0000

We went to Disneyland almost a month ago. My (then) 15 month old, loves being close to mama so I wear her in a ring sling pretty often. I’ve worn her this way since she was a few months old (especially handy when nursing!).

I walked around Disneyland with a blanket wrapped all around my daughter, tucked into the sling. This was bulky and the blanket slipped a few times in a couple of different places…even though I had it tucked in everywhere. By the time we were leaving the park, I also had my husbands sweater draped over the front of me as we were trying to keep our daughter warm and prevent her from getting sick.

My husband and I started talking about how we needed to create this blanket that goes over a sling to keep baby warm. I kept thinking some sort of mama + baby sweater would work…some sort of sleeve that you slide over both while baby is already in the sling.

Tonight, I had this vision of a quick version of a mama+baby+sling sleeve. I still plan to create a nicer, cozy, homemade version but since I’m all about refashion and repurposing, I hope this may come in handy for some of you…especially since its made out of something we all have lying around the house

So, I took my sling…Isn’t it beautiful? A friend of mine made me this when I had my daughter.

And I took this ol’ sweatshirt…

I cut off the sleeves.

My daughter decided she wanted to wear the sleeves on her head!

Next, I cut a wider neckline that would accommodate both my daughter and I (this will sit around moms chest and around her back, leaving room for babys head).

Now, sew up both sides of the sweatshirt. My sweatshirt was a 2xl so I had to take it in quite a bit. If yours is smaller (though remember it needs to fit over you and baby leaving baby enough room to breathe), you may only need to sew the armholes closed.

Put your sweet baby or toddler in your sling as usual then slide your mama+baby+sling sleeve right over both you and your little one. Since this is made out of a sweatshirt, it’s nice and warm, keeping the both of you warmer than before. When really cold outside, make sure and bring babys’ hands and feet inside of the sleeve, pulling it up over their head as well.

Stay tuned for my made from scratch creation as I will be working on this one soon! I want something cuter, warmer and of course easy to make…yet still homemade!

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