reconstructed clothing

[faboolicious]

I love reconstructing and recreating clothing!! But I would love some new ideas - I've done a couple really cool tshirts turned hottie tanks and want to try the whole felting old wool sweaters and making them into cool scarves, etc. Anyone have any other ideas or patterns?

Thanks!

[felt]

A friend of mine this weekend was wearing a really cute top. Or so I thought. It looked so much like one I was coveting at an expensive boutique. She told me it's an old skirt of hers that she decided to wear on top(!).

It had a really wide 15cm elastic band (I don't know what it's called but it's the stuff that sweatshirt cuffs are made of), and the short skirt is a little bit flared and asymmetrical. All pink. Very cute.

[Katrin]

I've got a couple of pieces of clothing I've been meaning to reconstruct for a while now. One is an old coat - it was originally an oversized, shapeless long winter coat with a built-in scarf. I just loved the fabric - coarsely woven red cotton from India with black elephants block-printed all over. It got compliments wherever I wore it.

But it got washed enough to become kind of shapeless, and I let it sit in the sun in my car too long and part of it faded. The lining shrank at a different rate than the shell, and the whole thing just wasn't cutting it any more. So I decided to revamp it.

So far, here's what I've done: I used a seam ripper to take all the pieces apart carefully, getting rid of the cheap cotton lining. I dyed the whole thing bright red again and went over each individual elephant with a Sharpie (it's been so long, I've blocked out how long that took). I found a pattern for a more tailored-looking coat and bought new lining fabric.

And the coat's been sitting dismantled for about a year. Even using the scarf as part of the new coat's body, I'm still going to have to do some "patchwork", piecing cut remnants of the coat together, to make the sleeves. I'm planning to use some contrasting recycled fabric (an old pair of black velvet pants) for the collar and cuffs. It's getting to be that time of year again - I should make this the winter that I actually get the thing done, because once it's finished, it's sure to be a terrific conversation piece if nothing else.

Also in the works: An out-of-style pair of pleated-waist dress pants that I plan to make into flat-fronts.

[faboolicious]

Wow! That coat sounds amazing! You'll have to post some pics when it's finished - i love the black velvet collar and cuffs too. For the pants, are you just removing the pleats and then taking it in? Cool!

Here's my next question: any easy instructions on how to sew a zipper into a new piece of clothing? I know there's a bunch of weird ironing and folding and stuff going on with that, and you're not supposed to just sew it on flat (although that seems to make more sense to me!). Anyhoo, any ideas or easy suggestions?

-Faboolicious

[lalamark]

My most successful revamp so far has been a very 80s electric blue skirt with pleats in the front and elastic inserts in the waist. The original waist was too small, so I cut off the waistband, flattened out the pleats, and made a new one of pink seam binding. I shortened it by several inches to make it perfectly knee length and then added a line of pink rick-rack three inches about the hemline. I was inspired by the Anthropologie spring catalog.

The only downside was that it was still a bit too small so I had to give it to a friend. But she looks great in it...

[Bashi Squashi]

I started reconstructing in junior high when i first learned to sew in home ec. Whoda thought it would pay off back then? My thrifty grandfather was proud and gave me his sewing machine when I was about 15. He sewed a lot and taught me a few things.

My biggest sewing passion is halloween costumes. I have 2 kids- one 12 and the other 4. Plus a husband. I start around now- early sept. to get them all finished.

My proudest creation has to be Blue's Clue's "Blue" I made last year for my son. Totally from scratch. It turned out so darn cute. He wants to wear it again this year. I would have included a pic but I don't know how to do that on this forum.

After halloween, if the christmas season doesn't consume me, I start quilting until spring.

On the ZIPPER question:
The package has detailed instructions on how to sew a zipper on. It seems like a lot of work but it does pay off. I follow step by step every time because I always forget exactly how to do it. Be careful with invisible zippers that you don't sew too close to the teeth. Using a zipper foot is really necessary.

Well I blabbed enough. This is a pretty cool little community. I"m glad I found it.

-Bashi

[kkusnier]

SO my husband has a lot of retired clothes that he only wore to work and are still good. I have been turning them into my clothes. I took one of his button down long sleeve plaid dress shirts and made it mine. :)
I do nto have much of a tutorial because i was pressed for time but you can see the shirt on my site.

http://www.randomblogging.com/articles/2007/08/2
1/reconstructed-clothes
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[iamsonotcool]

well, lately i've been taking old vintage skirts, cutting them short and sewing up the bottom to make a purse. i used old ties as straps, or if the skirt has a belt... i just havent got the lining right yet. so yeah, you might be better at it:)
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[She_snip_tshirt]

i ADORE reconstructing and altering clothing. i really like "Generation-T; 108 ways to reconstruct a t-shirt" it's really a great inspiration. it's what got me started in DIY
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