victorian inspiration

I am determined to get better with my photo that I take of my projects before and after and during even.  My closet was in dire need of some freshness to it (new to me clothing ), shopping wasnt possible at this time so it was refashioning and upcycling to the rescue.  I had a bag of clothing that someone had given me to do whatever I wanted with them, so I went thru and found a peach shirt that i loved the color of it and set off to work.  The shirt was rather shapeless on me and required some altering to have a better fitted look, I found a picture on pinterest of what look I was going for in the overall design (photo 1). I did not use any pattern for this i just winged it.  I changed the straight collar to a peter pan collar (or rounded), added some pintucks to both sides of the button band and gathered the sleeves and added some lace, it does have some technical errors in it but I am happy with the over all look though i plan on adding some trim to the sleeves once I buy some more

( my inspiration)

(work in progess)

(before and after pintucks added)

(and the overall shirt )

old sheer panel into a kimono

well i am going to do a step by step for this blog for those that want to follow along and maybe up-cycle a sheer panel or other length of fabric. I am going to use this panel that i already have

things needed

1. fabric of choice, needs to measure at least 40x55
2.thread and needle or sewing machine (i use machine)
3. measuring tape and fabric pen or chalk

fold fabric in half with wrong side facing you,(photo 1) from your bottom edge measure up 10 inches and then in 6 inches and mark, should form an L shape(photos 2,3) and cut out that section(photo 4) and repeat on the other side, sew those side seams together(photo 5 , i also zig zagged edges). measure in from your side seams and find the exact middle and mark straight up on the length (height ways up to the fold at top) cut only the top layer on this mark (photo 6) now you can either do a close zig zag on this open edge or do a small hem I did a zig zag, hem bottom if needed and hem the sleeves. my finished product (photo 7)

photo 1 (fold in half)

photo 2 (measure L)

photo 3( L mark )

photo 4 (cut out L)

photo 5 (sew side and arm seam)

photo 6 (measure middle and cut)

photo 7 (finished)