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3 posts categorized “refashion”

September 14, 2012

Handmade Costume Series: DIY Elephant Costume Tutorial (includes tusks!)

So you need to know how to sew an elephant costume? Good! Jess from If Only They Would Nap is here with a great DIY tutorial to help you make someone into a cute little elephant! Don't forget to check out the rest of the Handmade Costume Series as well!

Hi there!! I'm Jess from If Only They Would Nap! You can find me there drinking lots of coffee and sewing for myself and my three little boys. If you're in the market for some DIY maternity pants or to make some prefold cloth diapers, those are two of my most popular tutorials.

When I asked my almost five-year-old what costume he wanted to wear for trick-or-treating this year, he didn't even have to think about it. "An elephant. And make it yourself, Mama, okay?" Well, if I must… So, if your house needs an elephant for your dress-up box too, here's how you can easily make one of your own. I find a lot of my fabrics, especially for costumes, by upcycling clothing that I find at thrift stores or that we no longer wear. [Go ahead and take a look at a few costumes that I've done in previous years… it's alright, I'll wait for you right here] Of course, you can just as easily use fabric from the store to make this.

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September 14, 2012 in handmade dress up series, refashion, Sewing , Sewing for kids, Tutorials | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 30, 2012

Taking pants down a size (or two) tutorial

The problem with losing weight is having to buy new clothes. Often in sizes you don’t wish to own. So what do you do when you find yourself wearing jeans that look like this:

No, this won’t do! No worries. There is a very quick fix that doesn’t involve taking apart waistbands and hems.

1. Put your pants on inside out. Figure out how much extra in the waist and legs you need to take in. PIn the top and carefully step out of the pants.

2. Sew down each side. Make sure to sew an even amount on each side so you don’t have a wonky seam up your backside.

Notice here I made an original seam then tried the pants on and realized I wanted to take them in 1/4″ on each side so I sewed another seam.

3. Finish the seam. Use a serger, pinking sheers or a zigzag stitch.

4. Sew the seam down at the waist and bottom of the pant leg. The outside will look like this:

Can you see that stitching 1/4″ to the left of the seam? The inside will look like this:

Sometimes you will want to take in the inseam as well to get a better fit. Just go for it in the same manor you did the side seams.

Now wear those pants with pride for the next 4 weeks until you go down another size!

Looking for adorable little girl patterns? Have you seen Petite Kids Boutique?

January 30, 2012 in DIY, refashion, Sewing , Sewing for women | Permalink | Comments (15) | TrackBack (0)

August 26, 2011

DY(S)G: Guest Tutorial- Tee to Skirt Refashion

Please welcome Megan from Brassy Apple! Megan is a very creative mama! You'll love her work so don't forget to stop on by and check out her blogs and store!

Get your "refashion" on with me today! Hi, I'm Megan from Brassy Apple and the I AM photo blog. I am also helping my 10 year old daugther develop her talents and passions with her new business – Brassy Blossom – Just a little "bud" creatively blossoming.

I love to Re-Fashion! It's simple, quick and you are re-using a piece you already have and/or already love! You can whip up this "TEE"zer skirt in no time! It's comfortable, original and eye catching! She will love it and so will her friends!

Supplies:

1 t-shirt

scissors

measuring tape

sewing machine

elastic

nylon chiffon or tulle

Step 1: Cut the t-shirt just under the sleeves. Determine the length you want the knit part of the skirt to be (from waist to just below bum) and add 1 inch for the casing. Measure and cut the t-shirt to that measurement. (My measurement was 10.5 inches)

Step 2: Cut your chiffon or tulle in long strips so you can gather it a bit. I like create this skirt with 2 layers of chiffon or tulle. (I cut mine to be 8" high by whatever length I had on hand). The great thing about chiffon and tulle is you can slightly overlap the materials or "snug" them up close together when 1 strip runs out to create a continuous look.

Step 3: Gather the fabric but running a basting stitch along the top of the strip. Do NOT back stitch at either end. Pull the thread from the underside of the fabric to gather or ruffle it. You can gather it a bit or a lot depending on the look you want how much material you are working with.

Step 4: Place the fabric 1" up from the bottom of the skirt piece. Pin into place all the way around. Using a straight or zig zag stitch sew the ruffled fabric to the skirt piece sewing over the stitching line creating from ruffling it.

Step 5: Fold the top edge of the skirt piece over 1" and pin to create a casing for the elastic to go through. Sew the casing leaving about a 2 – 3" opening. Thread your elastic through, sew the ends of the elastic together and then sew the opening closed.

The skirt is done! It is meant to be worn with leggings underneath it. Just a fun pop of color in a lightweight, flouncy, girlie skirt!

If you sew one up, share a photo in the Brassy Apple flickr group! I'd love to see it! Stop by and say hello sometime or see all the other tutorials on have on my site or pick up one of my ready made designs or pattern in my shop!

Thanks Megan! What a fun skirt!

Don't forget to add your photos to the Dress Your (School) Boy & Girl Flickr group. Any clothes you've made for school aged boys and girls!

Other Dress Your School Girl Posts