Recycled Tshirts into a shirt for me!

I've been meaning to make this t shirt from Butterick and Connie Crawford for quite a while.  I'm working on using my coverstitch on the BabyLock so this was good practice.

I goofed on the shoulder and caught part of the pattern from one of the shirts, but I'll wear it anyway!

I lengthened the sleeves to 3/4 length and changed the neck to a V.  I made view B. Its a little difficult to tell from the pattern envelope, but view A is very fitted, B is kinda and C is even less. I chose B because I'm a little thick around the middle after 4 babies.

I'll make the V a little deeper next time and adjust the shoulder a bit, I have a broad back, but I'm very pleased with the results.

Getting all the machines up and running

I rented industrial space and have been looking for piecework and making my denim.  I'm bringing everything over slowly and getting it all set up to maximize space and keep it from becoming too cluttered too fast.

Having this space is so enjoyable, I wish I would have done it sooner! I thought I wanted to only work at home. It is nice for many reasons, but the most glaring one is that I don't think about wanting to sew when I'm doing chores and stuff. I know when I get to the shop I'll have the time!

Work is coming in slowly, and my denim is selling slowly. I'm hoping to get a shirt gig.  I may have messed it up a little. I really wanted a great sew only order like I had years ago in Milford, but this could be a cut and sew.  I just need to get my hands on one so I can show them my professional sewing.  Supposed to be this week. I'm trying to be patient!

My Artisan overlocks are waiting on parts, but I've got the Babylock set up for a coverstitch and, just in case, I finally got the buttonhole attachment on the Singer 403A.

It feels great to be sewing again.

Deconstructing denim and Pfaff 138

I've been recycling denim for a few years now. My brain loves the different blues together! I'm creating things that I like and people are buying what I'm making. What a crazy concept!

Its a good feeling getting these ideas out of my head. I can't really explain it. I've had this rug idea for a couple years, but didn't have the Pfaff 138 running. I can't even remember for sure when I bought it! Has to be at least 6 years. It was a fabulous deal on craigslist, $250.00. I needed the umph of an industrial type machine and the huge zigzag. It isn't very big yet only 10" x 25". Mary pointed out that it will be crazy heavy when its done, but I'm making it anyway. Not sure yet how big, we'll see!

Here is some other recycled denim I've been working on. A poncho and a tunic.

Best scissors for deconstructing jeans

I'm a big fan of Fiskars spring loaded scissors. I use their Micro tip 5" blades instead of clippies for cutting thread at the sewing machine. I once had a customer that did a fake flat felled seam on boiled wool. Each pass with the sewing machine meant a trim on the seam, followed by another stitching line.  I got good at using them and can't sew without them now. They do get dull quicker than I would like them to.

At last year's Sewing Expo in Novi, MI I purchased the above spring loaded 7" heavy duty power shears from the Kai booth. I noticed them when I was saying hello to an amazing sewer, Rosebud. I meant them to replace the small 5" blades that I use, but their blunt tip makes this not a good trade off.  (I won a pair of Kai shears in the 2008 PFF and those things have never been dull.)  They are very heavy duty and perfect for deconstructing denim. I've got a system for taking them apart and with any other scissors, I'm in danger of cutting myself because they slip at the thick parts if I go too fast. These cut through the whole pant like butter.

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My scores for the 1/2 scale challenge

Yikes! I just got my 1/2 scale dressform, garments and scores back in the mail. OUCH! I really don't mind any of the scores about fashionable or creative. I don't feel especially strong in those areas. But the construction scores, 2.5 and 3, yup those sting a little. And I really don't get the comment. I don't ever want anything to look homemade, handmade? yes. But what does deconstructed mean? Should I have parts of the actual jeans in the finished garment? Like a button or raggedy hem? I like a neat, professional finished looking garment. Its a challenge I have in the reconstructed things I do make. When YOU purchase something recycled, do you want everyone to be able to tell when they look at it? Its why I started putting the seams on the outside. Sigh, I'll live. But I think my husband will tire of hearing about this tonight.

My Half Scale Challenge entry

There she is! I knew I wouldn't win, but I had so much fun. I'll do it again next year and maybe get fancier. The ball gowns won, of course. Next year's inspiration is '50 shades of red'. Look on my examiner.com page to see the other entries. Its not finalized yet, but I was told that contestants next year will be able to use their own dress form and won't have to spend money on a specific one. I didn't have one, so it was a good excuse to buy one. Not sure what the prizes were yet. I'll hopefully see it the Newsletter and I'll add it to my article.

My inspiration was Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin. I took her class on Craftsy, Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric: Stenciling, Appliqué, Beading and Embroidery,  and bought her books and couldn't get her out of my head. It was awesome to work on the 1/2 scale because mistakes only used up a small amount of fabric and sewing time was minuscule.

Some pictures of my process, the self drafted skirt had a side zipper, 28 pieces and was on the bias. Cut from jean legs I got at a rummage sale. Jacket was from a half scale pattern and a pattern book for the sleeves. Rummage sale jean legs again. I was tempted to cover the whole thing with the rosettes, but I didn't. Self draped tank, in Alabama Chanin Style, all hand stitched, I used the stencil from the book and recycled t shirt.

Messy, messy, shop :/

It worked!

On my, this time it worked so well I have no idea what I did wrong. Only that it was VERY wrong! Excellent. I don't need to buy new equipment I can use what I have. Yippee!