The Renegade Seamstress

You Are About to Enter Another Dimension

Posted on December 8, 2013 by The Renegade Seamstress

Happens to me all the time.

I call them my Twilight Zone Moments.

Those moments when I truly am in another dimension. “A dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind, a wondrous land whose boundaries are those of imagination.” Those moments when I lose all track of time and space. Those moments when creativity takes over my brain. Those moments when, to me, all seems right with the world.

My Twilight Zone Moments.

Despite the frigid temperatures yesterday, I traveled to that “wondrous land” once again. Snug and warm next to the fireplace, working on a new upcycled sweater hat tutorial for you, Pandora blasting through the speakers, scissors and sewing machine smokin’, sweater lint flying through the air, and somehow, hmmmmmm, I lost all track of time.

Before I could say, “I heart Rod Serling”, it was four o’clock. I quickly stripped off my day old pajamas, threw on my refashioned paisley dress, ran a brush through my hair, grabbed a jar of pickled asparagus, and ran out the door to the first holiday party of the season.

Sometime after my second glass of wine, while visiting with friends in Lisa’s beautifully decorated living room, it occurred to me.

The winners! I forgot to post the clutch winners!!!!

I was twenty miles from home, slightly tipsy, and enjoying the evening, so I decided you would forgive me if I posted the winners a day late. Now, without further delay, and before I slip into another one of my “moments”, here are the names of the lucky winners.

The winner of the Pendleton Wool Clutch is, Mari Hanson (and yes, I really did pull your name out of the hat!!!)

And the winner of the Placemat Clutch is, Jo H.

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who pinned and commented. May you all enter that “wondrous land where the only boundaries are that of imagination”. And when you’re there, call me, so we can meet for lunch. I’m actually going there right now to create some more easy DIY holiday gift tutorials for you.

BTW, there is still time to enter to win a pair of “Smittens”. Just head over to my sweater mitten tutorial, pin it to one of your Pinterest boards and leave a comment. I’ll announce the winner next Saturday, December, 14th. (As long as I’m still in this dimension 🙂 )

Happy Holidays!!!

Beth

For more refashion inspiration:

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged clothing, DIY, fashion, giveaway, reconstructed clothing, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, tutorial, upcycling | 8 Comments

Two Lucky Winners Announced Later Today! You Still Have Some Time To Enter To Win.

Posted on December 7, 2013 by The Renegade Seamstress

Today’s the big day!

The winner of the Pendleton Wool Clutch and the winner of the Placemat Clutch will be announced later today. You have until today at noon, Pacific time, to head to the tutorials, pin them to one of your Pinterest boards and make a comment, in order to be entered into the drawing.

Ready. Set. Pin!

Good luck and thanks for pinning!!! 🙂

Beth

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged clothing, DIY, DIY clutch purse, fashion, giveaway, Holiday gift ideas, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, upcycling | 10 Comments

DIY: Sweater Mitten Tutorial and Enter to Win a Pair of Smittens

Posted on December 5, 2013 by The Renegade Seamstress

Really, I need to stop now.

This mitten making craze I’m on is getting ridiculous! You need to be careful what you wear around me. Be very, very careful. Each sweater I lay my eyes on these days becomes a potential mitten fantasy to me. While you think I’m talking about your elf on the shelf adventures, I’m most likely envisioning myself cutting up your sweater to make more SMITTENS!!!! You can’t say you haven’t been warned.

There, I said it.

They say, that’s the first step to recovery. Right? Ahhhh, but so many sweaters, so little time.

Speaking of so little time, I don’t mean to alarm you, but, there are only twenty days left to make all those holiday gifts. So, as I promised, to make it a little easier on all you do-it-yourselfers, and as my gift to you, I’m going to bring you tutorials for quick, easy and inexpensive DIY gifts throughout the month of December.

So naturally, what would this season be without a new and improved easy sweater mitten tutorial? And what would this post be without another giveaway?

First, gather up a couple of (your own :)) preloved coordinating sweaters, a few buttons, and a little fleece.

Then click here to see the rest of the tutorial on my eHow post.

And here is a my one minute video on how to Make “Smittens”.

Enjoy!

And to thank you, once again, for your continued encouragement and support, I’d like to give away a pair of “Smittens”. All you have to do is pin the eHow tutorial to one of your Pinterest boards and leave a comment over there. I will choose and announce the lucky winner on Saturday, December 14.

Each time you take the time to make a comment and each time you pin one of my tutorials, you are giving me more than you will ever know.

Thank you soooooo much!!

Beth

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged clothing, crafting, DIY, giveaway, reconstructed clothing, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, sweater mittens, Thrifting, tutorial, upcycling | 179 Comments

DIY: Quick and Easy Holiday Gift Tutorials and Another Giveaway

Posted on December 1, 2013 by The Renegade Seamstress

Whoa, it’s December 1st already and you do-it-yourselfers know what THAT means……..only twenty fours days left to make all of your holiday gifts.

Da-da-ta-da-ta-da! The Renegade Seamstress to the rescue. 🙂

Throughout December, I’ll be posting quick, easy and inexpensive DIY gift tutorials as my gift to you.

The first project is one that will literally only take you minutes to complete, and someone on your gift list is sure to love!

You can make this clutch purse from any placemat. Most thrift stores have hundreds of these hanging along their walls making the design possibilities endless.

Just fold it in thirds and stitch around all the edges.

Choose the perfect button.

Attach the button to the clutch front.

And. You. Are. Finished!

Seeing as it IS the season of giving, and you have all been so supportive of my sewing adventures, I’d like to give this away to one of you, too. Just pin this tutorial to one of your Pinterest boards and leave a comment below and your name will be entered into the drawing. I will announce the winner next Saturday, December 7th. Good luck and thank you!!!

Speaking of giveaways…..

Congratulations to Laura Hinckley Burghorn, the winner of the Foldover Blanket Clutch. Click here for the tutorial for this quick, easy and inexpensive DIY holiday gift.

Now, for those of you who can’t find the time to make things for everyone on your list, but would still like to give a handmade holiday gift, I still have a few Smittens left in my etsy shop.

Happy Holidays!!!

Beth

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged clothing, crafting, DIY, giveaway, Holiday gift ideas, reconstructed clothing, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, tutorial, upcycling | 72 Comments

And the Winner of the Blanket Clutch Is………..

Posted on December 1, 2013 by The Renegade Seamstress

A big thank you to all of you who went to my eHow clutch tutorial and made a comment. You sure know how to make a girl feel good about what she’s doing and it has definitely not gone unnoticed by the editors.

As I promised, I’m giving the blanket clutch away to one lucky commenter. I put everyone’s name in hat and drew out the name:

Laura Hinckley Burghorn

Congratulations, Laura!! Send your mailing address to me at bhunting@eoni.com and I’ll get it in the mail ASAP.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged clothing, DIY, fashion, giveaway, reconstructed clothing, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, tutorial, upcycling | 2 Comments

The Smittens Are Back!! Just In Time For The Holidays!!

Posted on November 24, 2013 by The Renegade Seamstress

I’ve been smitten with sweater mittens ever since I taught my first class on how to make them. They are perfect for holiday gifts and the possibilities are endless.

I like to call them “Smittens”.

Hehe! Get it?…..sweater…..mittens…..SMITTENS!!! Ha!

Sometimes I just crack myself up.

Recently, for some reason, my thrift store sweater collection wanted to see the light of day. I really don’t blame them. They were tired of sitting on the shelf doing nothing. They wanted to get out and go places again. Be loved again. Have some fun again. I finally succumbed to their wishes and when I told them they were going to become Smittens, I immediately heard the soft muffled sound of a collective sweater cheer. You know, you really haven’t lived until you’ve experienced an excited sweater. 🙂

Needless to say, my OCD kicked in and pretty soon I had more Smittens than I knew what to do with.

Sooooooooo……back by popular demand, and just in time for your holiday shopping, I’ve opened up a new etsy store and the Smittens have taken over.

I mean really, who wouldn’t want a pair of Smittens?

So, if you’d like to support my OCD (obsessive crafting disorder), please consider some handmade Smittens from my etsy store for a few of your holiday gifts this year.

If you purchase a pair of Smittens before Thanksgiving day, your name will be entered into a drawing for a free pair. Just sayin’!

Happy Holidays!!!

Beth

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged clothing, DIY, fashion, giveaway, mittens, reconstructed clothing, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, upcycling | 34 Comments

Upcycled Pendleton Wool Clutch

Posted on November 21, 2013 by The Renegade Seamstress

Tis’ the season!

In the spirit of giving this holiday season, I have another giveaway for you. I’m giving away this warm and cozy upcycled Pendleton Wool clutch.

It’s made from a vintage Pendleton Wool mill end which in my humble opinion, is super cool! Thanks, Mari!!!

Pendleton is only fifty miles from my house, and of course it goes without saying , it’s the home of the famous Pendleton Round Up

and the Pendleton Woolen Mill. If you’re interested, you can read some of the history here:

If you’d like a chance to own an authentic piece of the American West, and do me a HUGE favor, all you have to do is check out my eHow tutorial, pin the tutorial to one of your Pinterest boards, and leave a comment. The winner will be chosen on Saturday, December 7th.

Thank you in advance for supporting my sewing adventures, once again!

You still have until Saturday, November 30 to enter to win this Upcycled Fold Over Clutch by leaving a comment over at my eHow tutorial.

For more refashion inspiration:

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged clothing, crafts, DIY, fashion, giveaway, Pendleton Wool Clutch, reconstructed clothing, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, tutorial, upcycling | 38 Comments

And The Winner of the Crochet Shrug is………

Posted on November 16, 2013 by The Renegade Seamstress

My heart is full of thanks for all of your wonderful comments over at my eHow shrug tutorial. Some of your comments made me blush, some made me tear up, some made me smile, and every one made my day brighter. You guys really know how to make a girl feel great!

And now let’s get to the winner………

I chose the winner of the shrug using a pretty innovative and high tech method. I put everyone’s name in a hat, reached in and drew out the name………

Congratulations, Camorra and thanks so much for your lovely comment!

Please contact me at bhunting@eoni.com and let me know where to send your new shrug.

You can try your luck at winning this fold over clutch by checking out my eHow tutorial, scrolling through the slide show and leaving a comment. I’ll announce the winner on Saturday, November 30th.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged clothing, DIY, fashion, giveaway, reconstructed clothing, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, tutorial, upcycling | 8 Comments

Win This Unique Handmade Fold Over Clutch and a Tutorial

Posted on November 15, 2013 by The Renegade Seamstress

Little did my mom know, that when she declared the Christmas of 1971 as a “Handmade Holiday”, she changed my life forever. The notion that my family took the time to create gifts for each other has had a lasting impact for me. I can still remember feeling so honored and loved that even my dad, who was Mr. Busy and Mr. Uncrafty, spent time putting together presents he thought we would enjoy. The huge mosaic he made from our shag carpet remnants, hung on the wall above the piano for years. The fabric covered hanging lamp he made for me, hung above my bed until I went to college. It was this Christmas that began my own “Handmade Journey”. I became a quilt makin’, pot throwin’, furniture restorin’, clothes sewin’, scrapbookin’ fool. You name it, I was trying to make it.

Needless to say, I’m still on my “Handmade Journey”. It has become such a part of who I am today. All seems right with the world when I’m able to design, create and share my sewing adventures with you.

I was thrilled when the editors at eHow asked me to create a slide show tutorial for their gift guide of stylish DIY projects. I knew just what to do for you!

You can upcycle an old thrift store blanket into this beautiful clutch in under an hour. This project is a perfect DIY holiday gift that is both affordable and practical. Your friends and family will appreciate the fact that you spent the time to make them a unique, earth-friendly gift this season. Even beginning sewists will be able to create this fun clutch.

You were so kind and left so many comments over at eHow on my last two projects, so I’d like to give this clutch away, too. All you have to do to be entered to win, is head on over to this clutch tutorial, scroll through the slide show and leave a comment. I will choose one lucky winner on Saturday, November 30.

Thank you, once again, for being so supportive!!

Beth

PS. The winner of the crochet shrug will be announced tomorrow.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged clutch, DIY, fashion, giveaway, reconstructed clothing, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, upcycling | 54 Comments

Just a few days left to enter to win this cute crochet shrug…

Posted on November 12, 2013 by The Renegade Seamstress

Only four more days to enter to win this cute refashioned crochet shrug. All you have to do is head on over to my tutorial at eHow and leave a comment there. The winner will be announced next Saturday, November 16.

Thanks again for being so supportive of my sewing adventures!

(Looking good in the shrug, Linda, my friend!)