Felted wool clutch purse

Posted on November 10, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

Today’s tutorial has a simple beauty.

A refashion, using natural fibers and vintage buttons.

Start by washing a 100% wool sweater in hot water and drying it in a hot dryer to cause the fibers to become tight so they won’t fray. This is the process called “felting”.

Then cut a rectangular piece to use for your clutch. Cut one corner to your desired shape.

Next, fold up the bottom and pin to hold in place while you use the blanket stitch around three sides.

Start the blanket stitch by coming up through the bottom, then a short distance from the first stitch bring your needle down through all the layers.

Bring needle around and back up through the loop. Pull tight and continue all around the three edges.

Now to choose some buttons.

The button fairy came to my house last year and dropped off a huge can of various buttons. I spent hours sorting them and now keep them in various mason jars so when I have have a project, it makes it easier to find what I need. I searched through and found a few possibilities:

I then just started playing with different ways to place the buttons until I found one I liked.

I finally settled on these very old buttons. I’m not sure what they are made from, almost look like they might possibly be ivory. I loved the different shapes and details.

Sew them on and your clutch is ready.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged crafting, crafts, DIY, embroidery, felting, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, tutorial, upcycling | 47 Comments

Ten Ways to Refashion a Sweater

Posted on November 5, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

So many sweaters, so little time.

Click on the picture to see the “how to”.

Have fun! If you try any of these, I’d love to see your projects. Email a before and after picture to me at bhunting@eoni.com and I’ll post it on the “Your Projects” page.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Christmas, DIY, gifts, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, sweaters, Thrifting, tutorial, upcycling | 62 Comments

Super Easy Girl’s Sweater Dress Refashion

Posted on November 4, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

Look out fashion world! Here comes Brooke!

This old thrifted woman’s sweater practically jumped from the stash pile into my arms, begging to become a sweater dress for Brooke.

First, choose a shirt that fits your model to use as a pattern.

Cut around the shirt, leaving a half inch for a seam.

Right sides together and starting at the bottom of the sweater, so the bottom edges will match, sew both sides seams.

Cut sleeves to fit. If I were to do this again, I would also take in the sleeves to make them fit her better.

Right sides together, pin and sew the sleeves back into the armholes.

Now you’ve got a new sweater dress for your little girl, perfect for the cool fall weather.

A few more little dresses sewn the same way from thrifted womans’ shirts:

Stay warm!

Beth

You might also like this tutorial for making a hat and mittens from an old sweater:

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged children, crafts, DIY, girls, Refashion, Sewing, sweater dress, Thrifting, tutorial, upcycling | 38 Comments

Fingerless mittens from an old felted sweater

Posted on October 28, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

It’s that time of year again.

Football games, woodsmoke, falling leaves, and chilly days.

Perfect weather for some fingerless mittens.

Lucky for me, someone donated this wool sweater to the thrift store because they washed it and thought it was ruined.

It is 100% wool which “felts” when washed and dried. The fibers become tight and won’t fray.

Cut off the bottom of the sleeve to the desired length of the mitten.

Make a paper pattern of your hand.

Turn the sleeve inside out and sew up the side to fit.

Then sew a triangular seam between the thumb and first finger.

Trim.

Turn it right side out.

Use a blanket stitch to finish off the edges.

Here’s a good tutorial to learn how to do the blanket stitch.

Now you’ve got some new stylish fingerless mittens to wear this fall.

Stay warm!!!

Beth

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged crafts, DIY, embroidery, mittens, recycle, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, upcycle | 64 Comments

Quick and Easy Gypsy Costume

Posted on October 27, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

Mrs. Battington, Mrs. Huntingstone, Pete the Cat, and Mrs. Wishy Washy. To name just a few of the Halloween costumes that Mrs. Huntington has worn over the years.

I instantly knew I’d be a gypsy when I saw this skirt at Savers the other day.

$4.99 is not a bad price considering it fit perfectly so no alterations were necessary.

All I had to do was dig around my closets for the rest of the costume. I found this belt from a previous thrift store shopping trip.

This scarf would work for my hair.

Some sterling silver bracelets I inherited from my grandmother would add to the charm.

Add to that a couple of my grandmother’s ivory bracelets. (I love the intricately carved birds and flowers.)

Some brown wooden bangles.

A Forever 21 necklace that I’ve not worn yet.

A long necklace that’s been in my jewelry box forever.

A necklace from my friend, Judy.

Put it all together with a black hand me down shirt from my daughter and I’ve got an inexpensive yet fun Gypsy Halloween costume.

Happy Halloween!!!

Beth

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged costumes, Gypsy, Halloween, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, upcycling | 29 Comments

Five Minute T Shirt Shrug Tutorial

Posted on October 21, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

So I admit…

I did NOT spend the WHOLE time holding the baby last week. Steve told me I HAD to let Katie and Adam hold him once in awhile.

WHATEVER…….

So, since I was forced to give the new parents a chance at holding my new grandson, I did sneak away to check out the nearby Goodwill store.

It was my lucky day!

All the pink tags were half price so of course, being the cheapster that I am, and being spoiled by my local thrift store prices, I only looked at pink tag items.

I found this cute dress for $2.00.

All I had to do was take it in under the sleeves a bit, otherwise it was a perfect fit. I loved the color, pattern and the fun lacy detail on the front.

But it IS fall and the days are getting cooler and I’m losing my nice summer tan, so I much prefer to wear sleeves to school.

I thought it would be fun to make a long sleeved shrug from this gray thrift store t-shirt that I’ve had in my stash for quite awhile.

First cut right up the middle of the shirt.

Then cut off the collar.

Fold under the raw edge and stitch to form a casing for the ribbon.

Cut a 55 inch piece of ribbon.

Thread it through the casing, using a safety pin.

Pull ribbon tight and tie to get this look:

I can’t wait to wear my new dress to school this week.

A big thank you to my good friend Kris!

Not only did she give me her “old” Rebel XT Canon camera, when I started blogging, but since my “fashion photographer” was turkey hunting today, Kris took the after pictures. Her generosity and genuine ways, never cease to amaze me. I love you, Kris!

I’m totally in love!

Posted on October 14, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

He’s here….he’s finally here!

“May you touch fireflies and stars, dance with fairies, and talk to the man in the moon. May you grow up with love and gracious hearts and people who care. Welcome to the world, little one. It’s been waiting for you.”

Author: Unknown

Conner made it here fairly quickly and easily on Wednesday morning.

Such a sweet boy and I’m totally in love!

I’m the luckiest Grandma in the world. I can’t think of anything better than being included in the first magical days of your grandchild’s life.

Needless to say, I haven’t been doing too much refashioning lately.

I did, however, get to make this cute car seat cover using this tutorial from Make It Do.

Welcome, Conner! We love you!!!!

October’s Party and an Easy Sweater Refashion

Posted on October 7, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

“October gave a party;The leaves by hundreds came – The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples, And leaves of every name. The Sunshine spread a carpet, And everything was grand, Miss Weather led the dancing, Professor Wind the band.”

Author: ~George Cooper, “October’s Party”

I love fall.

I love sweaters, soup, football, leaves, fires, and all that comes with the cooler weather.

This thrift store sweater was the perfect color to bring my newly refashioned skirt into fall.

But it was too big.

The wrong fit is such a common problem with thrift store clothing, but that is something that can be fixed quickly and easily.

This was a wonderful Pendleton sweater and on their website, there was a similar cable sweater for $138.00.

All you have to do is be brave and start cutting, pinning and sewing.

And for fifty cents I have a beautiful Pendleton sweater to go with my refashioned skirt.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged DIY, poetry, reconstructed clothing, recycle, Refashion, Sewing, upcycle | 55 Comments

DIY: Art Nouveau Inspired T Shirt Refashion Tutorial

Posted on September 29, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

Ahhhhh, the designs of the Art Nouveau period.

Lovely!

Needless to say, as soon as I saw this Art Nouveau-ish thrift store fabric, I threw it into my basket and it inspired one of my favorite t-shirt refashions ever.

This thrift store shirt has been in my stash for months and it was perfect for what I had in mind.

Start by cutting off the collar.

Then cut your desired sleeve.

Take in the sides if needed.

Start your pleating.

This part is the most fun and allows for your own creativity. You can pleat in any direction you’d like by folding the fabric with wrong sides together and sewing across the fabric. You can choose the distance between pleats and the angle of each pleat.

I started on each shoulder and pleated toward the front and the back until I liked the end result.

Keep pleating until you end up with something like this:

If you try this, I’d love to see pictures of how your shirt turns out. And if you send me pictures, I’d be happy to post them on”Your Projects”.

A Beautiful Hand Beaded Bracelet from Being Zhenya

Posted on September 26, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

I WON! I WON!

Thank you so much Evgenia!

I love my new bracelet!

Evgenia is my beautiful blogging friend who is originally from Russia, but now lives in my former hometown of Minneapolis. She loves thrift stores, fashion, DIY, sewing, refashioning and beauty!

When I visit her blog, Being Zhenya, it’s like “going home” for me. Getting little glimpses into my old stomping grounds, I always look forward to what she posts.

Thanks again!!!

Beth

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