The Renegade Seamstress

What ever does a girl wear to a Wild West Buffalo Feast?

Posted on September 23, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

As a public school teacher, I welcome ALL children into my classroom. Each child precious, each child full of wonder, each child different. But occasionally there is one who needs more help than I can give.

That’s where my personal heroes come in to save the day.

Da da ta da ta da!!!

The Grande Ronde Child Center.

Here these children and their families receive the counseling and support they need.

But even heroes need money.

So I bought tickets to their recent fundraiser-A Wild West Buffalo Burger Feast staged in the same barn where my daughter Katie got married last fall.

But what ever does a girl wear to a Wild West Buffalo Burger Feast?

Perfect opportunity for another refashion!

I started with this thrift store skirt and shirt.

Sew new side seam of skirt.

Channeling my inner cowgirl now, I’m ready for some buffalo burgers.

For me the evening at the barn was a huge success.

Could anything be better than homemade potato salad, supporting a good cause, and spending the evening with good friends in one of my favorite places on earth?

Hard to believe, but, yes, it was EVEN better than that!

After everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to Ruggedly Handsome Contractor Husband the dessert auction began. Tom, Linda, Barb and Craig won the bid on this amazing turtle brownie cake for Steve.

One of his favorites!!!

But it didn’t stop there…..No. It. Didn’t.

Our sneaky friends also won the bid on a print of a Don Gray painting called Homage to Jena and gave it to Steve for his birthday! The original hangs in the living room of Robert Sheehy. It’s a beautiful rendition of the Sheehy Barn. One of my Ruggedly Handsome Contractor Husband’s favorite projects ever!

How lucky are we to have such good friends!

How lucky are we to live in such a caring and supportive community!

We are truly blessed!

Thank you!

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged barn renovation, DIY, recycle, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, upcycle | 56 Comments

Day Five: Hey! Where’d My Fashion Photographer Go Skirt

Posted on September 14, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

I can’t find my Fashion Photographer anywhere!

Had to prop the camera up on a post, set the timer, run and pose.

Hmmm, I guess Fashion Photographers are funny that way. They just don’t appreciate you photographing, using and discussing their underwear elastic. Go figure?!!?!

Anyhoo, here’s the last Refashioned Skirt of the Week:

Made, of course, just like all the others.

It’s been fun wearing a new skirt to school each day.

Do you have a favorite?

Shhhhhh…..Don’t Tell Cooper Skirt

Posted on September 13, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

Ok, so your on to me.

Each skirt made exactly the same during this Week of the Refashioned Skirt.

But not this one. No, not this one!

Can you tell the difference between today’s skirt and all the rest?

I’ll tell you if you promise not to tell Cooper. He would be mortified if he knew what I did.

Ha, I think this is refashioning at it’s finest!!

For a full tutorial on how to make these skirts, go here.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged DIY, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, tutorials, upcycling | 26 Comments

Week of the Refashioned Skirt: Day Three

Posted on September 12, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

My friend, Linda, is a true Fashionista. Getting dressed is her art form. Her body is her canvas. She is a master at putting together colors, textures and patterns. When I was lucky enough to work in the same building with her, I would eagerly look forward to seeing what new and interesting clothing/jewelry combination she had put together each day. I’ve always admired her fashion sense.

The first time I ever laid eyes on her, she had just returned from one of her world travels wearing a one piece sunflower jumpsuit. I knew instantly that I was going to love this woman.

Over the years we have shared so many fun adventures and my respect and admiration for Linda grows every day.

So to honor her love of fashion, on Day Three of The Week of the Refashioned Skirt, I’ve decided to take some risks in the color department. I’m going to step out of my safe color zone and try some new combinations.

Which combination so you like best?

Click here for a tutorial on how to make this skirt.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged crafting, DIY, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, tutorial, upcycling | 11 Comments

Week of the Refashioned Skirt: Day Two

Posted on September 11, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

Good Morning!

It’s Day Two of the Week of the Refashioned Skirt.

Sew a new side seam then fold down a quarter inch of the raw edge on the top of the skirt and sew.

Now sew a quarter inch down from the top of the casing.

Using inch and a half elastic, measure around your waist, stretching until you get the desired tension, then cut.

Sew down the ends of the elastic and TA DA! You’ve got another quick and easy skirt.

Stay tuned for Day Three…..

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged crafting, DIY, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, tutorial, upcycling | 8 Comments

“If I Were in Charge of the World” Skirt

Posted on September 10, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

If I were in charge of the world, I would officially declare this as:

“The Week of the Refashioned Skirt”

In honor of this important week, I pledge to wear one refashioned thrift store skirt each day.

DAY ONE:

I started with this frumpy little thrift store number:

Measure twenty five inches from the bottom and cut off the top of the skirt so you can use the existing hem.

Then cut off some of the side of the skirt to remove some of the fullness and sew new side seams.

Sew another quarter inch down from the top of the casing.

Stretching slightly, wrap the elastic around your waist until it is a comfortable fit. Cut.

Attach a safety pin to the elastic to help you thread it through the casing.

Sew down the ends of the elastic and this is what the new waistband will look like:

My first skirt of the week:

Stayed tuned for tomorrow’s skirt……..

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged DIY, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, skirt, Thrifting, tutorial, upcycling | 29 Comments

The Easiest Dress Refashion on the Planet!

Posted on August 21, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

No, seriously.

This IS the easiest refashion on the face of the planet.

I found a boxy shift dress on fifty cent day at the thrift store the other day. It reminded me of the scrubs that nurses wear. But I loved the colors and put it in my basket thinking I could at least make a skirt from the fabric.

It’s hard to tell from the before picture but believe me it was pretty shapeless. However, it was the right length and it just needed a little something around the waist to give it a little bit a structure. The side slits had to go, too.

I began by cutting off the ties.

I then stretched some quarter inch elastic around my waist and cut it to fit.

I turned the dress inside out and stretched the elastic as I sewed it to the existing dress waistline.

I didn’t want the slits up the sides of the dress so I unpicked the finished edges and sewed them together.

I finished it off by top stitching on either side of the new side seam.

Pair it with a thrift store belt and a denim vest (which BTW used to be a denim jacket with too tight sleeves that my daughter donated to my refashioning obsession. I just cut the sleeves off and now have a vest. Thanks, Katie!). And now, I’ve got another new back to school dress.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged crafts, DIY, photography, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, upcycling, writing | 21 Comments

An Accidental Mother of the Bride Dress: One Year Later

Posted on August 20, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

I’ve never been a good clothes shopper.

Just ask my sister, Jan, who would painstakingly shop for the perfect outfits while I was off swimming, riding my bike, and hanging out with my friends. But when I needed something to wear, I’d go directly to her closet to find it. Needless to say, it would drive her crazy.

Last year, before my refashioning obsession and since I live 1800 miles away from my sister now, I shopped for months to find the perfect dress for my daughter’s Rustic Chic Wedding. I finally took the easy route and settled on a simple black dress.

Today I accidentally made my dream Mother of the Bride dress, almost one year later. The colors and style would’ve been just right!

I started with this thrift store dress. Not really that bad in the fit department, but I think with a few minor adjustments I can make it a little more exciting.

And here’s the new dress.

Wouldn’t this have been a perfect Mother of the Bride Dress for a Rustic Chic Wedding in a barn. If you check out the wedding post, be sure to turn up your volume and click the triangular music button before you start to scroll down. The music makes it all the more magical.

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged DIY, fashion, Mother of the Bride Dress, photography, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, Thrifting, tutorial, upcycling, writing | 104 Comments

DIY: A Girl Can at Least Dream Skirt

Posted on August 19, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

I’ve never been to Hawaii.

But judging from the looks of the men’s section at my local thrift store, I’m guessing that many men here do make the trip, sport a Hawaiian shirt while there and donate it ASAP when they return. The men’s shirt rack is always loaded with these fun floral shirts.

Lucky for me because if I can’t actually go there, I can at least spend a few minutes, make myself a cute summer skirt, and pretend to bask on those beautiful sunny beaches.

Go get yourself a big ‘ol Hawaiian shirt, some scissors, and your sewing machine and I’ll show you how:

And there you have it, a cute new summer skirt.

Now grab a fruity drink with an umbrella, your flip flops, some sunscreen, and let’s go find some water to lounge around with a good book this afternoon.

A girl can at least dream!

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Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged DIY, Hawaii, recycling, Refashion, Sewing, skirt, Thrifting, upcycling | 23 Comments

Lose 30 Pounds in One Afternoon!

Posted on August 18, 2012 by The Renegade Seamstress

How do you lose 30 pounds in one afternoon you ask? Well, a vigorous session of refashioning of course! Just take a look:

It’s amazing how wearing clothes that fit well can make all the difference in the world.

Let’s get busy working out our refashion muscles.

Gather up your workout gear and choose a thrift store dress.

This one happens to be a good brand name but way too huge and we have to get rid of all those unsightly gathers around the hip area.

Warm up by cutting away the skirt to create a new waistline. Then cut off the sleeves, pin the sides, and sew the new side seams.

Big breath in, big breath out…..

Now take it up a notch and take off all that extra fabric on the skirt by sewing new sides seams. Get those scissor muscles going and trim and trim.

Are you starting to feel thinner already? I am!

Be sure to keep breathing while you pin the bodice and the skirt.

Keep your right sides together.

Keep going, you can do it!

Put four small pleats in the front and gather in the back.

You’re almost there…..

Now feel the burn and cut the sleeves to the desired length.

Ready for the cool down now….. breathe in, breathe out…..and slowly, slowly pin and sew the sleeves back into the sleeve casing. Now slowly hem each sleeve….. stretch and breathe…..stretch and breathe.