So, without being able to shop for clothes, I have to find something else to fill my time:). Naturally, living with less, living simply, sustainable living, etc., are all topics that go hand in hand with a no new clothes challenge. One thing I have always wanted to try was to go "No 'Poo." Now, I hate that term. So, I am searching for a good work alternative. But, it means to cleanse your hair with no shampoo. Most people will start doing this by using a baking soda was and vinegar rinse. Then, they will taper off to where they use it less and less...sometimes not using anything but water in the end.
Now, the concept makes sense to me. I mean, shampoo and conditioner are relatively recent additions to the hygiene repetoire. Of course, one could argue that toothbrushing is fairly recent, in a historical sense. But, it just seems as though we shouldn't NEED shampoo and conditioner.
I grew out all hair processing I had done on my hair...it's taken about 2 years. I also haven't had a haircut in all that time (I know, I know). So, I've been going more "natural" for awhile. I like my hair texture, color, and look better now than when I had it colored, etc. It is shiny, stronger, more natural body, etc. (which is a big deal for my fine, thin, limp hair!). So, naturally, I wonder if I would like going "no 'poo" (shudder at the term)...
Additionally, I used to have really bad skin. Now, my skin is great. I found that the key is LESS. I only wash my face once a day, and only if I wore makeup that day (which is most days, but I do not wear heavy makeup). I use Purpose bar soap on my face, and the cheapest moisturizer Avon makes. That's about it! My skin is better now than when I used to use expensive cleansers, moisturizers, serums, etc. My Mom has beautiful skin, and she has a really simple routine with regular drugstore products...and I can't believe how wonderful her skin looks! Looks better than people my age!
Anyway, so all of that kind of makes me think that natural and simple is better. Plus, using non-detergents, and more enviro-friendly products is always a huge plus. And, if eventually I could just wash my hair with water...well I'd be super stoked. So, I am thinking of trying it. Have any if you tried it? Thoughts and opinions? Advice? I guess I'm just kind of thinking out loud here:)
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Post Finals and Holiday MADNESS!:).....231 days to go!!!
Welllll, finals and holidays are over...and I am back:). I've been rather remiss in my posting, for which I apologize. However, this tends to be a busy time of year for all...personally I am just catching up on The Internet (yes, it needs to be Caught Up On). I hope you ALL had a WONDERFUL holiday season!
This year, for Christmas, my husband and I found much more joy in giving than getting. Don't get me wrong...we received SO MANY generous wonderful gifts that we love. I'm just saying that we enjoyed giving gifts so much this year. It was really what we were most excited for. And, of course, due to bargain shopping, I have been saving up gifts for people since this summer. Here's a beautifully wrapped gift that my Dad put together:) How creative is he!!!
Silver and White Packages Tied up With Ribbon...(gift wrapping is one of my favorite things to do!)
This year, we used re-usable ACTUAL ribbon on gifts, which I got back (I felt kinda bad asking for the ribbon back, but otherwise it would have been disposed of), and will use next year. The paper was recyclable.
We decorated our humble little tree with origami figures, just like last year, but added a few to the "pack." We have a handful of actual, flat ornaments, as well. It's nice because we can pack all of these flat into an envelope...instead of boxes and boxes of ornaments. I made the topper out of a sash I found at a fabric store for $3. If I ever get sick of it, I can use it as an accent on a dress! Or even as a throw pillow accent or something...
We did, however, get LED lights for our tree this year. Last year, we used regular, less expensive lights and they burned out TWICE! It was ridiculous. But the upside is that these will last longer, use less energy, and they look awesome when the lights are out....
However, as always, the best moments of the holiday involved the 3 F's...Family Food and Fun (haha!! what did you think I was gonna say?). Here's the gingerbread house my Mom and I made. She wanted to make it pretty...and I had had a lot of wine. So...you can see what happened. We had fun though, which is what counts!
(The tree has fallen down, I went nuts with the icing, and just ate a lot of the candy....good times! Mom was the only reason this gingerbread house looks halfway decent!)
Hope your holidays were spectacular. So, tell me, what are your NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS??? I don't have any yet. I guess that means I'm pretty happy with things. But..if I get any, I'll fill ya in!
This year, for Christmas, my husband and I found much more joy in giving than getting. Don't get me wrong...we received SO MANY generous wonderful gifts that we love. I'm just saying that we enjoyed giving gifts so much this year. It was really what we were most excited for. And, of course, due to bargain shopping, I have been saving up gifts for people since this summer. Here's a beautifully wrapped gift that my Dad put together:) How creative is he!!!
Silver and White Packages Tied up With Ribbon...(gift wrapping is one of my favorite things to do!)
This year, we used re-usable ACTUAL ribbon on gifts, which I got back (I felt kinda bad asking for the ribbon back, but otherwise it would have been disposed of), and will use next year. The paper was recyclable.
We decorated our humble little tree with origami figures, just like last year, but added a few to the "pack." We have a handful of actual, flat ornaments, as well. It's nice because we can pack all of these flat into an envelope...instead of boxes and boxes of ornaments. I made the topper out of a sash I found at a fabric store for $3. If I ever get sick of it, I can use it as an accent on a dress! Or even as a throw pillow accent or something...
We did, however, get LED lights for our tree this year. Last year, we used regular, less expensive lights and they burned out TWICE! It was ridiculous. But the upside is that these will last longer, use less energy, and they look awesome when the lights are out....
However, as always, the best moments of the holiday involved the 3 F's...Family Food and Fun (haha!! what did you think I was gonna say?). Here's the gingerbread house my Mom and I made. She wanted to make it pretty...and I had had a lot of wine. So...you can see what happened. We had fun though, which is what counts!
(The tree has fallen down, I went nuts with the icing, and just ate a lot of the candy....good times! Mom was the only reason this gingerbread house looks halfway decent!)
Hope your holidays were spectacular. So, tell me, what are your NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS??? I don't have any yet. I guess that means I'm pretty happy with things. But..if I get any, I'll fill ya in!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
How To Make a Little Gift Bag!.....250 Days To GO!!!!
Well 250 is a nice neat little number, isn't it? Half of 500...115 days down. Goes pretty fast! I'm taking a break mid-finals to do a little tutorial, inspired my my Christmas preparation. I've whipped up these little bags since I was in middle school. This year, some ladies in my life are getting these little bags stuffed with some nice goodies! (but I won't tell what they are in case any of those ladies read this:)).
First, the particulars....I picked out 2 fabrics (on my challenge it's ok to get fabric stuff if not for clothes, because I can't spend any money on clothes blah blah blah!). I just got 1/8 yard of each of the 2 fabrics I picked. So, the fabric totaled $0.87! Then, I got a spool of black, narrow ribbon....$0.47. I used a couple beads I have on hand, since I occasionally do beading.
Of course, you can use any remnants to do this project, and you can use bits of ribbon you already have. I didn't have any suitable fabric remnants or ribbon for this project, so I had to buy it. But it is still very affordable.
So, I started with strips of the fabric that were the same width all the way down. Although I made these "nice" I wasn't super picky about the details. It's just not that big of a deal when making little bags!
*Oh, and I serged the non-selvage edges of all the fabric, but I didn't include that step because it's not essential, and most people don't have a serger. And, I had a problem with my serger (my serger and I have a very tenuous relationship!), so the serging looks awful. But, it's there to keep the edges from fraying, and not to be that pretty!
ANYWAY! Here's HOW TO MAKE A LITTLE GIFT BAG!!!
1) First, fold the piece of fabric in half lengthwise...
2) Next, iron at the halfway point, as shown...
3) Cut at the crease to cut the fabric in half exactly....
So it ends up like this...of course...
4) Pin the pretty sides of the fabric together, as shown...
5) On one side, measure down double the width you want the tie-pocket to be, put a red pin or marking in that spot.
6) Start at the red pin, and sew all the way around, pivoting at the corners, and backtacking thoroughly at the beginning and end....
It should look like this when you are done...
7) Trim the bottom corners like so, so that they will turn easier when the time comes....
8) Next, take the open edges above the red pin, pin them inwards, and....
9) ...Sew those edges down so that the edge of the tie-pocket looks clean and finished
10) Next, Fold the top towards the inside so that there will be enough room to get the tie in, but so that the tie-pocket will be adequately battened down....measure at the seams to make sure it is continuous, and pin it....
11) And then sew it down (can be a challenge on a tiny bag like this one!)
12) Turn the bag pretty-side out! Time to thread the ribbon tie into the tie pocket!
13) I put one end of the tiny ribbon in a tiny safety pin (the kind they pin tags into garments with), and I left the other end on the spool, which anchors it just fine.
14) I threaded it through the tie-pocket, using the safety pin to grab it and pull it through, through the outer fabric.
15) When I finished with that, I took one end, and I tied a knot about 1.5" down, and then I used a needle to thread a bead onto the ribbon...
16) Then I tied a knot on the other side of the bead, very close to the bead, and trimmed!!
YOU ARE DONE! It is that easy.
You get the hang of it really quickly, as it is a pretty simple project:). Here's all the finished baggies I am making...(as of now)....
So are you including handmade gifts in your Christmas gifts? (Knowing this crowd, I bet you are:)) What are you including that you made? Any exciting holiday plans? Fill me in below:) Thanks for stopping by!!! Hope your Holiday prep is going great!!
First, the particulars....I picked out 2 fabrics (on my challenge it's ok to get fabric stuff if not for clothes, because I can't spend any money on clothes blah blah blah!). I just got 1/8 yard of each of the 2 fabrics I picked. So, the fabric totaled $0.87! Then, I got a spool of black, narrow ribbon....$0.47. I used a couple beads I have on hand, since I occasionally do beading.
Of course, you can use any remnants to do this project, and you can use bits of ribbon you already have. I didn't have any suitable fabric remnants or ribbon for this project, so I had to buy it. But it is still very affordable.
So, I started with strips of the fabric that were the same width all the way down. Although I made these "nice" I wasn't super picky about the details. It's just not that big of a deal when making little bags!
*Oh, and I serged the non-selvage edges of all the fabric, but I didn't include that step because it's not essential, and most people don't have a serger. And, I had a problem with my serger (my serger and I have a very tenuous relationship!), so the serging looks awful. But, it's there to keep the edges from fraying, and not to be that pretty!
ANYWAY! Here's HOW TO MAKE A LITTLE GIFT BAG!!!
1) First, fold the piece of fabric in half lengthwise...
2) Next, iron at the halfway point, as shown...
3) Cut at the crease to cut the fabric in half exactly....
So it ends up like this...of course...
4) Pin the pretty sides of the fabric together, as shown...
5) On one side, measure down double the width you want the tie-pocket to be, put a red pin or marking in that spot.
6) Start at the red pin, and sew all the way around, pivoting at the corners, and backtacking thoroughly at the beginning and end....
It should look like this when you are done...
7) Trim the bottom corners like so, so that they will turn easier when the time comes....
8) Next, take the open edges above the red pin, pin them inwards, and....
9) ...Sew those edges down so that the edge of the tie-pocket looks clean and finished
10) Next, Fold the top towards the inside so that there will be enough room to get the tie in, but so that the tie-pocket will be adequately battened down....measure at the seams to make sure it is continuous, and pin it....
11) And then sew it down (can be a challenge on a tiny bag like this one!)
12) Turn the bag pretty-side out! Time to thread the ribbon tie into the tie pocket!
13) I put one end of the tiny ribbon in a tiny safety pin (the kind they pin tags into garments with), and I left the other end on the spool, which anchors it just fine.
14) I threaded it through the tie-pocket, using the safety pin to grab it and pull it through, through the outer fabric.
15) When I finished with that, I took one end, and I tied a knot about 1.5" down, and then I used a needle to thread a bead onto the ribbon...
16) Then I tied a knot on the other side of the bead, very close to the bead, and trimmed!!
YOU ARE DONE! It is that easy.
You get the hang of it really quickly, as it is a pretty simple project:). Here's all the finished baggies I am making...(as of now)....
So are you including handmade gifts in your Christmas gifts? (Knowing this crowd, I bet you are:)) What are you including that you made? Any exciting holiday plans? Fill me in below:) Thanks for stopping by!!! Hope your Holiday prep is going great!!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Dress Challenge......258 days to go!
Oh hi there! How are you guys doing? Well, classes ended for the semester (yesterday), and now it is FINALS! At my school we have 2 weeks of finals, and a partial reading week. So, it kind of goes on forever. And ever. And ever. It has also been extremely frigid in the area of the world where I live. Tons of snow, below freezing at times, etc.
One thing that happens to me, very commonly, is that when the semester is starting to wrap up, and temperatures are dropping, I tend to become very schlep-y. I get in a clothing rut, dress in only my comfiest, warmest clothes, and generally look very blah. So this year I decided to wear a skirt or dress for the last 10 days of class (not finals. I even allow myself to wear sweats during finals). It went pretty well. Here are my findings...
1) I felt more confident and business-like
2) I got a lot of compliments...which is never a bad thing
3) I re-discovered many dresses and outfits I'd never even thought of, further broadening my wardrobe! (which is a very good thing when on a no-buy!)
4) Sometimes tights and a dress are even warmer than regular pants would be!
5) Dresses and tights take up less room in the washer than jeans and sweaters. Which is pretty awesome when I'm already busy and don't have time to do 8,000 loads of laundry every week.
6) It is much easier to update an existing outfit with a new pair of tights than to get a new outfit. (If you'll remember, I am allowed to replace undies on this challenge, and to replace worn out hosiery...and all of my tights were in rough shape!)
7) It was kind of fun to play dress up! When I was in gradeschool, I wouldn't wear pants. I wore skirts and dresses every day. I even did this for awhile in highschool. Once I got to college, that kind of ended. So it was fun to revisit all of that and play dress up.
8) I liked it so much that I may even continue to dress up with more frequency!
All-in-all, avoiding the pre-finals schlep was a very good move. Having so many more outfit combos at my disposal now really has opened up some clothing doors and helped quell any new-clothes cravings (easy to get this time of year with all the awesome sales around).
So tell me, how much do you dress up during the winter? What are your go-to stay-warm styles? Any other thoughts on avoiding the schlep and staying warm at the same time?
Well, as I enter finals I suspect I will be a lazy poster for a little while longer. However, I will be back with a vengeance when the semester is over!:) Hope your pre-holiday times are going swimmingly!
One thing that happens to me, very commonly, is that when the semester is starting to wrap up, and temperatures are dropping, I tend to become very schlep-y. I get in a clothing rut, dress in only my comfiest, warmest clothes, and generally look very blah. So this year I decided to wear a skirt or dress for the last 10 days of class (not finals. I even allow myself to wear sweats during finals). It went pretty well. Here are my findings...
1) I felt more confident and business-like
2) I got a lot of compliments...which is never a bad thing
3) I re-discovered many dresses and outfits I'd never even thought of, further broadening my wardrobe! (which is a very good thing when on a no-buy!)
4) Sometimes tights and a dress are even warmer than regular pants would be!
5) Dresses and tights take up less room in the washer than jeans and sweaters. Which is pretty awesome when I'm already busy and don't have time to do 8,000 loads of laundry every week.
6) It is much easier to update an existing outfit with a new pair of tights than to get a new outfit. (If you'll remember, I am allowed to replace undies on this challenge, and to replace worn out hosiery...and all of my tights were in rough shape!)
7) It was kind of fun to play dress up! When I was in gradeschool, I wouldn't wear pants. I wore skirts and dresses every day. I even did this for awhile in highschool. Once I got to college, that kind of ended. So it was fun to revisit all of that and play dress up.
8) I liked it so much that I may even continue to dress up with more frequency!
All-in-all, avoiding the pre-finals schlep was a very good move. Having so many more outfit combos at my disposal now really has opened up some clothing doors and helped quell any new-clothes cravings (easy to get this time of year with all the awesome sales around).
So tell me, how much do you dress up during the winter? What are your go-to stay-warm styles? Any other thoughts on avoiding the schlep and staying warm at the same time?
Well, as I enter finals I suspect I will be a lazy poster for a little while longer. However, I will be back with a vengeance when the semester is over!:) Hope your pre-holiday times are going swimmingly!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
BLACK FRIDAY.................268 days to go!
Well, faithful readers and friends, I have been very remiss in my posting. Around this time of year, I always become lost in the holidays and in school (the pre-finals rush! Yay....?). However, now that there is a calm before the storm of Christmas and Finals, AND it is Black Friday, I figured I should write SOMETHING!
So, Black Friday. I did not shop for ANYTHING today. I didn't buy a single Christmas gift, I definitely didn't buy anything for myself, and I actually didn't buy anything as small as a cup of coffee. I guess I remember Black Friday's rise to fame. It used to be an occasion only the bravest of the brave traveled out to enjoy. But now it is a retailer's heyday, and everyone participates. I guess I have trouble getting behind that, unless there is a truly phenomenal deal to be had (and let's be honest, no one wants to get up at 5 a.m. after a giant Thanksgiving feast to acquire any deals).
I suspect it is time for a real CHALLENGE UPDATE since I'm almost 100 days down (I think? Bad at math...why I'm in law school....HA!). Aside from the fact that I have most of the Christmas gifts for people that I need, I've felt lately like it all just doesn't matter that much. Somehow, this no-new-clothes challenge has really made me realize how little I need all that. I already have good clothes, I don't need new ones. It's turned off the consumerist switch that corporate America installed inside of my brain (Yes, I'm gonna blame corporate America here:)). Today, I was brainstorming a few final gifts to get....and I realized that I hadn't thought about buying clothes for a long, long time. I didn't even miss it. And that, my friends, felt FABULOUS :).
In the meantime, I found much joy in hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. Also, for the first time, most of my husband and my families gathered together on a holiday. It was very special, and I had a wonderful time preparing a good dinner, and setting a pretty table. I enjoy few things more than having time with my loved ones, and serving up some good eats! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, with another wonderful holiday to come in a month:)
My First Thanksgiving Table (Before dinner was served!):
(I got a great deal on some napkin rings that you can draw on with markers....they double as place cards because you can write everyone's name on them! It was a fun little table addition).
So, Black Friday. I did not shop for ANYTHING today. I didn't buy a single Christmas gift, I definitely didn't buy anything for myself, and I actually didn't buy anything as small as a cup of coffee. I guess I remember Black Friday's rise to fame. It used to be an occasion only the bravest of the brave traveled out to enjoy. But now it is a retailer's heyday, and everyone participates. I guess I have trouble getting behind that, unless there is a truly phenomenal deal to be had (and let's be honest, no one wants to get up at 5 a.m. after a giant Thanksgiving feast to acquire any deals).
I suspect it is time for a real CHALLENGE UPDATE since I'm almost 100 days down (I think? Bad at math...why I'm in law school....HA!). Aside from the fact that I have most of the Christmas gifts for people that I need, I've felt lately like it all just doesn't matter that much. Somehow, this no-new-clothes challenge has really made me realize how little I need all that. I already have good clothes, I don't need new ones. It's turned off the consumerist switch that corporate America installed inside of my brain (Yes, I'm gonna blame corporate America here:)). Today, I was brainstorming a few final gifts to get....and I realized that I hadn't thought about buying clothes for a long, long time. I didn't even miss it. And that, my friends, felt FABULOUS :).
In the meantime, I found much joy in hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. Also, for the first time, most of my husband and my families gathered together on a holiday. It was very special, and I had a wonderful time preparing a good dinner, and setting a pretty table. I enjoy few things more than having time with my loved ones, and serving up some good eats! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, with another wonderful holiday to come in a month:)
My First Thanksgiving Table (Before dinner was served!):
(I got a great deal on some napkin rings that you can draw on with markers....they double as place cards because you can write everyone's name on them! It was a fun little table addition).
Thursday, November 11, 2010
T-Shirt Makeover!!!........................284 Days To GO!!!!
Well, true to Law School fashion...just as things slowed down and I thought I'd have more posting time, things sped right back up. However, with the day off of school today in honor of Veteran's Day (thank you to all who have served or are serving!!), I figured it was a good chance to do some sewing.
This sewing project shouldn't take a long time, but it will be a fun one. In a garage cleaning effort, my husband found a box of old clothes. He didn't want this shirt for my FAVORITE sports team in the world: The University of Montana GRIZZLIES!!! So, I claimed it. It is football season, and I could use a long sleeve tee to wear to the games! And, I can't buy a NEW one, so, I am gonna do a makeover on this Griz shirt!!
This project will be a good example of how to make over any t-shirt that is too big. I've always done this with all of my t-shirts, especially the unisex, shapeless t-shirts you get for free at various events/jobs.
(p.s. For some of these shots, I had to put the shirt on our pool table...and our pool table is old and not in perfect shape. That's why it looks dirty..the felt is just really uneven. Ha ha:))
Also, in this project I use a washable felt-tip pen liberally. I use this pen because I know that it will come out of the fabric I am using it on. ALWAYS make sure to use a pen that will wash out, or use pencil, or a sewing pen or pencil. TEST IT FIRST!!
Here's the shirt, the "before" shot. It is a men's large:
You will notice that, as with most unisex t-shirts, there are NO side seams.
This is kind of a messy way of doing it, but it works for shirts like this that I really don't mind having a less precise look.
1) Turn the shirt inside out, and try to find where the side seam WOULD be. I usually hold up the arm and rotate the torso until it creases in line with the underarm seam. As shown here:
2) Pin both side where the side seam WOULD be, based upon where you found it in step 1. (shown in next step)
3) After the faux side seams are pinned, I carefully free-hand a line where I want to sew to take the sides in. I just kind of know how big I am and how things will fit, so I don't measure anymore.
But, to measure for your own alteration, just try the garment on and pull the garment as tight as you want it in the front. Measure the amount you pulled in, and divide it by 2. After dividing, take that measurement out of each side seam.
The free-handing is why I consider this project more "messy" than my usual work. However, I have a lot of experience free-handing these alterations, so, if you prefer to measure these things out more precisely, please do!!
When you draw the line where you will sew, draw it on the side you will be sewing on. So, on the right side, I drew the line on top, then I flipped it over to draw it on the left side. You'll see what I mean when you start doing it.
4) Next, pin the fabric where the line you will be sewing on is. That ensures that it will not shift around while you follow that line. (shown in next step)
5) Sew along the line, as pictured...
Here's what it will look like when done (at the last minute, I decided to take a little less out towards the bottom of the shirt, as shown. You can do it any way you like though)
6) Trim the excess fabric off of the seams (after trying it on inside out to make sure that it fits you well)
***If you are happy with just taking it in on the sides, stop here. I decided to spice up the neckline by doing an open neck that will lead to kind of a flash-dance look. Here's how that went.
7) Measure how far you want the neckline from the shoulder seam, on both sides.
8) Draw a new neckline with your pen. I freehanded it, but you could measure it all the way around from the original neckline. (shown in next step)
9) Cut along the line
10) Sew close to where you trimmed the fabric, so that the neckline does not totally fray out. Plus I like the look of the stitching (you don't have to pin or anything, just make sure it is an even stitch line)
11) Wash the garment to get rid of the pen marks, and to give the garment its finished shape. Here's the "after"
I am utterly in LOVE with my "new" shirt, even more so than I thought I would be. I'm gonna wear a maroon tank top underneath, to accent the flash-dance look with school spirit (our colors are Maroon and Silver). Here's wishing you many happy t-shirt makeovers:)
This sewing project shouldn't take a long time, but it will be a fun one. In a garage cleaning effort, my husband found a box of old clothes. He didn't want this shirt for my FAVORITE sports team in the world: The University of Montana GRIZZLIES!!! So, I claimed it. It is football season, and I could use a long sleeve tee to wear to the games! And, I can't buy a NEW one, so, I am gonna do a makeover on this Griz shirt!!
This project will be a good example of how to make over any t-shirt that is too big. I've always done this with all of my t-shirts, especially the unisex, shapeless t-shirts you get for free at various events/jobs.
(p.s. For some of these shots, I had to put the shirt on our pool table...and our pool table is old and not in perfect shape. That's why it looks dirty..the felt is just really uneven. Ha ha:))
Also, in this project I use a washable felt-tip pen liberally. I use this pen because I know that it will come out of the fabric I am using it on. ALWAYS make sure to use a pen that will wash out, or use pencil, or a sewing pen or pencil. TEST IT FIRST!!
Here's the shirt, the "before" shot. It is a men's large:
You will notice that, as with most unisex t-shirts, there are NO side seams.
This is kind of a messy way of doing it, but it works for shirts like this that I really don't mind having a less precise look.
1) Turn the shirt inside out, and try to find where the side seam WOULD be. I usually hold up the arm and rotate the torso until it creases in line with the underarm seam. As shown here:
2) Pin both side where the side seam WOULD be, based upon where you found it in step 1. (shown in next step)
3) After the faux side seams are pinned, I carefully free-hand a line where I want to sew to take the sides in. I just kind of know how big I am and how things will fit, so I don't measure anymore.
But, to measure for your own alteration, just try the garment on and pull the garment as tight as you want it in the front. Measure the amount you pulled in, and divide it by 2. After dividing, take that measurement out of each side seam.
The free-handing is why I consider this project more "messy" than my usual work. However, I have a lot of experience free-handing these alterations, so, if you prefer to measure these things out more precisely, please do!!
When you draw the line where you will sew, draw it on the side you will be sewing on. So, on the right side, I drew the line on top, then I flipped it over to draw it on the left side. You'll see what I mean when you start doing it.
4) Next, pin the fabric where the line you will be sewing on is. That ensures that it will not shift around while you follow that line. (shown in next step)
5) Sew along the line, as pictured...
Here's what it will look like when done (at the last minute, I decided to take a little less out towards the bottom of the shirt, as shown. You can do it any way you like though)
6) Trim the excess fabric off of the seams (after trying it on inside out to make sure that it fits you well)
***If you are happy with just taking it in on the sides, stop here. I decided to spice up the neckline by doing an open neck that will lead to kind of a flash-dance look. Here's how that went.
7) Measure how far you want the neckline from the shoulder seam, on both sides.
8) Draw a new neckline with your pen. I freehanded it, but you could measure it all the way around from the original neckline. (shown in next step)
9) Cut along the line
10) Sew close to where you trimmed the fabric, so that the neckline does not totally fray out. Plus I like the look of the stitching (you don't have to pin or anything, just make sure it is an even stitch line)
11) Wash the garment to get rid of the pen marks, and to give the garment its finished shape. Here's the "after"
I am utterly in LOVE with my "new" shirt, even more so than I thought I would be. I'm gonna wear a maroon tank top underneath, to accent the flash-dance look with school spirit (our colors are Maroon and Silver). Here's wishing you many happy t-shirt makeovers:)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Having Fun With What You Have....291 Days To Go!!
It is important to make the most of what you have. This week my husband asked me to "model" for him in a photoshoot he has to do for a photo course he is taking. Of course, I agreed...I mean, ya gotta help your hubby out, right? I decided that we should have some fun with it....
Even though I don't have any new clothes, I decided to make a fabulous outfit out of what I have. I wanted something kinda retro, and something that is very chic. So, I went with a Tulle's (http://www.tulle4us.com) pairing...I got the dress for $2 from a Tulle's sale, and I got the coat for $5 from a Tulle's sale. I stalked the shoes for months, they are from Nine West. They are $90 shoes, and I found them for a very nice price of $26. I thought that the pairing of a dressy outfit with some fall colors would be really fun.
So, here are some of the photos....like I said when I posted these on Facebook...I know it is kind of vain to post so many pictures of one's self. But, I loved the photos my hubby took SO much, I just have to share them. And this is a clothing related blog, so I thought ya'll would appreciate that part of it! So anyway, here's a couple of the photos....
And of course, one of the requisite silly photos...
So there you have it. It was SO much fun, and it really made me appreciate the wardrobe I have. So, if you ever have a chance, I HIGHLY recommend a fun photo shoot, with a concept behind it that involves a fun pairing of your own clothes! I guarantee you will have a fabulous time, and probably get some great photos out of it, to boot:)
Even though I don't have any new clothes, I decided to make a fabulous outfit out of what I have. I wanted something kinda retro, and something that is very chic. So, I went with a Tulle's (http://www.tulle4us.com) pairing...I got the dress for $2 from a Tulle's sale, and I got the coat for $5 from a Tulle's sale. I stalked the shoes for months, they are from Nine West. They are $90 shoes, and I found them for a very nice price of $26. I thought that the pairing of a dressy outfit with some fall colors would be really fun.
So, here are some of the photos....like I said when I posted these on Facebook...I know it is kind of vain to post so many pictures of one's self. But, I loved the photos my hubby took SO much, I just have to share them. And this is a clothing related blog, so I thought ya'll would appreciate that part of it! So anyway, here's a couple of the photos....
And of course, one of the requisite silly photos...
So there you have it. It was SO much fun, and it really made me appreciate the wardrobe I have. So, if you ever have a chance, I HIGHLY recommend a fun photo shoot, with a concept behind it that involves a fun pairing of your own clothes! I guarantee you will have a fabulous time, and probably get some great photos out of it, to boot:)
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