Recycled Refashion Tutorial...my first!!

Hello Everyone,

I recently took a class called Recycled Refashion. Sue (my instructor) taught me how to take a pair of jeans and turn it into a skirt. Here is my first tutorial of how I learned how to accomplish this.

1. Take a pair of jeans and cut the upper part off. Don't throw away the legs, you will be using those shortly.

2. I removed the flap over the button-fly, so, it would show the buttons and add a decorative touch.


3. I opened up the seams on both legs and the opened the center seam. Open up above the curve of the seam so it will lay flat when you go to pin.

4. I opened up one of legs for the front opening and the the other leg for the back opening of skirt. I lined up the center seams and pinned. I used a jean needle and a straight stitch as a baste to keep it in place.

5. Then, I sewed using a twin jean needle and jean thread to get the same "seam" look. I had a difficult time with the jean thread, but, once I got the hang of it...majority of my seams were straight LOL. With a few washes the bottom of the skirt will get that "fringed" look.

6. Here is the finished skirt. I kept the back a little bit longer than the front, so, it would be balanced when worn.

I am also taking a skirt that has an adorable bottom and attaching it to the top half of another pair of jeans I have (pictures soon to follow).

Have a wonderful evening and weekend.

Veteran's Day

Veterans Day gives Americans the opportunity to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans. An official wreath-laying ceremony is held each Veterans Day at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, while parades and other celebrations are held in states around the country. Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans--living or dead--but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

A recognized symbol of Veteran's Day is the red corn poppy  which is officially named Papaver rhoeas. Known by one of the most famous poems in World War I "In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow, among the crosses row on row".  This flower grows on the battlefields of Europe. In World War I, soldiers who were returning home, reported seeing battlefields covered with red poppies blooming.  In their hearts, the red poppies symbolized the blood shed  and sacrifice made by the fallen soldiers.  After the war, groups began making red paper poppies as a way to raise money for the wounded veteran's and selling them on Armistice Day (Veteran's Day) on November 11th.  The red poppy remains a symbol of solidarity for veteran's.

The adoption of the poppy flower as a symbol of remembrance was Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian medical officer during the war. In 1915, he wrote "In Flanders Fields," a poem published in "Punch" magazine that begins:

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

Because Flanders had heavy fighting during the war, the flourishing poppies symbolized the blood that was shed. Today, artificial paper poppies are sold by veteran organizations and worn on clothing. 

Britain, France, Australia and Canada also commemorate the veterans of World Wars I and II on or near November 11th: Canada has Remembrance Day, while Britain has Remembrance Sunday (the second Sunday of November). In Europe, Britain and the Commonwealth countries it is common to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. every November 11.

If you know a Veteran or someone currently serving in our country's uniform, take the time today to thank them for their service and sacrifices. Also, thank their Spouses and Families to for their service and sacrifice. 

On a personal note, thank you E for keeping us safe, serving our country and keeping us out of harm's way!! I love you!!

Thank you Veteran's!!

Purse Insert Completed

Hello Everyone,

I completed the purse insert and absolutely love how it came out. Everything has a place and will keep my purse neat. Here is the kicker...my purses are too small to fit this beauty. Luckily, Sue (my instructor) told me that this company also makes a smaller version of this insert. The pattern can be found at Studio Cat Designs.

I had so much fun picking out the coordinating fabrics at Joann's. I originally had the red and white polka dot and the black and white flowers. Pretty much everyone ran a little short in class, so, thank goodness Sue had extra fabric (the black and white polka dots).

Here is how it came out:

Here is what you need:

• I used 3 fat quarters for each exterior and lining, but, ran a little short. Next time, I will increase to either 4 or 5 fat quarters for each the exterior and the lining.
• 2- 7" regular zippers (not invisible)
• 1- 9" zipper
• 1- 14" zipper
• 1 package of extra wide double fold bias tape
• thread
• you will also need stabilizers, interfacing and elastic.

Hope you are having a wonderful day!!

Happy Halloween!!

E's Button Down Shirt

Good Morning Everyone,

Here is my handsome husband, E, wearing my latest creation. I have to finish the cuffs. The buttonholes and buttons are there, but, I just want to make sure that E is comfortable with his watch on. I really enjoyed making this shirt for him and can't wait to make more clothes for him.

Here is the McCall's pattern (B) that I used. It says on the pattern that it is a "two hour" shirt. I hope one day it will become one. I don't think they factored in cutting the fabric in that equation LOL.

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

One Project Completed!!

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday's sewing class was a lot of fun. We had a good time sewing for seven hours. Unfortunately we did not finish the purse insert. It took us two hours to cut the fabric and that set us all back. Hopefully, I should be able to complete it this week.

I did finish one of my projects the baseball shirt (Pattern B). I had a lot of fun learning how to work with knits and I using my serger. I've always loved the comfort and style of this shirt and will be making more of these. They are perfect for those cool days in Autumn.

I am also going to get patterns for E and make him baseball shirts. After I complete my certificate, I will be making Pattern C.

Here is the finished project:

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.