Day 94 of 2025

I didn't get any sewing done today, 

but I did get something cut out. 

I'm making a special t-shirt to wear under a dress 

to make it a bit more modest. 

I am making the shirt out of a thrifted shirt 

that I no longer wear.

 

Day 87 of 2025

This was supposed to be clothing week for me. 

I think I spent more time looking for things than actually sewing. 

I found this dress that I thrifted 

with the intention of making something new out of it. 

Instead I ended up remaking the current dress. 

The tiered skirt had to be removed and reworked 

so now it's time to serge all those raw, ruffled edges.

 

Day 228 of 2024

I need to remake a t-shirt by Saturday afternoon. 

Can I make it in time?

 

Day 226 of 2022

In addition to quilting the top that is next up 

and getting the pink and brown quilt bound, 

I would also like to get at least these two garments sewn. 

The green will become the Marlo sweater 

and the polka dot is a thrifted dress which I will be remaking into a skirt.

 

Day 173 of 2022

This little jacket needs a new zipper. 

Before I sew the new zipper in, I need to fix a tiny hole in the front. 

I thought I'd try to disguise it but thought why not feature it instead. 

This little flower measures one half inch.

 

Day 237 of 2020

I had another injection in my eye today - my third one. 

I knew quilting was out of the question, 

but by afternoon I wanted to work on something. 

This remake for GB#3 fit the bill. 

He asked me if I could take these long pants with holes in the knees 

and make them into shorts. 

I'm hoping this is what he had in mind.

Day 226 of 2020

I needed a solution to a problem regarding this collar 

which stores a hood when not in use. 

I thought this might be what I was looking for 

but now think that the ruffle might be a bit too fluffy. 

I'll finish the closure and make a decision. 

You might be seeing another version soon.

Day 52 of 2020

On my cutting board today, along with all the other random stuff, 

is this baby doll carrier I made for GB#1 in 2015 

when she was two and a half years old. 

It fit her well then but does not now that she is seven. 

 

So I am charged with trying to figure out a way to make it larger  

so she can still carry her koala which she simply calls "Bear." 

I sent Little E two different options for accomplishing this.  

This is the one she picked - my choice also, 

but the important thing about this picture 

is that I figured out how to add text to the photo 

instead of trying to write all my ideas.  

You should have seen my other option, or maybe not.

It was barely legible.

Day 24 of 2020

This sweatshirt is Fireball's. 

It's a hand-me-down. 

I wish I had taken a before picture, but I forgot.

Believe me when I tell you that this 'V" opening in the front

 is a huge improvement from its previous condition. 

A former owner cut it down the front and then proceeded to try to tame the edges

 by turning them under and putting globs of glue all over it. 

The glue was all over the back side and the front. 

There was also lots of weird zigzag stitching,

 including the odd spot resulting in the small tuck at the bottom. 

How uncomfortable and unattractive! 

I have no idea how Fireball could stand to wear it. 

So this long story ends with me trimming out some of the larger chunks of glue 

and then stitching some t-shirt ribbing I had on hand 

that actually matched the color over the rest of the slashed and glued edge. 

Fireball owns a second sweatshirt that has suffered a similar, 

but even more troublesome, neckline fate. 

I'll show you the results of that when I attempt it.

Day 249 of 2018

Before.

I almost forgot to take the picture.  As you can see I already cut the sleeves off.  

This will not become an "after" for a week or so, 

but I was excited to get started.  

Keep your eyes peeled.

Also, just as a heads up, 

don't be alarmed if the next few posts are a few hours late. 

I am traveling to a different time zone.

Day 244 of 2018

A while back I found a pair of Ninja Turtles pajama pants at a Goodwill store.  

I knew they would be good for a remake project, so I bought them.  

With GB#4's birthday coming up soon I came up with an idea.  

Her dad (T-bone) was a huge Turtles fan as a child 

so Turtles leggings for the birthday girl seemed like a good plan.  

With the leftover fabric I fashioned little American Girl Doll leggings

 for GB#4 and also for her sister GB#2, so she wouldn't feel left out. 

 We presented these gifts tonight 

and GB#4 was amazed that she and her doll had matching leggings. 

(She mentioned it more than once.) 

This was definitely a plan that came together in the best way possible.

Day 141 of 2018

I've done a little wardrobe redo. 

This is one of my favorite dresses, 

but it was a bit too short for my liking. 

The lace I added is from a shirt I bought on clearance 

specifically for this purpose.  

It cost way less than any lace I could have purchased at the fabric store.  

I sure hope it looks like it does in my head as I intend to wear it tomorrow. 

Day 243 of 2017

It was a beautiful evening downtown tonight. 

I wore my newly remade shirt to the game 

and got comments from at least four strangers. 

I did not get a picture to post yet.

Day 242 of 2017

Another t-shirt remake has begun. 

I will be wearing it tomorrow for the game, 

so there might be an "after" picture soon.

Day 161 of 2017

I got my t-shirt remake done after midnight 

so I took today's picture before I went to bed. 

Consider this my "after" picture. 

I am pretty happy with the result.

Day 160 of 2017

I think it's time for another t-shirt remake. 

Consider this the "before" picture.

Day 292 of 2016

Have you ever made a pattern from a readymade shirt?

I do this for the purpose of remaking a shirt or making an entirely new shirt. 

I have done it for both myself and for M.  

This time I will be remaking a shirt for DIL, R.

Day 146/365

All my pieces have been pressed and I have begun removing all the old threads. 

I am working on a microfiber cloth.  

This cloth grabs the threads and does not let go until you take them off.  

It is working out wonderfully at controlling the potential mess.

I also have one by my sewing machine to catch thread clippings.

Day 145/365

Each clip holds the pieces of one deconstructed block from this project.  

There are 28 in total.  

Next step is to press and measure the blocks.  

Reconstruction starts soon.

Day 132/365

The quilt I was taking apart is taken apart. 

In taking it apart I have discovered that it was not holes in the quilt that the previous owner was trying to fix with the giant tucks she had taken.  

The culprit is the muslin used in the blocks.  

It is so loosely woven that when the previous owner washed the top (a really bad idea) 

all the seams pulled apart.  

I have decided to take the individual blocks apart 

and replace the muslin with a better quality muslin.  

And so the ripping continues.