MORE FUN: Swimsuit --> Crop Top Refashion

I made this quick crop top from an old bathing suit that I got from my mom. It used to be an attached two piece but I cut the bottom half off since I liked the print on top.

To turn it into a crop top, I started by taking the sides in to make it a little more fitted and then folded the bottom edges under. I used a zig zag stitch to hem it since the material is very stretchy, and then cut off the excess fabric after. (Very out of order, but I thought it was easier and the fabric doesn't fray regardless.)

Since the lettering on the front looked like it used to be coated in silver glitter, I finished off the shirt by adding on some glitter using a sponge and some silver glittery nail polish. The old glitter was in blotchy spots around the letters, so instead of coating it all in glitter, I painted it on in small areas and then blotted them with a makeup sponge to blend out the edges.

DIY Weaved Back Racerback from a T-Shirt

Here's a t-shirt no-sew upcycle inspired by this post from Trash to Couture on her spiderweb racerback shirt. I made it from a too large t-shirt that I had, weaving it about three times through and then cutting it into a tank. There's a helpful video also from Laura from Trash to Couture that shows how to do the weaving technique. (No before picture unfortunately, and all the pictures are low quality due to iPad 2 camera quality.)

Cut, stretched, stretched over a pillow.

I got the idea from the Trash to Couture video to stick a pillow in the shirt to hold it taut and make it easier when you're weaving. After a couple of rows though, the shirt tightens and it gets a little harder to weave over the pillow.

One row, two row, three rows

The finishing touch was to cut the back open and the sleeves off to complete the racerback look. I cut the collar of the shirt off before I started weaving it. Around this time is also when I tried the shirt on a few times to make sure things were even and the shape I wanted.

Complete (sweet tan lines, I know)

Inspiration Board

Image credits go to Forever 21, The Pineneedle Collective, and Trash to Couture

In short, this is simply a collection of images and screenshots taken from the internet (I do not claim any of them to be my own), primarily Forever 21's website and from the blogs Trash to Couture and The Pineneedle Collective, that have caught my attention and/or inspired me to sew or create something. In general it's just clothes that I like, would like to have, or would like to make.

I love interesting backs on shirts and dresses, cool cutouts, and refashioning. I've been wanting to make some kind of a pinafore or remake some overalls, but unfortunately I won't be having much time to do that for quite a while. I think for my summer as a whole though, I was actually able to put many of these ideas into action with all the sewing I did.

Basket Weave Denim Vest

Ever since I first saw this post on Pinterest from Laura (aka Trash to Couture) I've been wanting to make a vest like her's. This summer after my mom cleaned out her closet and found an old plain denim vest, I had the perfect opportunity to! I only made the back part a basket weave, instead of the entire vest like her's, but I really like the way it came out. It was super difficult to keep it all together, even with all the pinning, but I'm happy with the end result and glad that I finally got to make this idea that's been floating around in my head a reality.

Progress shots. Laying out, pinning, and cutting.

I had some left over fabric from a couple of jeans that I cut last summer that I used to make the back. I cut strips and weaved them into place, using the old backing as a guideline for the approximate shape (I made it shorter and more fitted than the original). After sewing around the edges to hold everything in place, I went across a couple of the rows with a single seam to reinforce the basket weave and keep it from shirting around too much when wearing. It sort of shifted things out of place a teeny bit, but it isn't too noticeable. I also went ahead and frayed the armholes and the bottom edge with some scissors and made the darts on the front bigger.

Front and back.

I'm still thinking the front is missing something, but I'm not quite sure what to do. I don't really feel like doing the basket weave for the entire vest, but I might change the buttons and/or add a pocket. I'm really loving the slight color variations from the different jeans that I used and the slight texture differences they add.

Edit/Update: I still haven't added anything to it (struggles of being in college and having no sewing machine), but this has seriously become one of my favorite pieces in my closet to play around with and try out new outfits with!

Flowery Eighties Dress Makeover

The first dress in what may or may not become a series of eighties clothes refashions is boldly patterned, loose-fitting, floral dress. I figured I'd start out pretty simple, and since I'd never wear that dress in its entirety, I went for a shirt and skirt refashioning combo.

Close ups of the dress.

The crop top was pretty simple to make. I simply cut the skirt from the bodice (no hemming necessary since the bottom edge was already finished) and took the sides in a bit for a more fitted look. I would've made it a little tighter, but since the material isn't stretchy and I didn't want to bother with adding a zipper or buttons, I kept it loose fitting.

The skirt on the other hand took a bit more effort. I wanted to keep the original pockets, so instead of cutting the side seams to make the skirt smaller, I cut down the middle instead. I also used a skirt I got from Target that I like the fit of for reference during the process.

I cut fabric from the top and bottom to get the length I wanted, hemmed the bottom edge, and used the leftover fabric to create the waistband. I went with a partial elastic waistband in the back so I wouldn't have to use as much.

DIY Fringe Tank

Here's a quick t-shirt upcycle I made the other day. This tie dyed shirt has been sitting in the back of my dresser for years (I tie dyed it in elementary school Girl Scouts), so I figured I'd turn it into something I'd wear again.

Before and After

To make the tank, I cut the sleeves off and cut a lower neckline. For the fringe, I cut the bottom into about half inch strips and tugged on them to finish them off.

Later I decided to sew the sides in for a more fitted look, although this DIY could easily be no-sew.

Final product