Aloha Spirit - Muu'muu to Woo'woo!

My MIL found this muu'muu at the thrift store.  

I love the fabric print.  It's so me.

Except that it is a tent!

I was determined to turn this frumpy muu'muu into something gorgeous, as the fabric deserves.

Here is the muu'muu on:

Plenty of fabric to work with.

I saw this dress on pinterest and I loved it.

It inspired me to want to make something similar.  

I used this as my inspiration for my aloha dress refashion.

The aloha dress, I felt, needed a tank top, rather than sleeve top.

I grabbed my favorite pattern (which I used in my last post) for the bodice/top.

I used pattern E, because I liked the extra fabric on the strap.

For the bottom, I used my favorite skirt pattern and used pattern E.

I pressed the muu'muu and laid out the skirt pieces first on the bottom of the muu'muu.

Then cut the pieces for the bodice that needed to be on the fold next.

Then the pieces that did not need to be cut on the fold with the remainder of the muu'muu.

Here is the finished product!

I am sooooo happy with how it came out.  I think it can go casual or dressy.  Well, beach dressy ;).  

For the bodice top, I just evened out the bottom with the serger and hemmed it. 

I added a zipper to the back of the bodice.  I used what I had on hand, so unfortunately the zipper doesn't unzip all the way.  I have to pull it over my head, so I inserted the zipper upside down, so it at least unzips to the widest part of my torso.  Luckily, it worked and pulls on and off easily.  

No wiggle worm needed.

I think my muu'muu went to Woo!Woo!!

I love the peek-a-boo midriff.  

I also love that I can wear these pieces separate or together.

Now I just need to know where the next Luau is.

Mahalo and Aloha!!!

Thrifted Jersey and Netting Dress

I received some blue sports jersey fabric from my MIL.  She found it for next to nothing at the thrift store.  I don't know the exact type of fabric it is, but it was definitely cheap, mens gym short type of fabric.  It's like a stretchy polyester blend.  I, originally, wasn't sure what, if anything I could do with it.  I loved the color and there was a lot of yardage, so I held onto it until an idea came to me.

Fast forward to a day at Joann fabric store.  I have been wanting to try out the lace overlay trend.  I was looking through their clearance rack and I found this black, stretch netting.  It spoke to me … it said, "I can make that cheap, blue fabric look expensive!  So I bought it because I do anything fabric tells me to do.

Here are the fabrics close up:  Nothing fancy.

I used this pattern.  Another favorite of mine.

I cut both fabrics for all the pieces, except the bodice lining, which I just cut the blue.  I serged the black netting onto each piece before sewing the dress together.

Here is how it came out:

Please excuse the back picture.  I didn't zip it all the way up and hadn't gotten the hook and eye latch on yet, but wanted to get the picture of the back done anyway.

(Busy mom, you know)

I like how the black netting gives it a shiny look.  It really classes up the blue gym short fabric.  

It's really comfy and stretches to fit.  I'm not exactly sure where to wear it, but I think it is versatile enough that I can take it from day to evening.  Especially a beach bum like me who rarely dresses all that fancy.

I have some red and purple fabric like this now.  I hope I can find a creative and stylish way to make use of them.  The overlay worked well, so maybe I will give that another go in a different way.

We will see!

Pastel Plaid Button Up Dress

This McCall's pattern is definitely a big favorite of mine.  

I think I have made at least two other dresses with it and I recently made a third.  

I know there will be more, too.

I was in Downtown LA Fashion District picking up some interfacing, zippers, lining fabric and gingham fabric for my mother-in-law.  I was NOT there to buy ANY OTHER FABRIC.  

(Good luck!)

I came home with 3 yards of this pretty, plaid, pastel, lightweight linen fabric that "would make the perfect summer dress".  I think I also came home with a yard of $10 Pokemon fabric that Aubrey "had to have."  

Downtown LA Fashion District is NOT a safe place for me.  More like a giant candy store.

I finally got around to making my dress and here it is:

I like the colors a lot.  

Blue and brown are my favorite colors.  

I like the hint of pink.  It softens it up a bit.  

I used vintage buttons my other mother-in-law gave me.  

I have yet to try the long sleeve version of this dress.  That might have to be my next project for this pattern.  The collar is a bit tricky on this pattern.  The more I do it, the easier it gets, so I want to make an effort to use it a few more times, so I can get it down.  When you find a pattern that fits your body and you love, once you get it mastered you can make them pretty effortlessly.  I could easily own 10 dresses made from the different options in this pattern. 

I need to head back to DTLA soon to get more zippers.  

Maybe I will find the perfect fabric that I'm not there to buy.

What are the odds ;)?

She Sells Sea Shells by the Sea Shore

I love the sea and I love shells!  

Which made this the perfect refashion project for me.

My mother-in-law found this shirt at the thrift store.  It was definitely handmade by someone.

I absolutely love the print and the fabric is really soft and heavy.  

Super comfy.

A couple chops later.  

Goodbye neckline. 

Goodbye sleeves.

I took in the sides a hair on top and tapered them down to meet the existing seam on the bottom and then I added an elastic casing on the top.

Boom.

Cute sea shell skirt!

I seriously love this skirt.  

I've already worn it 3 times since I made it last week. 

I see me at the seaside in my sea shell skirt on several summer days!

Thrifted Fabric Fun - Dress for Mom, Shorts for Daughter

I just finished making a few more pieces from thrifted fabric my mother-in-law sent me.

I made this cute dress from the same pattern I made my recent vintage stripe dress.  I like that the pattern works so well with such completely different types of fabric.

Here is the pattern:

And the dress:

It came out a little shorter than I like, but it can still be work and leggings can be added.

I also made some shorts for Aubrey from thrifted fabric.

I used this pattern:

And here are the shorts:

 

The inside of the fabric is fuzzy fleece, so they look super comfy.

Aubrey, of course, was not impressed.  The look she gave me when I showed them to her was not one of love.  She let me know she "will not be wearing these to school." 

Well ok then.

There is always the beach or she can wear them for pi's.

Silly little girl!

Vintage Scarves Turned Beachy Boho Cover Up

My mother-in-law is awesome.  She has been searching the thrift stores in her town for cool, vintage fabrics.  She sent me a couple of head scarfs recently.  They reminded me so much of my Grandma.  She had drawers full of these beautiful scarves.  Oh, how I wish I would have been older when she became ill.  I would have loved to have a collection of all her vintage clothing and accessories.

Here is one of the scarves.  I saw it the other day and instantly had an idea.

I thought it would make a cute lightweight cover up top for the beach.  I took one of my comfy shirts and used it to cut out a collar.

I just folded it in half and half again and cut the hole.  Then unfolded one fold and made the front of the neck hole a bit deeper.

Then I sewed the corners to create a sleeve and waist.  

Cut out the little rectangles on either end.

And viola.  A shirt was born.  

I carefully sewed the neckline, just turning it under as I sewed.  I was too lazy to even press.  It came out fine, regardless.

Here is my finished beachy cover up shirt.

I had another scarf and this was so easy that I had to make another one.  

Once the June gloom burns off and the waves come back, these shirts are ready to take me to the beach!

A Vest for my Little Pioneer

My son's school has been studying the Native Americans and American Pioneers.  The 3rd grade has a fun event each year where the kids have to dress up like pioneers and spend the day living life like it was during those times.  The girls dress up in bonnets, long dresses, and aprons.  The boys wear long shirts, pants, hats, suspenders, or vests.  They all have to sit separately and play separately.  They churn their own butter, make their own ice cream, and do other fun crafts throughout the day.  At lunch they have a fun chili picnic that the parents are allowed to join.  Super fun, cute day.

I didn't really have anything pioneer like for Bayne and I didn't have much time to make anything.  I decided I would go to the thrift store for pants, rummage through my mens shirt collection from my neighbor, and make him a vest and belt.

I scored a nice pair of Calvin Klein corduroy brown pants at the thrift store for $3. They were a size too big, but that was perfect. The pioneers children often wore oversized clothing because everything was passed down from father, to son, to brother, etc.  I found a great shirt for him to use in my stash.  It was huge on him, but again, it fit the part.  The vest was a must to keep the shirt in place and make him not look so frumpy.  I used this pattern.  I had to make it a size larger than the largest cut because the kid is so big he no longer fits my kid patterns :(.  (sniff, sniff) 

Here is my pioneer in his finished outfit.  

We used his dress up Indiana Jones hat and I made him a braided belt from jute twine to hold up his pants :).

Like the pioneer woman I am, I used fabric and buttons I had on hand for his vest.  I used hemp for the front and the lining is a medium brown cotton.  Vintage buttons to boot.

I think he looks sharp as a pioneer!

Here he is enjoying his lunch with his pioneer buddies.

I went to the lunch to help set up/clean up and hang out with my little man.

Of course, I had to dress the part.  I made this shirt and skirt many moons ago.  The fabric was super cheap and I wanted to play with the pattern.  It screams little house on the prairie.  I love these two pieces separately, but I never wear them together.  Today, though, it worked perfect as a pair.

I'm not sure what we are going to do when Aubrey is in 3rd grade.  She was in tears when I dropped her off that day.  She was crying about having to wear a dress … you know, that one day ... two years from now ... when it's her turn to do Pioneer Day in 3rd grade.  

*sigh*

She is such a silly little girl.  Hopefully, she will come around by then.  

I have my doubts.  

I hope the teachers will be flexible with her.