The Refashioners 2016 was something I came across one night while flicking through my Instagram feed.

The competition run by Portia Lowrie, from the makery blog is a yearly event that involves refashioning an article  of clothing into something new.

This year it was JEANS

WOW could you get a more appropriate competition for me!!

As a hoarder of jeans and someone who already refashions them into softies, bags, pillows and heaps of other things, I knew I needed to complete this challenge.

Well what do I make?

A Bag?     A Toy?    A Pillow?

My first thought was to make a big ball gown. A bustier for the top and a full skirt made out jean legs. I seen one, once on the internet, it was amazing, but time would be against me, and would I get much use out of a ball gown? I thought no, my formal years were over and my daughter already had a dress for hers that was coming up. (she told me it wasn’t her syle) So my idea changed.

I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and try to sew something for myself, something I could wear. Now I’m not what you call a seamstress, I have always considered myself a crafty sewer, quick and cute things to make for the home or kids.  I can make clothes, but I have to use a pattern, and for some reason I tend to get my measurements wrong so I end up taking in a lot of seams or letting them out, and therefore changing the shape of the clothes so I don’t end up wearing a lot of stuff I make.

This was my challenge. Make myself something to wear out of my favourite material. Denim Jeans, and make it fit without too many dodgy alterations.

So it was a quick trip to the local spotlight store (who am I kidding it was more like a 4 hour-long quick trip) and I found a pattern (ok, ok, 3 patterns) Grabbed some zips, buttons, lining and maybe a bit of extra material (We all need more for the ever-increasing stash don’t we!)

When I first seen the competition, I would have had two months to finish, August and September, sure that was plenty of time, no need to rush. Well; did I get side tracked.

Work, Daughters HSC major works (lots of running around) Sons asthma attack and a complete renovation of a bathroom that the hubby sprung on me, so a house in chaos. Oh no, now it was the 15th, it was due the 30th of September.

So I sewed like a mad woman

Here’s what evolved……….

I decided on using the Simplicity pattern 8123, and I wanted the slim fit style A

To open up the jeans, cut up the inside leg, from one side to the other and then cut up next to the zip and all the way through the waist band. This gives you the most material to use.

 

Once the pattern was all cut out I found 3 Pairs of jeans that were of similar stretch that when opened up would be able to fit my pattern pieces.

 

 

I followed the pattern and step by step it slowly came together.

Making clothes for myself is not exactly simple, so here are a few things that challenged me.

Ease stitch – I have never in my life done ease stitching, It is easy to do,a simple stitch, but it took me a while to figure out what it was for, I questioned the need for it (why I questioned it I don’t know) and yes don’t skip this part you do need to do it, as it does help with fit.

Darts – everyone does them but for me, I very rarely get them right, usually too long so the fit gets thrown out of whack. So after unpicking a few, I persevered and got them right so the end product fit well.

The Band – For me the big issue was the top band on the dress. I didn’t put interfacing on it as it would have added too much bulk to the already thick denim. It took me a few goes to get this part right. For the experienced dressmaker, you wouldn’t have had a problem, but for me, lets just say my son learnt a whole new vocabulary. For some reason I kept sewing it on back to front and then with the band facings I had the same problem. So I sewed, screamed, unpicked, cut a new one, sewed, screamed some more and unpicked. At one stage I just sat with a tea and bickie and read and re read. Finally it happened and it all then made sense, ahhhhhhh that’s how it’s done. easy.

Zip – yes….it happened eventually. That’s all I’m going to say on that. (doesn’t really match right at the band or the band doesn’t line up, either way it is a mistake, I can live with, I’ll just wear my hair down)

Buttons – perfect

Front vent – What ? read and re read again and checked the pattern for the small dots. I gave it a go and I think it turned out fine.

Hem – Well after doing countless school uniforms for the girls I had that done quite quick. easy.

So all in all I accomplished a dress. A dress that fits mind you, a dress in denim, my favourite material, a dress recycled from 3 pairs of jeans, one that I can wear and will wear. Bring on Summer, I say.

I love this dress and as a first ‘me made’ outfit since  the late 90’s I am very proud that I attempted it. Even though I did alter it here and there for the perfect fit and maybe had trouble with a few parts, and maybe it isn’t perfect but I finished and it is wearable. Yeah me!!

So the dress was made and as I reflected on my efforts and challenges, I put everything away; the leftover jeans material, the scissors and thread and as I neatly folded the pattern up and put it in its pocket cover, I noticed something,

WHAT…. WHAT was this I see?  a YouTube video link, on how to sew the pattern 8123.

the Sew- Along

I wanted to cry

OMG , why oh why hadn’t I seen this before, it sure would have helped me with the band, zip and vent, oh well. As I sat and watched the SEW ALONG video by Mimi G, for Simplicity, I smiled and had to laugh. A lot of things now made sense.These videos are great, there are lots of them for all different patterns of Mimi G Style. I will be doing a few in the near future, while following along with the video.

This is a great pattern and I love the dress. That extra material that went into the stash is coming out, It will be made into another dress, this time following the Mimi G YouTube tutorial, hopefully eliminating the bad vocabulary and screams.

 

 

What issues do you have when sewing, Do darts? or Hems? give you hassles?

Have you sewed along with  YouTube, maybe Mimi G. what was your experience?

 

Reuse Recycle Repurpose

Happy sewing from Kylie xoxo