Portia Lawrie

refashioning, the refashioners, the refashioners 2018, Uncategorized

The Refashioners 2018: Trine

Up next is Trine (and of course her lovely daughter Wilma)…

The outfit is inspired by the Spanish kid’s fashion brand ‘Motoreta’ ; with the top being made from a thrifted paneled blue skirt from her local thrift shop, and the shorts from a previously me made skirt …

The top is self drafted and the shorts are based on our lovely Toya’s ‘The Graphite Trousers’.

If you’d like to read and see more detail about this make, head over here!

This year’s series, as ever, will begin with this blogger element . For the whole of September, a fabulous line up of talented stitchers will be providing you with loads of inspiration, tutorials  and tips to get you going! So mark these dates in your diary (and make sure you’re following me either here or on IG to stay updated):

  • Blogger Element: Running from 3rd Sept to 28th Sept this year.  A month of inspiration posts to get your creative juices flowing. Line up announced shortly
  • Community Challenge: This will run right from 1st Sept to 31st October. There will be the usual phenomenal prize package for our winner(s) at the end. You can share your creations any time between those dates to be entered into the competition. To enter you’ll need to SHARE your refashions (We want to see the inspiration image, the before image(s) of your source garment(s), and the after images of course! Extra kudos given for how closely your “after” images resemble your inspiration images!) Share with us in one of the following ways:
    • On Instagram: Share a pic using the hashtags #therefashioners2018 #inspiredby (if you do not use these hashtags I will not be able to find your entry and it will not count)
    • On Facebook: There is a community board here where you can post your makes (You will need to request an invite to join)

    Only entries shared via the above 2 methods will be entered into the competition. Closing date for entries is 31st October 2018 Midnight GMT.

Check out the AMAZING prizes on offer this year!

With thanks to our fabulous official sponsors below!

refashioning, the refashioners, the refashioners 2018, Uncategorized

The Refashioners 2018: Kate Brookes

Up next is Kate.  Kate’s base garment is actually a previous “me made” two piece ensemble from the Japanese Pattern book Stylish Party Dresses by Yoshiko Tsukiori. The fabric was originally  second hand fabric, scored in her local charity shop  which makes this a double whammy for refashioning and thrifting!

Her inspiration was this dress was worn by Zoé Colotis, lead singer of the French electro swing band, Caravan Palace during a performance on Jools Holland’s New Year television special .

I think she’s done a brilliant job of recreating this look using an existing handmade garment! Those ruffles and that fit!

If you would like to read more about Kate’s inspiration and processes (and where she intends to wear this little beauty!) then you can find out more here 🙂 Loads of detail to devour over your morning coffee!

This year’s series, as ever, will begin with the blogger element . For the whole of September, a fabulous line up of talented stitchers will be providing you with loads of inspiration, tutorials  and tips to get you going! So mark these dates in your diary (and make sure you’re following me either here or on IG to stay updated):

  • Blogger Element: Running from 3rd Sept to 28th Sept this year.  A month of inspiration posts to get your creative juices flowing. Line up announced shortly
  • Community Challenge: This will run right from 1st Sept to 31st October. There will be the usual phenomenal prize package for our winner(s) at the end. You can share your creations any time between those dates to be entered into the competition. To enter you’ll need to SHARE your refashions (We want to see the inspiration image, the before image(s) of your source garment(s), and the after images of course! Extra kudos given for how closely your “after” images resemble your inspiration images!) Share with us in one of the following ways:
    • On Instagram: Share a pic using the hashtags #therefashioners2018 #inspiredby (if you do not use these hashtags I will not be able to find your entry and it will not count)
    • On Facebook: There is a community board here where you can post your makes (You will need to request an invite to join)

    Only entries shared via the above 2 methods will be entered into the competition. Closing date for entries is 31st October 2018 Midnight GMT.

Check out the AMAZING prizes on offer this year!

With thanks to our fabulous official sponsors below!

refashioning, the refashioners, the refashioners 2018, Uncategorized

The Refashioners 2018: Toya (Kids Edition)

Toya is back again for today’s installment of The Refashioners! This time with a kids edition!

This darling little dress…

And this dungaree and shirt combo…

As ever, outfits with individuality and a keen eye for details…

Toya’s processes involved deconstructing, reconstructing, tea dyeing and screen printing. You can read more about her inspiration, her processes and see more detail of these gorgeous garments (and beautiful young ladies) here.

You can read about her earlier “grown ups” refashion here.

This year’s series, as ever, will begin with this blogger element . For the whole of September, a fabulous line up of talented stitchers will be providing you with loads of inspiration, tutorials  and tips to get you going! So mark these dates in your diary (and make sure you’re following me either here or on IG to stay updated):

  • Blogger Element: Running from 3rd Sept to 28th Sept this year.  A month of inspiration posts to get your creative juices flowing. Line up announced shortly
  • Community Challenge: This will run right from 1st Sept to 31st October. There will be the usual phenomenal prize package for our winner(s) at the end. You can share your creations any time between those dates to be entered into the competition. To enter you’ll need to SHARE your refashions (We want to see the inspiration image, the before image(s) of your source garment(s), and the after images of course! Extra kudos given for how closely your “after” images resemble your inspiration images!) Share with us in one of the following ways:
    • On Instagram: Share a pic using the hashtags #therefashioners2018 #inspiredby (if you do not use these hashtags I will not be able to find your entry and it will not count)
    • On Facebook: There is a community board here where you can post your makes (You will need to request an invite to join)

    Only entries shared via the above 2 methods will be entered into the competition. Closing date for entries is 31st October 2018 Midnight GMT.

Stand by for details of the AMAZING prizes on offer this year!

With thanks to our fabulous official sponsors below!

refashioning, the refashioners, the refashioners 2018, Uncategorized

The Refashioners 2018: Allie

Next up for The Refashioners 2018 is Allie with this covetable and supremely wearable leather jacket!

Refashioned from a thrifted oversized leather jacket from the 90s and a floor-length ponte maxi dress. Just wait until you see the before pic of the dress.

The only supplies not repurposed for this project were thread and Wonder Tape.

Princess seams have proved time and again to be a refashioners friend due to the way the garment is broken down into much smaller pattern pieces. Perfect when you are playing fabric tetris with existing garments!

If you would like more details on this refashion, including the inspiration image and starting garments head over to Allie’s post here.

For the whole of September, we’ll keep bringing you a fabulous line up of talented stitchers who will be providing you with loads of inspiration, tutorials  and tips to get you going! So mark these dates in your diary (and make sure you’re following me either here or on IG to stay updated):

  • Blogger Element: Running from 3rd Sept to 28th Sept this year.  A month of inspiration posts to get your creative juices flowing. Line up announced shortly
  • Community Challenge: This will run right from 1st Sept to 31st October. There will be the usual phenomenal prize package for our winner(s) at the end. You can share your creations any time between those dates to be entered into the competition. To enter you’ll need to SHARE your refashions (We want to see the inspiration image, the before image(s) of your source garment(s), and the after images of course! Extra kudos given for how closely your “after” images resemble your inspiration images!) Share with us in one of the following ways:
    • On Instagram: Share a pic using the hashtags #therefashioners2018 #inspiredby (if you do not use these hashtags I will not be able to find your entry and it will not count)
    • On Facebook: There is a community board here where you can post your makes (You will need to request an invite to join)

    Only entries shared via the above 2 methods will be entered into the competition. Closing date for entries is 31st October 2018 Midnight GMT.

Check out the AMAZING prizes on offer this year!

With thanks to our fabulous official sponsors below!

refashioning, the refashioners, the refashioners 2018, Uncategorized

The Refashioners 2018: Toya

And here we are! Kicking off this years series of The Refashioners is last year’s winner Toya, who has taken these two unassuming men’s shirts…

And turned them into this super wearable, colour co-ordinated 2 piece! (Let me tell you, getting a pair of trousers out of a shirt is no mean feat!)

But she didn’t stop there…she also took this shirt….

And did this…

You can find out more about Toya’s processes as well as her inspiration images here.

This year’s series, as ever, will begin with this blogger element . For the whole of September, a fabulous line up of talented stitchers will be providing you with loads of inspiration, tutorials  and tips to get you going! So mark these dates in your diary (and make sure you’re following me either here or on IG to stay updated):

  • Blogger Element: Running from 3rd Sept to 28th Sept this year.  A month of inspiration posts to get your creative juices flowing. Line up announced shortly
  • Community Challenge: This will run right from 1st Sept to 31st October. There will be the usual phenomenal prize package for our winner(s) at the end. You can share your creations any time between those dates to be entered into the competition. To enter you’ll need to SHARE your refashions (We want to see the inspiration image, the before image(s) of your source garment(s), and the after images of course! Extra kudos given for how closely your “after” images resemble your inspiration images!) Share with us in one of the following ways:
    • On Instagram: Share a pic using the hashtags #therefashioners2018 #inspiredby (if you do not use these hashtags I will not be able to find your entry and it will not count)
    • On Facebook: There is a community board here where you can post your makes (You will need to request an invite to join)

    Only entries shared via the above 2 methods will be entered into the competition. Closing date for entries is 31st October 2018 Midnight GMT.

Stand by for details of the AMAZING prizes on offer this year!

With thanks to our fabulous official sponsors below!

refashioning, the refashioners, the refashioners 2018, Uncategorized

The Refashioners 2018: Prize package revealed…!!!

So this is it! The Refashioners 2018 is launching tomorrow!!! For the entire MONTH of September (launches Mon 3rd Sept) this blog will again play host to an awesome line up of makers ready to take on The Refashioners challenge!! What’s more, you can take part too and be in with a chance of winning a FANTASTIC prize. Your part of this challenge runs from the start of September right through until the end of October! (deets on how to enter at the bottom of this post)

For those of you unfamiliar with the challenge, (this is the 6th series) participants are challenged to refashion unloved garments for your delight and inspiration,  basically to highlight how cool, creative and ecologically and ethically sound refashioning old garments actually is. The kicker in the past has been, they don’t get to decide what that garment is. (insert evil laugh here) This year though, we’re tackling it in a slightly different way. (Wink wink) Full details of this year’s brief can be found here.

So not only do you get the fun of challenging yourself. Oh no. You also get the chance of winning a fantastic prize. I am so excited to  announce this years AMAZING bundle of prizes worth in excess of £1200!!!! Up for grabs are:

Pfaff UK are giving away a brand new sewing machine! (Am having to keep the model under wraps for now. But trust me it will be a corker! Details soon)

Simply Sewing Magazine are offering a 1 year subscription to the magazine. (in countries where print versions are not currently available this will be in digital format)

Schnittchen Patterns are giving away 10 x pdf patterns from their extensive range.

Girl Charlee are including a £30 voucher for their UK site or $30 for their US site.

Sew Crafty are gifting a £50 Voucher for their online store as well as £50 worth of goodies from their Signs of the Sewdiac range.

Closet Case Patterns are including a  $100 voucher to spend in their online store

Named Clothing are offering a 3 x PDF Pattern Bundle of your choice from their range

Megan Nielsen Patterns are offering a 3 x PDF Pattern Bundle of your choice from their range

By Hand London are offering a 3 x PDF Pattern Bundle of your choice from their range 3 patterns plus a mug, tote & digital sewing planner

Fabric Godmother are gifting a £30 voucher to spend online

Minerva Crafts are giving away a £100 fabric hamper

Sew Essential are offering a Mettler thread pack

Village Haberdashery are giving away a £20 voucher to spend online or in store

Cocowawa Crafts are gifting a paper copy of both the Honeycomb shirt and dress pattern, and the Cherry culottes and shorts pattern

Like Sew Amazing are gifting a £20 voucher to spend in their online store.

Beyond Measure are including this gorgeous pair of Japanese Shozaburo 9″ fabric shears worth £65. How lush?!

Please note: As in previous years, depending on the quality of entries, it may be necessary to split this prize bundle between an overall winner (who will receive the bulk of this prize) and a runner up (who will receive a small portion of it). 

This year’s series, as ever, will begin with the blogger element starting tomorrow. For the whole of September, a fabulous line up of talented stitchers will be providing you with loads of inspiration, tutorials  and tips to get you going! So mark these dates in your diary (and make sure you’re following me either here or on IG to stay updated):

  • Blogger Element: Running from 3rd Sept to 28th Sept this year.  A month of inspiration posts to get your creative juices flowing. Line up announced shortly
  • Community Challenge: This will run right from 1st Sept to 31st October. There will be the usual phenomenal prize package for our winner(s) at the end. You can share your creations any time between those dates to be entered into the competition. To enter you’ll need to SHARE your refashions (We want to see the inspiration image, the before image(s) of your source garment(s), and the after images of course! Extra kudos given for how closely your “after” images resemble your inspiration images!) Share with us in one of the following ways:
    • On Instagram: Share a pic using the hashtags #therefashioners2018 #inspiredby (if you do not use these hashtags I will not be able to find your entry and it will not count)
    • On Facebook: There is a community board here where you can post your makes (You will need to request an invite to join)

    Only entries shared via the above 2 methods will be entered into the competition. Closing date for entries is 31st October 2018 Midnight GMT.

Stand by for the launch of this year’s blogger element tomorrow!!

With thanks to our fabulous official sponsors below!

refashioning, the refashioners, the refashioners 2018, Uncategorized

The Refashioners 2018: Blogger line up revealed…!!!

So this is it! The countdown has begun once again people!!! For the entire MONTH of September (launches Mon 3rd Sept) this blog will again play host to an awesome line up of makers ready to take on The Refashioners challenge!! What’s more, you can take part too and be in with a chance of winning a FANTASTIC prize. Your part of this challenge runs from the start of September right through until the end of October! (More deets on the prize package to follow and deets on how to enter at the bottom of this post)

For those of you unfamiliar with the challenge, (this is the 6th series) participants are challenged to refashion unloved garments for your delight and inspiration,  basically to highlight how cool, creative and ecologically and ethically sound refashioning old garments actually is. The kicker in the past has been, they don’t get to decide what that garment is. (insert evil laugh here) This year though, we’re tackling it in a slightly different way. (Wink wink) Full details of this year’s brief can be found here.

So without further ado and with mucho excitement, I am chuffed to pieces to  announce this years STELLAR line up!!!!

Sasha : Italian Knitter. Dressmaker. Pattern designer. Photographer.  Blogger. One super stylish and talented creative You can find Sasha on Instagram or via her site.

Marilla: Pattern designer, knitter, shoemaker (!) and all round polycreative. You can find Marilla on Instagram or via her site.

Allie : Stitcher, refashioner, pattern designer and the brains behind indie pattern hub Indiesew. You can find Allie on Instagram and via her site

Elisalex: Sewing personality and co founder of indie pattern company By Hand London.   You can find Elisalex on Instagram or via the BHL site.

Marie: Stitcher, blogger, creator of the Vintage Pledge sewing challenge, fabric addict and dress & bunny rabbit lover!  You can find Marie on Instagram or via her site.

Damar: A new face to some of you! Very excited to introduce this super talented refashioner! Oh and a magician with video! (You’ll see what I mean when you scroll through Damar’s IG feed!) You can find Damar on Instagram or via her site.

Toya: Last year’s winner, stitcher, illustrator and  now emerging pattern designer. Super super talented.   You can find Toya on Instagram or via her site.

Clare: Professional dressmaker, designer and bridal expert. Could The Refashioners see it’s first ever weding dress this year I wonder?!  You can find Clare on Instagram or via her site.

Helen: Blogger, pattern designer and one half of the duo behind the Love to Sew podcast. You can find Helen on Instagram or via her site.

Mira: San Francisco based maker, sustainable style lover and another new face in this year’s line up.   You can find Mira on Instagram or via her site.

Hannah & Rosie: The dynamic and crafty duo behind one of London’s most popular workshop venues. Both Hannah & Rosie will be taking part in this year’s challenge!  You can find them on Instagram or via their site.

Rosie: Stitcher, pattern designer author and musician. You can find Rosie on Instagram or via her site.

Charlie: Brooklyn based Brit blogger Charlie has a me made wardrobe I would love to plunder!   You can find Charlie on Instagram or via her site

Gabby: Singer, stitcher, blogger, vlogger, and one half of the duo behind the Stitcher’s Brew podcast series.  You can find Gabby on Instagram or via her site.

Rachel: Brazillian blogger and all round sewing personality. You can find Rachel on Instagram or via her site.

Kate: One half of the dynamic duo behind community hub The Fold Line and The Sewing Weekender.   You can find Kate (and her bud Rachel) on Instagram or via their site.

Trine: Danish mother of 4, blogger and self taught seamstress. (And one of the most covetable me made wardrobes on Instagram!)  You can find Trine on Instagram or via her site.

Kate: A runner up in last year’s series. Brit abroad (Sydney Australia). multi talented stitcher, blogger and sashiko lover.  You can find Kate on Instagram or via her site.

 

Oh….and me! Hiya! This is me! Stitcher. Blogger. Coffee drinker. Creator of this here little series. You can find me on Instagram or here on my blog.

So what say you? September & October are gonna be pretty awesome right??!!! Get rummaging through your wardrobes and local charity shops.   This is gonna  be SERIOUSLY good!

This year’s series, as ever, will begin with the blogger element. For the whole of September, a fabulous line up of talented stitchers will be providing you with loads of inspiration, tutorials  and tips to get you going! So mark these dates in your diary (and make sure you’re following me either here or on IG to stay updated):

  • Blogger Element: Running from 3rd Sept to 28th Sept this year.  A month of inspiration posts to get your creative juices flowing. Line up announced shortly
  • Community Challenge: This will run right from 1st Sept to 31st October. There will be the usual phenomenal prize package for our winner(s) at the end. You can share your creations any time between those dates to be entered into the competition. To enter you’ll need to SHARE your refashions (We want to see the inspiration image, the before image(s) of your source garment(s), and the after images of course! Extra kudos given for how closely your “after” images resemble your inspiration images!) Share with us in one of the following ways:
    • On Instagram: Share a pic using the hashtags #therefashioners2018 #inspiredby (if you do not use these hashtags I will not be able to find your entry and it will not count)
    • On Facebook: There is a community board here where you can post your makes (You will need to request an invite to join)

    Only entries shared via the above 2 methods will be entered into the competition. Closing date for entries is 31st October 2018 Midnight GMT.

Stand by for details of the AMAZING prizes on offer this year!

With thanks to our fabulous official sponsors below!

the refashioners

The Refashioners 2018 – Inspired by….

Well here we are again people! This year’s instalment of The Refashioners is nearly upon us! We’re flipping things on their head this year. For the past few series we have focused on a specific garment and used that as the starting point. We think we’ve done enough now to loosen things up theme wise and REALLY allow the creativity to flow. So THIS year there are NO restrictions on the garments you can use. Yes you read that right! So if you are one of those people who has said to me we should do old prom dresses, t shirts, knitwear…..now’s your chance! What we want you to do this year is start with an image that inspires you. An outfit or garment that you covet. A style icon that you admire. A look that you want to recreate.  Find your inspiration….Then we want you to go ahead and recreate it!! The only caveat is…..you can ONLY use existing, unloved garments to do so. These can be from charity shops, from your own wardrobe, or even your old me mades that you don’t wear anymore. The key here, is to demonstrate, that whatever your heart desires, there is a way to achieve that by reusing unwanted garments IF you get creative

Here are a few examples of what I mean.

Take a favourite musical icon for instance. Madonna has reinvented herself so many times over the years you could pick any number of images as your inspiration. This classic from her early days could be recreated by  adapting a simple white tee and reshaping an oversized pair of suit trousers, using the excess fabric to create the “braces”. Paloma’s look again….simple white tee reshaped to fit. Various techniques could be used to recreate the image on her tee. (Think fabric pens, image transfer paper, etc). Her pencil skirt could be recreated using fabric harvested from curtains or an old prom dress then dyed. Love Florence Welch’s bohemian style? Find a velvet blazer and get creative with embellishments like embroidery and beading!

If you love a particular designer (and who could be more iconic than Vivienne Westwood!) you could take your inspiration image from their body of work.  Corsets use alot of panelling and are comprised of numerous smaller pattern pieces. As we’ve learnt from previous series, these kind of patterns are the holy grail for refashioning where large expanses of flat fabric are scarce.  You have to get clever with piecing and seaming. In the centre pic I can picture an old prom or bridesmaids dress. The shell fabric of the skirt removed and the netting underskirt dyed and the bodice reshaped. Tartan is another Westwood classic. Look for old kilts and matronly skirts and give them a twist with bustles and interesting draping details.

If vintage glam is your thing, you could pick any number of inspo images from Dita Von Teese!  In the first 2 images I’m seeing the skirt portions of old wedding/bridesmaid/prom dresses with waistbands added. Then embroidery, applique , organza, lace details added to achieve the look. And how about that last image? Another prom dress refashion methinks? Reshaped into a fitted bodice with pencil skirt and the excess fabric used to create the waist sash and fabric flowers.

I’m a big fan of mannish tailoring on women. I love this kind of look. The time spans of these images show it’s just as stylish and relevant today as it was in the 30s , 40’s, 70’s and 80’s. Katherine Hepburn, Diane Keaton and Elly Jackson all killing it in their own way. Hepburn’s look could be recreated by thrifting and reshaping (possibly dyeing) an old blouse and a pair of oversized mens slacks. Diane Keaton’s look is a charity shop dream! White shirt, tie, waistcoat, suit trousers, even down to the hat, the bag, the sunnies and the tennis racket! All of these are lurking in charity shops and with a few minor adjustment this image could be recreated entirely from charity shop finds. As for Elly Jackson’s suit, I’d love to have a go at dyeing a pure linen suit in an acid bright or pastel shade like this!

Take your inspiration image from the many streetstyle images that abound on pinterest! Image 1 a man’s oversized white shirt, an oversised sweater and a pair of simple black slacks all adjusted for shape. Image 2a thrifted coat with the collar removed and the length of the sleeves and hem adjusted with the addition of a belt. A pair of jeans cropped and reshaped.  For image 3, a jacket made from a a quilted throw. Men’s slacks reshaped and embellished with paint stamps!

These looks straight from the catwalk could be recreated. Convert a trench coat into a dress. Crop a suit jacket and dye it. Worn with a reshaped white tee and a skirt made from a man’s shirt. You could even dye a plain pair of white socks and a baseball cap to match. Even the gold accessories could be sourced in a charity shop. The denim dress could be recreated from old jeans in similar colours…

I hope that gives you an idea of where we’re coming from!  Suggest starting with a few different images. Thrift shopping to order can be tricky and alot will rely on the thrifting gods being on your side, lol! Don’t forget, you can shop the charity shops, your own wardrobes, and even the wardrobes of (willing!) loved ones.

We want to see the inspiration image, the before image(s) of your source garment(s), and the after images of course! Extra kudos given for how closely your “after” images resemble your inspiration images!

This years series, as ever, will begin with the blogger element. For the whole of September, a fabulous line up of talented stitchers will be providing you with loads of inspiration, tutorials  and tips to get you going! So mark these dates in your diary (and make sure you’re following me either here or on IG to stay updated):

  • Blogger Element: Running from 3rd Sept to 28th Sept this year.  A month of inspiration posts to get your creative juices flowing. Line up announced shortly
  • Community Challenge: This will run right from 1st Sept to 31st October. There will be the usual phenomenal prize package for our winner(s) at the end. You can share your creations any time between those dates to be entered into the competitionTo enter you’ll need to SHARE your refashions (including your original inspiration image) with us in one of the following ways:
    • On Instagram: Share a pic using the hashtags #therefashioners2018 #inspiredby (if you do not use these hashtags I will not be able to find your entry and it will not count)
    • On Facebook: There is a community board here where you can post your makes (You will need to request an invite to join)

    Only entries shared via the above 2 methods will be entered into the competition. Closing date for entries is 31st October 2018 Midnight GMT.

Stand by for details of the lineup and the AMAZING prizes on offer this year!

With thanks to our fabulous official sponsors below!

 

refashioning, the refashioners

The Refashioners 2018 – stand by your scissors people!

I know, I know. I have neglected this wee blog a bit of late! Long story and not one for right now. But loooooook!!

The Refashioners 2018

That’s right, it’s coming! The line up is confirmed, the prizes are being gathered and blog posts are being prepared. I will be drip feeding you deets over the coming weeks but for now I can confirm, The Refashioners 2018 will commence on Monday 3rd September (with a month of blogger inspo) and will run until 31st October after which we will select a winner from all of your entries.

Watch this space ! It’s going to be epic!

I know. I’m a tease.

(BTW amazing machine embroidery courtesy of the Husqvarna Designer Epic! Mad right!)

DIY, how to, Sewing, Tutorials

HACK: Cuffed Kimono Tee

This was one of those projects where I just wanted a new top. Fast. I only had a small piece of this gorgeous ponte. Not enough to cut a separate body and sleeves. But I didn’t want e sleeveless top either. A short kimono sleeve is a good workaround and can save the day in these kind of scenarios!HACK: Cuffed Kimono Tee

I lengthened the short kimono sleeves further by adding cuffs made from the off cuts. The waste from this project was practically non existent…HACK: Cuffed Kimono Tee

It’s a simple hack on an existing tee pattern. This is a tracing of the hemlock tee from Grainline. Using the body pieces as a guide I cut a kimono shape outide of the pattern piece. For the shoulder I simply followed the angle of the shoulder line as far as I could (given the limitations of what fabric I had). When it comes to the underarm curve note it’s position in relation to the original underarm point. (Which you can just about make out in this pic. You’ll note that the underarm curve starts 2-3″ below the original underarm point and the sleeve is overall much wider.HACK: Cuffed Kimono Tee

Unfold and use as a template to cut a second identical piece…sew RS together at the shoulders. You can press the seams to the back and top stitch the shoulder seams for a nice finish. (I do this on most of my makes).HACK: Cuffed Kimono Tee

mm

HACK: Cuffed Kimono TeeHACK: Cuffed Kimono Tee

Sew the underarm curves on both sides as pictured….HACK: Cuffed Kimono Tee

Neckline is finished with a simple neckband as per this post…HACK: Cuffed Kimono Tee

Cuffs are loops of fabric the same circumference as your sleeve hems, folded in half WS together…HACK: Cuffed Kimono TeeHACK: Cuffed Kimono Tee

Then pinned to the sleeve hems with raw edges aligned, sewn together and pressed away from the garment, with the SA top stitched in place. I had a little bulk at the point where the underarm seam met the join in cuff . Rather than force it through and make the machine “climb over it” (Even with a shim it never makes for a good stitch); I started the stitch one side of the bulky area and finished it the other side. Topstitching in this instance is really only decorative. So a little gap in the line of stitching, in a spot that won’t be noticeable during wear, is no biggie in my book!HACK: Cuffed Kimono Tee

This has turned out to be one of those fail safe tees. Throw it on for immediate comfort (and hopefully style!) Yook me about an hour to make as my machines were already threaded up wth the right colour thread from my previous make. (Love it when that happens…HACK: Cuffed Kimono Tee

Here’s a close up of that fabric. Lush right? I think it’s out of stock currently but their range of pontes and other jerseys is always ace.HACK: Cuffed Kimono Tee

I like quick projects like this sometimes. Every now and then you just need a quick sewing fix that doesn’t tax the brain too much and gives you a wearable garment at the end!