Dyeing for a Change

I realized you can't see all of it but it's basic cardigan. I found this at the Goodwill on Shiloh/Beltline in Garland for only $3.99!!!!!! I know, you can stop clapping, I know I'm good! It's a Coldwater Creek Jacket at that!!!!!

I dyed my first garments last night. Here is what used to be a 'regular' white undershirt (wifebeater if you will) and a cardigan from Land's End. I loved the cardigan but wearing white just isn't a good idea for me. I used the Dark Green Rit dye. I am considering dyeing these one again just in to make it a bit darker. I wore these to work today and think they look pretty good.

Okay so I kinda cheated on this one. I spent $5 at Walmart for the shirt. It was a clearance item and is sooooo soft. I brought it home and dyed it first with the Dark Green. The very first thing you do with a new items is wash it to remove any sizing (stuff that makes clothes feels so good in the store, then you wash it....) in hot water. THEN you dye it in hot water. Weeeelllllll this shirt may be a bit snug now :-O but still soft. I'll be decorating it with some bead work at the bottom to distract the eyes from the top of the shirt (chi-chi's). I really like the color and sure it will fit me (again) in no time!!!!

What to make? What to Make?

I went to the library today and found several good books on 1950's fashions. Some on how they looked, some on who made which, some on how to sketch fashion. Then I went to WallieWorld and found some really cute green stripe fabric with a little bit of a stretch in it. Some fabric companies even have reproductions of the vintage patterns. My biggest problem is to know how much fabric I'll need. I have looked at several of these reproduction patterns and online patterns to try to get an idea. I think I will need between 5-6yrd to I might make something like this one. The fabric is ONLY $1.50/yd so I won't be spending too much on it any way.

First Dress of the New Year

My cousin is getting married May 1 and I'm in the wedding. She just asks that we wear a blue dress. I'm thinking of making something similiar to the dress our beautiful first lady is wearing on the cover of Glamour Mag Dec 2009. I told my cousin and she's thinnking of having everyone wear the same dress. She is wondering if I can make them all. I'lll just be happy to make mine. I want to get some draping tape like I saw on Project Runway (I had some for scrapbooking, maybe I can find that). I already have my dress form. Wish me luck!

Quilts and Retro Clothing

When I'm really good at making quilts, I'd like to make a quilt for this foundation.


Okay so I spent some time online today and found a top I think would be FAB on me!!! In my quest to revamp my wardrobe I have decided to achieve a few things:

1. Reuse/revise/restyle. I'm taking the pledge on this site. (Props to Jen)

2. Make my clothes and have them fit properly as opposed to spending hours shopping for things that don't.

3. FINALLY have the 1950's type wardrobe I've always wanted.

I found this blouse (View A) and dress on this site. I'd like to make it with two different colors and perhaps attach to the skirt from this dress (maybe the top color would be the same as the band on the skirt).

I Made It!

I saw this pattern and SO wanted to make it. Today, I DID! I'll post pics asap! I made it out of a 2 sided denium. I''m not sure if it was entended to be 2 sided, but that's how I see it! I originally bought it to make a sleeping bag for dd, but it never got finished. I trimmed this piece in red fleece which was originally intended to make winter scarf's until my dd crocheted one for me. So onward and upward!