Fun weekend project - op shop skirt makeover

I went to Spotlight yesterday but on the way noticed that the Helping Hands op shop just across the street was open. So of course I had to make a detour...

I found a couple of cute solid colour shirts, a lovely black boiled wool jacket ( so lightweight!), and a cute long skirt. 

The skirt was super long, and quite skinny, but had potential!

As you can see the skirt was floor length, and too small around the waist for Edna! 

I unpicked & removed the zip, then chopped about 25 cm off the top of the skirt. I used the chopped of part - complete with waistband- to cut & sew 2 patch pockets. A scrap of lycra worked for the  new waistband ( like a waistband on leggings).

Ta dah! 50's style skirt, and the pockets are perfect - big enough for mask, glasses, phone and wallet!

And there was a scrap of fabric left big enough to make a matching hair ribbon! 

quick project 2 sashiko mask

So I thought I would show my love of sashiko by sewing and decorating a mask! I drew & stitched the design, then sewed up the mask. 

I had soaked & washed the indigo fabric already BUT  not enough it seems! when I got back home after I wore the mask to the shops, I noticed a blue smudge on both my cheeks - where the front indigo fabric is folded to the inside to make the chanel for the lycra ear loops! ( the lining layer is cotton sheeting) 

Damn! will have to tweak it a bit before I can wear it again!

Catch up - quick projects 1 - vest make over

Looking through the photos on my phone I am very behind in posting!

First up is a vest I bought from an op shop ages ago. I like the colour and fabric, but it was just not quite right. 

I finally figured out the high neckline was the issue, as well as the length; so I shortened the vest & recut the front neckline. It is an 

intersting mix of tapestry type fabric & a thick woolly fabric ( so it is actually quite warm to wear!).

It is a bit quirky & a nice layering piece...so I have now dug out a vest pattern & cut some fabric out to make one from scratch! 

Comic Con 2021...not quite

Melbourne Comic Con was supposed to be on this coming weekend, but has been postponed til November. 

I figured I should at least post an update of my outfit, although I have not done any work on it for a few weeks now. 

I have a heap more patches sewn on now, and really only need a couple more patches on each sleeve, and to sew a few to cover the back more. Then add some embroidery/ boro stitching for a bit of decoration.

I made a quick vest too- I had actually bought some linen on sale at Spotlight, it was the exact shade of blue I wanted. But then I found a slightly too small wool jacket at an opshop, for the bargain sum of $4. I unpicked the sleeves, recut the armscythe a little deeper for more room, then hemmed the new edges - waaay quicker than working out a pattern & making a vest from scratch!