Summer sewing in black & white: skirt and t-shirt

Hi, lovely readers!

How is your summer going?

Mine is full of trips, time with friends, work, books, beach and good food.

I'm not very creative in this period, but I've probably understood where the problem is hidden (multitasking is not always a good thing!) and I'm going to do some good planning to reconnect myself to my self-expression path.

Despite this not-very-creative mood, I made some new clothes for me. 

Summer is the best season for diy clothes, in my opinion. 

Easy t-shirts, or skirts, are very easy to sew and they help your wardrobe staying full of options during the hot season, when the pile close to washing machines can reach huge dimensions.

I made a skirt and a t-shirt!

They both are black and white (+stripes!). It's not a combo I used to like in the past, but something was calling me while I was looking for fabrics into my boxes.

The skirt (very easy pencil skirt)

Something about this skirt:

• I've bought the fabric more than two years ago and left unused, because I loved it so much that I was terrified to waste it (also because the piece was very small).
  It's a strong but lightweight and soft knitted cotton fabric, printed with different motivs of black and white zigzag stripes.
• I've drawn the desing by myself following my body's shape and measurements. It's a very easy pencil skirt finished with an elastic on the waist:

• I realized the hem by hands.
  I've learned how to sew an invisible hem by hands thanks to a stitch (called "punto strega" - "witch stitch" - in italian) that can be stretched a bit (thread doesn't rip): very important in knitted fabric skirts.
  Most important: it works!
  (me in the making)

The t-shirt (stripes + flowers again!)

Something about this t-shirt:

• Yes, the fabric it's the same of the stripes+flowers t-shirt I made last year (still loved and worne) but in black+white+sand and not in blue. I have a big piece of it, so I will probably sew something else in the future.
• Design by me!
  I used a (bought) t-shirt that it's very confortable on me and used as a pattern.
  I added some bands on the sleeves because these details help handmade clothes to look less handmade (yes!).
  I'm not 100% satisfied by the neck line. It's always the part of the process that gives my troubles.
  
  

Future projects

I'd like to go on sewing in August.

It's to start something new, so in my plans there are:

• Culottes! I've collected a lot of inspirations, tips, patterns and tutorial for culottes making in a Pinterest board. Something like this or this will be great!
• A top with draped neck line following this tutorial. I hope it will help me in go over my problems with neck lines. I like this kind of neck line very much, too!
• Leggins or easy pants in stretch/kintted fabric.

I'll share with you the finished projects, of course!


Do you practice easy summer sewing like me?
Share your work! I'm always looking for new inspirations!

Refashion: from trousers to skirt

After a very long time I finally spent a couple of hours refashioning old clothes.
Refashion is one of my favourite craft!
Since I have difficulties in throwing away my old things, I like to give them a new life to keep them with me for some more. 
And this is expecially important for beloved clothes, like a pair of Esprit grey trousers I bought 4-5 years ago and wore almost till consumption (they were so confy and their fabric so good!!!).
Making a skirt out of them, cutting away the damaged parts, seemed a good idea. So I did it!

This is the before&after photo-collage:

And this is the photo of the back:

the final result is a pencil skirt and a "tear" is higly reccomended to walk without problems.
I realized it simply folding the fabric inside and sewing. 
I know this isn't the right way to realize these details in clothes, but it's a simple solution for a very informal skirt like this.

The skirt is not perfect.
Making a perfect skirt recycling a pair of trousers is almost a "mission impossible", because the fabric's cut in trousers follows curve lines that are very difficult to conceal when it's time to sew the skirt.

But if you want to try you can follow these tutorials:
- "Pants to pencil skirt" by La vie DIY
- Tutorial by sewmakeplay (a different solution from the front)
- 5 ways to turn jeans into a skirt with different skirt designs
- "Turn pants onto a skirt" by Potluck on the porch

Here in my Pinterest board about refashion you can find other tutorials and inspirations if you want to save an old pair of trousers (or other clothes you love).

The blue tunic + some sewing links

I had in my stash a blue knitted fabric I really loved.

I bought it some years ago for a ridicolous amount of money (2-3 €, I can't remember) during a quick visit to our outdoor market.

I liked the pattern (a mix of paisley and other "asian" motivs) and the fact that it was long enought to make a long shirt or a tunic. 

Instict suggested me to buy it without reflecting too much. 

But, when at home, I realized that the fabric wasn't enough to make something with sleeves and I abandoned the project and had to wait till this september to understand how to use it.

I made this tunic:

No pattern for it.

I've literally sewn it on my body, with pins and scissors with me. I decided to take some risks and I succeeded :)

It's a sort of long cardigan with short sleeves (or a long vest?) because it is closed by little metallic snaps on the front (but the bottom slightly opens).

I still like the color, the pattern, and how it looks on me on the back. 

There's something wrong on the front, but I can't understand what. Maybe the neck-line?

My plans are to wear it in this way now that the weather is still warm and sunny (you know, mediterranean weather ... we are still wearing t-shirts and fresh clothes although october is here), and to put a t-shirt with long sleeves under it in winter (so it will look like a long vest).

Before starting it I've pondered a lot around other designs and patterns.

My intentions were to make a kimono jacket or a cocoon cardigan. So I collected a lot of free patterns, tutorials and inspirations into my "Sewing clothes" board on Pinterest. Take a glance, if you are interested.

My favourite are this cocoon cardigan (so easy to make!!!) and this kimono jacket.

But the final inspiration to make my tunic came from this design. I mixed it with a t-shirt and a shirt I have in my wardrobe (bought, not handmade) and this is the result.

I have a lot of projects about handmade clothes and refashion, but I think I'll give sewing clothes a pause (althoug I'm very tempted to sew this with long or 3/4 sleeves). 
My creativity needs to work on something different... bags, softies, crochet, wood burning, art. I don't know where to start :)

Refashioned + new

This is me in an idiot pose (forgive me! I can't act as a model!), wearing my new white sandals and something recently realized by me: a skirt and a refashioned t-shirt.

I bought the shirt 4-5 years ago and not used it too much, because it was too long and roomy, with and elastic band at the bottom. 

It looked lovely in the shop, but I couldn't wear it without looking pregnant -___-

So this year I decided for some cutting-sewing and now I can wear it.

It's so confy! :)

I like to have it to match with my new handmade skirt.

I made it because this pin inspired me and taught me how beautiful pencil skirts can be.

The fabric is a very fresh and lightweight jersey I bought last year. Lovely print, a bit strange and too optical for me, but I like it the same.

I'm working a lot around my summer closet, this year.

I need more clothes because I work almost everyday and I also need to "reorganize" my exterior appearance, after years of carelessness. 

It's a thing every girl has to do at some points of her life!

The next thing I want to do is another quick refashion: I wanto to turn a pair of old trousers in capri pants.

But today I'm braiding t-shirt yarn and I can't foresee where my creativity will bring me this week! :)

July in 31 photos: day 1-5

I started the new month with a new project in my mind.

Following my growing need to document my daily life, I decided to take one photo (at the least) everyday for the whole July and to publish it here and in my Flickr album.

It's a great way to see how the month is going and to sum up my summer (I'm starting with July, but my plans are to go on in august, too). 

You know that I have big expectations for this summer and I hope to see beautiful snaps speaking about fun, nature and summer happiness.

Would you join me in this project?
I've called it "July in 31 photos" (I'm not very creative with names)

If you wanto to have fun with me, the only things you have to do are: 

- capture an image of your day, everyday

- publish it where you like best (Flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, your blog, ....)

- let me know in the comment where I can see your photos

I'd like to take a glance in your summer :)

I'll probably publish my photos by grouping them, because I haven't the day to edit and blog every day.

Today I'm sharing with you my first 5 days.

Day 1: S. transplanted some succulents (+ another unknown little plant) in our acid green pot:

Day 2: a mysterious little light in our lawn (a firefly, I suppose)

Day 3: olive plants took frangipani's place in front of our main door - from a tropical corner to a very mediterranean one

Day 4: new shoes for me!

Day 5: typicall sicilian breakfast for summer: bread and granita (granita is made of almonds, sugar, milk, ice and cinnamon... very refreshing)

And 5 days have gone!

What I've been busy on

I'm not sure the title is written in correct english, but this is what jumped in my mind this morning when I decided to write a blog post after more than a month.

I've been busy on several (happy) things recently and blogging hasn't been on top of my list of priorities.

50% I missed it and 50% not. 

This pause is letting me pondering about my being on line, but, hey, this is not that kind of post.

I'm here because, after some very hectic weeks I started to take photos and documenting my life again. And blogging is part of the process, together with writing in my moleskine journal.

I need to share the things that took me busy between May and June.

Work work work

I'm super happy because I'm going to work everyday till the end of July. Money in my wallet and valid experiences on my curriculum vitae. Yay!

Study study study

I've helped S. to study for his exams. They went great, of course! :P

Enjoying summer

Last year summer went oh, so wrong :(

My dad's illness and death captured all my thoughts, of course, and I was so sad and worried that I couldn't enjoy summer things.

I've decided to have a great summer this year and I'm running to do more things possible.

S. and I started to:

- planning some afternoons at the seaside

- having walks after dinner (fresh air!!!)

- going with friends to outdoor concerts

- preserving food for winter (apricot jam, this time):

- explore Sicily and look to sicilian tradition:

And I:

- indulged in some summer shopping (haven't finished yet, eh eh):

(this is for my cousin's wedding, I don't wear this kind of clothes daily)

- painted my nails and bought new nail polish (glitter, gold and magnolia pink)

- wrote a list of books I want to read this summer

- had a new haircut

Working for our home

A lot of time is going to complete the furniture of our home.

We bought and put together a beautiful white desk (so laaaarge) for my sewing room, with three drawers and two new chairs. 

Now we need shelves for the books.

We are visiting several shops to decide how to fill the living room (still empty!).

Lot of gardening, too!

Sewing

I've carved out some time for sewing.

I've completed a t-shirt with dusty blue knit fabric (not photographed) and now I'm refashioning some summer clothes, so I can use them this year, too.

I've also completed four tableclothes for my kitchen:

Fabric bought last may. I'm still in love with them.

I'm not sure it's all.

The important thing is I'm here again and I'm going to re-start blogging.

Maybe :)

Yes, another striped t-shirt

I love stripes!

I love them like polka dots.

You've probably noticed it before, because, since I've started sewing clothes for myself, I've made striped t-shirts everytime I had the right fabric for.

And again, I've just finished another striped t-shirt, the second one this year (here the first).

You've seen it (unfinished) in my last post.

It has striped in different colours. Although I'm not 100% happy about the colours scheme of the fabric, there is something I really like in it, probably it's to mix of blues and greens.

The things I like most of this t-shirt are that I had enough fabric to make 3/4 sleeves and that the quality of the knitted jersey is very good (so fresh to wear!).

To make it I've altered the pattern of this cardigan.

I've already worn this t-shirt for a very hard morning of work at school. And it was so confy and fresh!

And 3/4 sleeves are perfect for school in this period of the year, because they are fresh but more elegant than short sleeves.

The only thing that makes me sad about my new striped t-shirt is that I haven't finished it in time for "Spring top sewalong 2014" -___-

Oh, well, it's not so important! :)

Burda disappointment + adjustements = uhm, it's ok

Recently I've started some new sewing projects for me and of course they include some new clothes for spring and summer, because I like fresh skirts and t-shirts and blouses of all sorts.

I decided to test a Burda pattern on a knitted fabric I've bought at the outdoor market (mum has the same fabric, but in different colors). 

The pattern is the bluse n. 140 in the issue august 2013 of italian Burda style (plus size section). I was in love for the knotted neck.

I've measured my body with attention to cut the right size, but when I've finished to sew the most important part of the blouse I got this boxy, large and too long thing:

Uhm :/

You can see by the neckline that it's my size, but the model is really bad and it's really wrong for curvy people like me. We don't need clothes that add volume to our body, if you don't want to look like Homer Simpson in his obese phase.

So, after some days of nervous disappointment, I decided to make some adjustments.

I've shortened (a lot!!!) the blouse and its sleeves. I've also modeled the waist line on my body.

This is the final result:

Uhm, nothing special. But now it's ok. It works.

I think I'll wear it in some elegant occasions during spring and summer. Or at work (I'm going to start a new experience as a teacher next april).

I'm happy to have tested this pattern on this fabric: I don't like it too much, so I'm not desperate about wasting it on this project. I've been lucky (wise?) enough to save my favourite fabrics for other projects. And I'll make a muslin before!!! Lesson learned!

DIY clothes I'm working on:

- a long sleeves t-shirt: knitted fabric, raglan sleeves and flowers

- a black&green skirt: the fabric is a bit small, I think I can make only an a-line shirt

- something like this (isn't it clever and cute?)

- a long tunic/shirt to wear with leggins

I've also to finish some projects I've abandoned last summer.

And you? Have you got some projects for your spring/summer otufits?

Sewing with very tiny fabric scraps: bows for hair!

I'm a crazy scraps saver!

I can save tiny scraps of fabrics for years, waiting for a great idea for them. 

Many boxes filled of squares of beautiful fabrics fill my drawers and, you know, this can be a problem sometime! :)

So I try to use them here and there.

Recently I worked with some very tiny pieces of fabrics (samples) I received as a gift some time ago. They are cm 7x5 more or less (in. 2,5 x 2)... normal people woud throw them away, but I like so much their colours and pattern that I can't.

I made hair accessories instead! :)

Bows with elastics fixed on the back: ponytail holders, 100% made by sewing (no glues!).

They are:

- a rustic bow in earth tones:

- a set of three tartan bows in black and white + turquoise/green/lilac:

- a set of two polka dots bows, so funny:

- a set of two turquoise bows with floral pattern:

My favourite are the brown one and the polka dots set!

I like to make fabric bows! 

I made some in the past, for Xmas decorations or to be fixed on brochees. I've also written a tutorial: you can follow its instructions if you want to make some bows for you.

This time the scraps were too small to make the bows as shown in my tutorial; they are more simple in their shapes, but beautiful the same! :) 

Follow the link to go to my shop's pages and have more infos about these ponytail holders (and buy a set of two if you like).

In my F/W closet: handmade cardigan. And a tv show, too!

I've started to work around fall-winter clothes (for me) recently!

Now that I've learned new skills about clothes-making and I've noticed that I wear a lot all the clothes I make, hey, who will stop me?

I want to sew new things to wear at the beginnen of a new season!

In the last two weeks I worked around a cardigan. This one:

 

 

I saw the model (and its pattern) into a past issue of "La mia boutique" (plus size section), an italian magazine very similar to "Burda fashion".

 

 

I liked the gathered sides and the shoulder line. And that it looked easy to make! But I decided to alter the pattern a little, in order to make a long sleeves cardi.

 

To make it I picked up a knitted fabric I bought two years ago for only 0,50 €. It's slightly transparent and very very soft... probably not the best choice for this model! I think it needs a more "solid" jersey to have the best result.

I had to sew 7 little black snaps for the clousure, instead to use only a belt, as suggested in the magazine, because the fabric was so lightweight that it couldn't stay in its place -__-

 

Lesson learned.

 

 

Can you see how the cardigan is transparent when against the light?

 

I think I'll wear it with trousers and a black top under it. Or on a black dress.

Or (better for me, because I'm not a big fan of total black) coupled with a light blue skirt I want to make with a fabric I have in my stash (the cardi's fabric has some light blue spots).

I have a long list of clothes I want to sew (or refashion) for me.
Hope to have the time for!
In the meantime I'm watching a new italian tv show, whose title is "Refashion". You probably will imagine that I jumped on the chair when I saw its advertisement the first time! An italian tv show about sewing and refashion!!!
So exciting!!!
Although the projects in the show are really simple, I'm learning new things, thanks to the lovely and expert anchorwoman, Alessandra Impalli (her blog here).
Happy me!

Stripes+flowers ... my 4th spring top for 2013!

Before starting my crafty adventure some years ago, I used to have firm positions about my likes and dislikes.
Among other things, I used to say: "I hate black&white, I hate mixed patterns on clothes".

But (this often happens when you walk) I changed my mind.
Luckily.

I made a black&white t-shirt for me. And it has stripes and flowers.... oh, mixed together!!! What a strange thing is that I adore it :)

Finished yesterday and worn today at work, eh eh :)

I found this lovely jersey fabric on a stand in our outdoor market for only 3 €. Some days after, I noticed that Promod used a similar one for a mini-dress in the current spring/summer collection (no longer available on their website, so I can't show it to you, sorry)!
I hadn't the right amount of fabric to make a dress, so I made a t-shirt (the best choice for me, I don't wear dresses, if not in special occasions).
I self-drafted it, helped by this top from 2012 and another very comfortable t-shirt I bought last year. It's a very simple design, large around the armpits, easy to make and to wear.

 

It took about 2-3 hours to be completed.
Super fast! I love fast sewing with these results! Consider that the most of the time went to make the neckline and finish the edges.

Thanks Naomi for inspiring me!

Spring tops by me

I'm very late, I know, but a lot of things prevented me from uploading my new handmade t-shirts in Spring top sew along photo pool till today!

It went wrong this year, but I'm happy the same, because I have three new me-made clothes to wear and also because I've learned new things making them and I can say that my sewing skills really improved! :)

 

The first top I made is this one in blue:

 

I've cut the fabric (a very fresh and confortable cotton jersey) using a pattern into an old issue of "La mia boutique" (an italian sewing magazine) and altering it a bit. I like the color, but I'm expecially in love with raglan sleeves.

 

Making it, I used for the first time twin needles:

 

 

They give to your sewing a professional look. You have to try to understand how they work good!!!

I finished the neckline following this Megan Nielsen's tutorial and I'm really glad about the result :)

 

Then I started a more simple project: this sleeveless top in black+green jersey. I selfdrafted it, helped by a top I refashioned last year and perfectly fits on me:

 

 

The fabric is so fresh, elastic and lightweight... I can't stop to wear this top! Also because I like the mix of black and green very much!

 



The last one is another raglan sleeves t-shirt (I really like how the first one came out, so I decided to make another one):

 

 

This cotton jersey is my favourite. I used a part of it last year, to make a (so tiny!!!) t-shirt for my niece C.

I like stripes and colors, perfect for casual look days! :)

 

That' all!

Now I'm working on a skirt and some handmade jewels. See you soon!!!

Lately

Lately...

 

... I did some spring cleaning on my sewing/study/everything table and couldn't resist in taking photos of my supplies and working space (and arranging them in a collage, you know, I'm addicted)

 

... I found a job!!! :)

Oh, so exciting!!! I work three days a week in a school not far from my little town (I teach history+geography). And during the short travel by car I enjoy an amazing sight of Mount Etna covered by the last snow of the year and "smoking"

 

... I made 3 t-shirts for me. I'm so happy to be able to se clothes and to find so cheap knitted fabric at the outdoor market to experiment with.

 

... My camera has a big problem :(

I can take photos, but the screen doesn't power on, so I have no idea if what I'm focusing. This thing is driving me crazy and this is why I'm not photographing my new t-shirts and uploading them into "Spring tops sew-a-long" this year! Annoying!!!