Quickest, cheapest upcycle - no sewing required!

        Have you ever bought something, and then not wear it? Something about it, maybe, was just a little "off"...or it didn't really match anything? Ever thought of dying it? As in, change the color! Let me illustrate. I had this jacket, purchased on sale for $5. I liked that it was thin, and I liked the more rustic feel...but the color just wasn't working. It made everything look drab when I wore it.

      Ten minutes of soaking in this...

      turned it into this.

      Its just enough to add a tinge of color to an outfit without over powering it.

      My suggestions for dying things?

1.  Pick a color that goes well with your existing wardrobe.
2. Dissolve the dye really well in a small amount of water before mixing it the bigger amount. It will leave spots on your clothes if you don't.
3. Stir you clothing around the whole time its soaking...this helps the color take evenly.
4. Don't forget that color is always darker when its wet...if you want a vivid color, soak it for longer than you think you should

      Also, be aware the already made clothing, like this jacket, will not absorb as much color at the seams. Don't go for it, if you aren't ok with that. You can see the seams are a bit less pinkish here.

      I liked the more shabby look that lent, so I'm happy with the overall result.

      By the way, I'm sure I'm the last person on the planet to sew with ruffled fabric...but after making that shirt, I'm offically obssessed. If you haven't tried it yet...go. now. You will love it.

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Lets Talk About Jackets

 
     Tis the season to be wearing them, and I am quite grateful to not be wearing them for half the year like some of you northerners! I had a goal this year, to learn to how to make my own jacket. I gave it a go this last week....and found I have MUCH to learn in the jacket making world. I decided to use fleece for my first attempts. Fleece is cheap, comes in all colors and prints, and has a bit of stretch to it...always a good thing when you have no idea what you are doing. I also did not put in a lining. It seems there is a bit of a vacuum in the sewing tutorial world on this subject. I could not find anything on how to put in a lining, and looking at my existing coats offered no answers either. I might just go buy on old ratty one from the thrift store and dissect it to figure out how its done.
      My first try was this little coat for my toddler.

     It has snaps down the front to close it and pockets in the side seams. There was more seam ripping in this little coat than you can possibly imagine. I won't go into all my ridiculous mistakes, but I finally got it to be wearable and presentable.
     My second try was this cream colored one for me.

     No seam ripping in this one, but still plenty of oops moments. I am fairly satisfied with how this one turned out. I love the color and I love the buttons. I do not like the collar, shoulders, and the fact that it is not lined. There were a lot of "firsts" for me in these two jackets. It was my first try at collars, buttons that actually need to button and unbutton, princess seams, and pockets.

      The total cost for the materials was about $20. Not a money saver in the sense, I could easily find a fleece for that much or less in stores. However, I learned a ton, so it was still a worthwhile project. You can't ever get better if you only stick to doing what you know how to do.

      I have much to learn before I'll attempt a tutorial on this. I can say though, I "built" the pattern just exactly the same way I showed you in this post. I can also tell you, don't use fleece for pockets. It adds bulk right around the belly...right where I don't need it! =) Next time I'll be using thin lining fabric for pockets.  Collars are still a mystery, so I'll just keep tinkering till I get the hang of them.
      Do you know any jacket making tips? Be sure to tell me all about them in the comments so I can steal your ideas! =)

Psalm 25:10 "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies."

Linking to:
The Southern Institute