So did you all go check out that girl who refashioned something every day for a year?! So cool. And so overwhelming. Ha! I was checking out her blog on Valentine’s Day, about two hours before Terry got home from work. And I thought “Wow this chick is crazy. And cool. I wish I could do that! Then I could have some cool new clothes . . . hmmm. . .” I looked down at the clock. A couple hours left till fancy at-home dinner. Would that be enough time . . .?
To the mending box! You all have one of those too, right? That scary box that contains the dismembered bits and pieces of old clothes, or clothes that have been ripped into or that are missing important pieces of themselves – it’s basically a creepy graveyard for your clothes that you’re too attached to to let go (to to – that makes sense, right?). Basically these are the ghosts of clothings past – the clothes that haunt you.
But I braved the scary box in the scary back closet and found myself whipping out things that I was like “huh, I actually like this, how come it’s in here? Oh yeah. Those stupid loose stitches, that dang stain, that gaping hole.”
And then I found this little beauty:
I forgot to take a before picture. Pretend it’s not cut in half at the waist.
Yep. Got this at a clothing swap at church a couple years back and have never worn it. Awkward length, pockets in places I never want pockets, a collar that I hate. Not much that I like about this dress. But – I like the feel of the material. Nice and drape-y you know? (Not drape as in I’m Maria in Sound of Music, but drape as in it falls nicely in nice drapes.)
Time is running out! And I still have to light all the candles! No time for finicky things like sewing, so instead I just got out the scissors. Chop chop! Played with it a few different ways and ended up with it like this:
This little blue belt cost like 4 dollars and was one of the best purchases I’ve ever made, I think.
What do you think?! I was pretty pleased with how it turned out – mind you, one entire side is gaping open, and I didn’t bother hemming the cut edges so it curled down a bit at the top. But all in all, it made me feel a little fancy for our little fancy dinner. 
Have you ever tried refashioning anything? Are you haunted by a scary graveyard of ghostly clothes?
I actually refashion things all the time! I changed one shirt I liked and one shirt I didn’t like into a tuxedo-style shirt that I LOVE! And I’ve done similar things to many other things I have, making clothes fit better by doing little things here and there to fix the problems.
Nice! I’m afraid I only refashion (or sew at all, for that matter) in spurts. Pull out the machine for a day and then shove it back in the closet for months at a time. I really should try more . . .
I come by my sewing machine skills honestly, I get it from my mom, who got it from her mom, etc. It probably goes all the way back to Eve, had she had a sewing machine and, y’know, electricity.
I’m also that special kind of stubborn that’s usually referred to as bull-headed, so me and the machine duked it out long ago. I won!
Caitlin, you are beautiful, and creative, and I am inspired! I have an idea just from reading this…I will be out of town here and there in the next couple of weeks, but I will let you know if I actually do anything about my inspiration!
Thank you, Amber!! You should definitely do whatever your idea is and then take a picture and send it to me!