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Tuesday, April 04, 2017

The Hip Bohemian Overall [Dungaree] Dress

This "overhalls" (as my late German farmer grandpa would have said) dress has been a long time coming! We bought this Oshkosh B'Gosh Dungaree dress at a Goodwill in 2013. 

You can see most of the dress as it was originally in the collage below. (McClellan Singing Sisters were performing for a "Hillbilly Jamboree - otherwise, we don't typically dress that way to sing!)


One day I was really inspired by some of the light washed denim items I'd seen and wanted to bring this dress out of its farmer-ness. I prepared a Rubbermaid storage tub with water and bleach and put it in to soak and made two big mistakes.

#1. I didn't realize I was using concentrated bleach instead of the cheap stuff.

#2. I left it in the tub for WAY too long.

You may say a third mistake was bleaching it at all, and perhaps you would be correct.

The large amount of concentrated bleach had broken down the fabric and caused several of the metal buttons/clasps to rust. It also hadn't bleached evenly and instead of a light-washed denim overall dress to pair with a grungy t-shirt and sneakers, I had this.


It had several rust spots on the back side which I attempted to disguise using fabric paint (a poor choice). To add insult to injury, I was impatient! Instead of waiting until I had another color on hand, I painted bright red geometric triangles. ...and instantly hated it.


I tried finding appliques or other paint ideas but nothing could salvage this mess. Several times I made up my mind to throw it away or re-donate it but Jewel stopped me. I'd all but given up hope of ever making this more than just a painful learning experience until this past Sunday.

I stopped by JoAnn's after church to buy extra-thick black belt elastic (for a project coming soon) and on my way to the checkout counter I saw these new iron-on appliques that were perfect. They were $6.99 each for a package of 3, but I had two 50% off any one item coupons so I basically got a package free!


With some very careful arranging, I was able to cover up each of the red eyesores on the back and the main rust spot on the front. And while applique on the front did its job, it looked a bit lonely and out of place... which gave me another idea.

My boyfriend's family recently made a trip to San Antonio and brought me back a few gifts. One was this cute little coin purse.


I decided it would made a very cute pocket applique to help pull the front together. Sewing through two layers of (thinner) denim and the elaborate embroidery wasn't easy but it came together slowly.


The headband is from Nicaragua, gifted to me by my brother-in-law's family. The tiny-people-dancing brooch is from Peru, given to me by my dear friend Hannah who lives as a missionary in Iquitos.


It needed one final touch so I went through our stash of lace and trims and found a 1970's bright red polyester floral trim originally from our Grandmother's stash to add to the hemline. 


I am so happy with how this DIY project FINALLY came out! While Jewel walked me through using her sewing machine again, I did all the actually cutting and sewing myself! (Which is why it doesn't look as perfect :) but that's okay. It fits with the quirky, hippie feel I ended up with!) 


I purchased the woven leather shoes in Nicaragua in 2015 - US size 8.5 is hard to find in Nicaraguan artisan shops!


The colorful Mexican purse was another souvenir from my boyfriend's Texas trip.

Cost Breakdown (not including bleach or thread)
Thrifted Dungaree Dress: USD $3.99
Iron-on appliques: USD $13.98
Red floral trim: free!
Embroidered coin purse-turned-applique: also free!

Total spent out of pocket: USD $17.97

Monday, April 03, 2017

My Clueless Dress?? [McCall's 6745]



Kimberly titled this dress the "Clueless Dress" because appearently there's a show (or movie?) called Clueless and the lady wears a yellow plaid dress?? I don't know but it's better then "The Yellow Plaid Dress". So? What am I going to say? haha

If you remember I talked about this dress way back in January in episode 7 of Sewing Desk Sit-Down. (Watch it HERE) It's been almost four months in the making but it's finally finished! 
For some reason once I reached inserting the zipper I didn't touch it until this past weekend...but the zipper is in, the lining sewn down and the hem finished so the dress is complete and wearable!

This is my second rendition of McCall's 6745 the first being the Spring Halt(er) Top Dress I sewed back in 2015! I think I'll get more use out of this version due to it not being a halter top...People look at you weird if you go out in the winter in a halter top... ;) Although, I do wear my white denim jacket which turns their judging eyes away. lol

One of my favorite design elements of this pattern is the pleated skirt. I love the shape, I love the fullness, I love the length and I love that it uses SIX yards of fabric! Yes VI, or S-I-X or 6 yards of fabric! Four and a half of that is in the skirt alone leaving the other foot and a half to the bodice and bodice lining. It will definitely help with my fabric stashbusting numbers this month!

-'- Jewel


  • STASHBUSTING SEWIST SECRETS:
  • PATTERN: McCall's 6745 (PURCHASED January OF 2014)
  • FABRIC: black fabric for bodice - Grandmother's Stash 
  • Yellow Plaid Fabric thrifted from Goodwill for $3.99 Purchased february 2016 
  • NOTIONS: INVISIBLE ZIPPER - Walmart
  • RATING: SUCCESS! 
  • FABRIC STASHBUSTED ON PROJECT: 6 YARDS
  • FABRIC STASHBUSTED SINCE JANUARY 1ST 2017: 20 3/8 YARDS
  




Sunday, April 02, 2017

March Stashbusting & Pattern 'N' Fabric Fast Round-Up

Wow! Another month is over and stuff has been happening here at home base!

Fabric sewn:
3 yards of flannel for pajama pants for TaMera (not blogged)
1 5/8 yards gray/blue chambray for Tania culottes

Purchased:
1 yard-ish of dark navy twill.


I was thrifting at Goodwill in Texas and found the twill for $1.99 but the tag was red! (Tag color of the day) Ninety-nine cents for suitable fabric for shorts to practice on? Yes, please! With everything else stashbusting I've been a very good girl, though. ;)

This month 1 yard of fabric in and 4 5/8 yards out! 

All fabric purchased in 2017: 6 yards
All fabric sewn in 2017: 20 3/8 yards

Total fabric stashbusted: 14 3/8 yards! Yes, getting there!


Pattern Fast:


I purchased a single pattern this month...I couldn't not purchase the brand new Flint pattern from Megan Neilsen patterns! Love it so much and I talk about it here in my Sewing Desk Sit-Down video. Be expecting to see my version in May!

But...I also de-stashed 28 patterns this month! Some as far away as Sweden! I "sold" them for shipping in the We Sew Retro Buy, Sell & Trade group. I really look at it as giving them away since I didn't want to make money but understandably I also didn't want to lose any money with the shipping cost.

I'm going to keep trying to think of different ways to get through the pattern stash and get it under control.


For April, I'm already off to a great start as I finished a dress yesterday and it's only the second! :D
-'- Jewel
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