Tuesday, May 12, 2020

#87: COVID-19 and a Boxy Denim Dress



Hello, hello! Welcome back to New Dreams for Old Seams!

It's been a while...a LONG while (almost 5 years) since I last posted one of my clothing transformations on my blog. I've definitely been envisioning and making different creative projects during this time, and have also had a lot of projects that I started but never finished. But I've also struggled during this time with some weight and body image issues that made me feel embarrassed to post new blogs with full-length photos. On top of that, I've had some humongous work challenges and changes over the past 5 years that took a toll on my mental and physical health. I just wasn't sewing for fun as much as I'd have liked to. I kept hoping that I would "find" time to tackle my big bag of clothing projects that sits in my closet. I thought, "One day, when I have more time..." And then the COVID-19 pandemic hit aaaaaaaand......

dopl3r.com - Memes - THIS IS FINE.
Quarantiiiiiiine


......I still didn't have time. As a human, trying to manage my own mental and emotional health during a pandemic is hard. As a mental health professional, trying to help others manage theirs during a pandemic is even harder. (My mask-making I posted in 2015 sure came in handy!) Thankfully I am now working as a school-based therapy supervisor at an agency that is supportive, so I have a greater sense of stability in my work. But working partly from the office and partly from home doing video therapy for people in crisis is difficult and very taxing. I fantasized about all the time and energy I wished working from home would have given me, secretly envious of those posting on social media about all the new hobbies and projects they were doing, about their boredom of having nothing to do. Meanwhile I felt like I was working longer an harder than ever before, and was feeling exhaustion at the end of most days.


I encouraged my supervisees to make self-care commitments to themselves and repeatedly referenced my sewing projects as a creative self-care outlet that I was looking forward to as soon as I got more time. But recently I began to realize that the self-care I'd been hoping to "find" time for would never come. Extra time and energy wouldn't just fall out of the sky. If I was ever going to get the time to do these things to fill my soul, I would have to "make" the time. Set better boundaries. Know when to stop. Commit to myself. Create my own space. And give myself permission to be creative in a time when everything seems so driven by necessity and survival. So I did. I committed to work on a project I had started long ago, and to complete it. And I thought I'd share it with you all on my blog, full-length, no matter my size or shape. Here goes!


                                               *****Deep breath.......*****


I found this boxy denim dress at a thrift store a few years ago for a couple bucks.


Before: Boxy Denim Dress

From behind

It was all boxy and had no shape. Plus the neckline was huge and square. I didn't like it at all. But I knew what I wanted to turn it into the instant I saw it on the rack.


Huge obtuse neckline

First, I removed the sleeves at the seams.


So long sleeves!

 Next, I removed the long zipper with a seam-ripper and held onto it for later.


Zipper removal on my stained table

Once the zipper and sleeves were removed, I cut the piece straight across below the bust.

Big ol' chop!

After cutting in half, I seam ripped all the way down the back seam where the zipper was, folded a new hem, pinned the zipper ending a few inches from the bottom.

Re-aligning the zipper



I sewed in the new zipper placement...




Sewing in the new zipper placement

...then darted, folded, and sewed a new hem where the zipper ended.


New waist hem at the top of the zipper.

Now that I was done with the bottom of the piece, it was time to tackle the top.

I spread the top open as flat as I could make it, and removed the darting at the bust. Then I measured and pinned a square a little less than a foot wide.


Laid flat and pinned

Then I cut out a large square from where the bust was (do you see where this is going?)


Bust square

From the back material, I cut 2 rectangles and sewed them together to make a slightly smaller square, fake-serged and hemmed the edges, and sewed the smaller square onto the larger square, leaving one side open.

2 squares, pinned and prepared to sew!

Once the squares were hemmed, I aligned them with the center of the skirt (opposite the zipper), pinned, and sewed the square to the waistline of the skirt (do you see my vision yet??).

Sewing the square to the skirt

From the remaining material, I cut 2 long strips from what used to be the shoulders, flipped them inside out, and ironed them.

Cut, folded, ironed

After ironing to make a stiff fold, I zig-zag stitched each strip inside out so the edges wouldn't fray.

Sewing the strips

I safety-pined the end of the sewn strip, then pushed the safety pin all the way through the inside of the sewn strip to the other side to turn it right-side-in (or is it right-side-out? Or is it outside-in? I don't know). Next time I'll use a stronger safety pin because it bent and popped open a few times and stabbed my fingers.

Safety-pin push-through.

Once flipped inside out, I ironed the 2 strips again to make a flat fold. Then I pinned and sewed the strips to the top corners of the front square, then to the back about an inch or so on either side of the zipper.


Pinning those straps

So, I thought I was done, but then my husband asked whether this skirt had a pocket. No, it didn't, but now that he'd asked, I knew it needed one!

Problem is, I've never made a pocket before. So this was a bit of a challenge.

About the only material I had left were those sleeves I had removed first. So I took a sleeve, turned it inside out, and aligned where I wanted it to go. 

How do you make a pocket out of a sleeve?

Next, I sewed the sleeve closed in a pocket-y type shape.

That's pocket-y, right?

I pinned it in place and then cut where I would place the outside opening.

Placement everyone!

A pocket's got to open somehow

I aligned the pocket with the skirt opening and pinned it inside-out...

Pinning pocket

...and sewed it with a fake-serge to keep it from fraying (this was extra difficult at the top and bottom of the pocket opening since I wanted it to lay flat, but it had a rounded seam).

Peter Piper Pocketed a Pickled Pepper. Now Peter Piper Plots in Prison.

I made a pocket! Then I COMPLETELY undid it and used the other sleeve to make a new one because this one was too small and was upside-down. The new pocket was MUCH better.


Finally, I re-hemmed the bottom of the skirt so the thread color would match the rest of the piece.

And then I was done!


Here's a reminder of what this boxy denim dress looked like before:

Before: Boxy Denim Dress


Before: From behind


And here, my friends, is the end result:


After: Skirt Overalls!

After: from behind, rolls and all <3

With a...

POCKET!!! (not just one...)

...Second pocket! (and I've seemed to go toothless)


I'm not going to promise that I will pick up making new projects and blog posts non-stop, but I will say that as I "make" time instead of hoping to "find" time, I am going to commit to doing more of the creative sewing that I enjoy, and hopefully you'll get to see some more of my creations soon! And I challenge you:

What is one thing you will commit to doing this week to nurture your self-care? Comment below!

I look forward to reading your responses :)

May you and yours remain safe, sane, and healthy during this time of social distancing.


Until next time, blessings.


 

Sunday, November 22, 2015

#86: Yellow Floral Maxi Dress

Happy Thanksgiving week!

I made this in the Summer, but forgot to post it. I found this dress at a Goodwill outlet for around a buck. I loved the brightness and flow of the dress.

Before: Yellow Floral Maxi Dress

Before: Yellow Floral Maxi Dress
 
 
Unfortunately, the fabric that covered the bust was too small to cover my bust : (
 

No bust space

No problem though. I removed the straps and cut off the bust-portion of fabric.

Removed the straps

Cutting off the bust fabric

Then I folded and sewed a new hem where I had cut.


Sewing a new hem

And really, that was it!


In a few short steps, it went from this:


Before: Yellow Floral Maxi Dress

 
To this:
 



After: Yellow Floral Maxi Skirt

I think it looks much better as a maxi-skirt, don't ya think?

After

During this season in which we are reminded to be thankful, I remember this past year being one filled with growth in authenticity and learning boundaries with my time, energy, and emotional safety and security. Though that type of growth is often accompanied by pain, I am so grateful that I am moving toward being my more true self, and that I have had loving support and community during this process. So I'd like to know, what are you thankful for? Let me know in the comments :)

May you find joy, peace, comfort, and love this holiday season.

Until next time, blessings.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

#85: Halloween 2015

Hello and welcome to Fall!

This year for Halloween I planned a simple costume with things I already have. Unfortunately, one of the key items went missing. So I found a way to improvise.

Last year my mother-in-law got us tickets to the gameshow Let's Make A Deal. Audience members wear silly costumes in hopes of being selected for the show.

Let's Make A Deal!

I had originally gotten a bright cap and gown with a purple wig to wear to the show.


Before: Graduation Garb

Before: From behind

I even got all fancy with decorating the cap.

Deal University!

Unfortunately, the show taping was cancelled for that day, and the costume has been sitting in my closet ever since.

Thankfully, the gown was perfect to craft into my missing piece of my costume.

First I removed the zipper.


Seam ripping the zipper


Then I removed the sleeves.

Without sleeves

I folded, pinned, and sewed up the arm holes.


Open arms

Pinning and sewing

Reverse, after sewing the arm hole

I took the sleeves and sewed the long edges together, then drew a curved line from the seam.


Drawing a curved line

Then I sewed across that curve and cut the excess.

Sewed, cut along curved line.

Flipped it inside out, and it was a large hood! Any guesses what I'd be? :)

I sewed it back to back with the rest of the cape/body of the gown.


Sewing on a hood.

Then I sewed a space just below the hood and ran red ribbon through it using a safety pin to use as a tie.



A ribbon runs through it.

And that was it! Paired with some of my own matching clothes, my costume was complete!


Before: Red Graduation Gown


After: Red Riding Hood Cape

After: From behind

:)

I hope you all had a happy and safe Halloween!

Take care, and until next time, blessings.