Sunday, February 16, 2014

Sunday Sew-Day: Blazers, Part X

You guys really impressed me with your creative suggestions for my Valentine's Day refashion. So what will it be? A bikini? A halter top? A corset? Alas, I was no where near as imaginative as you lot. I took this pink, polka dotted, linen blazer from last fall's clothes swap (I wonder if the same person also brought my clown jacket to the swap?), and I turned it into...

Pink Polka Dotted Blazer Refashion - BeforePink Polka Dotted Blazer Refashion - Before

...a blazer! Surprise! Okay, so maybe it's no big transformation or anything, but I felt like this one had some potential as is. It just fell a little short. I like pink. I like polka dots. But this blazer just seemed to have a bit too much of both. Plus, I felt like the patch pockets and boxy style didn't really suit the fun, feminine fabric.

So my first step was to remove the pockets.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

Then I cut off the sleeves, as close to the underarm seam as possible, then straight across for a little cap sleeve.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

I cut off the collar and the bottom corners, leaving only one button.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

With the sleeves cut open, I could access the inside, between the lining and the outer fabric. I flipped the sides inside out and seam-ripped a couple inches of the bottom edge where the two fabrics were attached to one another.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

Then I was able to take in a couple inches on each side of both fabrics.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

And I resewed the bottom edge afterward.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

After a quick trip under the iron, no one's the wiser!

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

From one of the discarded sleeves, I cut six 1.5-inch wide strips.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

Four of the strips were sewn end-to-end and used as a binding around the front and collar edges. I pinned them together with right sides facing.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

I ran a line of stitches about 1/4 inch from the edges, then folded and pressed the binding flat.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

I folded the binding over toward the inside and pinned again.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

Then I stitched "in the ditch" so you can hardly even see it from the outside.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

I repeated this process with the remaining two strips to finish off the sleeve edges.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - In Progress

I think removing a lot of extra fabric makes the pattern not quite so overwhelming. Plus, taking in the sides and rounding the corners adds to the femininity.

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - AfterPink Polka Dot Blazer - After
Pink Polka Dot Blazer - AfterPink Polka Dot Blazer - After

Oh yeah, and I also picked out those little stitches that keep the back flap together. You know, the ones you're supposed to snip as soon as you get it home from the store, but apparently no one ever did for this jacket. I wonder if the previous owner ever even wore it...

Pink Polka Dot Blazer - After


Pink Polda Dot Blazer - Before & After

14 comments:

  1. This new jacket is amazingly creative from the original piece and, of course, you know that I love the descriptive photo steps!!!

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    1. Thanks, Linda! If it hadn't worked out, maybe I would've scrapped the jacket idea and tried a bikini. ;)

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  2. You win! I could not imagine what you would make out of that fabric and have it look cute not clownish. Like your skirt from the clown blazer, you did it again!
    I learned something new from your tutorial, how to restyle a sleeve into a cap sleeve. It had never dawned on me to cut off the bottom of the sleeve first! LOL and I know how to make a cap sleeve pattern, just never connected the two things. Thanks.

    regards,
    Theresa

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    1. Thanks, Theresa! The cap sleeve was new for me too, but I'm glad my experiment was a success!

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  3. So cute, great way to update it! :)

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  4. I think this is my all-time favourite of your refashions! Amazing how "less is more" sometimes. Love the colour and the style, and the white T-shirt is perfect with it.

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    1. Thanks, Jenny! I wore it to work yesterday and got lots of compliments. :D

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  5. I love how detailed you document your refashions Carissa - so that we can all follow :-) Added this one to the most helpful refashion tutorials of the month Pinterest board.

    Thanks,
    Eddie

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    1. Thanks, Eddie! Always glad to inspire others!

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