My 'Inner Bargainer' is Fierce!

I found out that Craig's List also posts garage sales so in addition to my weekly perusing of the Pennysaver, I added Craig's List to my literary homework as part of my quest for the $1.00 clothes bargains. I moseyed over to a sale posted as a garage/warehouse sale and had a ball looking through all the goodies. The sweet lady in charge of the place complimented me about my diligence and patience while sorting and hemming and hawing about the different choices. At least I took it as a compliment until I asked the prices of the items. Note to self, always ask first (i.e. are all the clothes 50 cents or a dollar a piece....) because I had already kind of become attached to several of the pieces until I found out she wanted (gasp) $10.00 for the suits! I explained I only wanted the jackets but she was not to be deterred. My favorite flowered little cotton number that was as 50's vintage as they come was priced at $5.00 and I sighed and told her my dollar limit. Then the bargain hunter in me peeked out behind the argyll sweater I had grabbed and offered to take 2 suits, one dress and the sweater OFF her hands for $10.00 total! She murmured something about consignments stores and the weekend still ahead with all the hungry shoppers who would surely be clambering for these particular clothing choices. Well, we exchanged phone info and I slunk away empty handed wishing I had sprung for the cotton dress that really was cute. I mean seriously, $3.00? If it is still there on Monday, I think the nice sweet lady will be ready to release these to me!

By the way, it is always helpful to have your dog home to console you when you come home with no new-old clothes to sew. The way she looks at it, now I have more time to throw the tennis ball for her.

Keep up the Practice

I went to several garage sales this weekend but did not find one item that called to me. Not to be deterred however, I got working on some dish towels magic. I took a few towels I had around the house and crocheted the tops , sewed a button and now they can hang from the oven. I'm all about saving the planet and using less and less paper goods so these are the perfect answer to paper towel usage. They can be washed over and over ready for the next time.

Oh and then I did a quick run through of my clothes closet. Am heading over to Buffalo Exchange to do some clothes swapping so this pile is going. I hope to find some items I can alter and make 'new and improved'!

Mad Men Watch Out!

This reminded me of square dancing days. Swirly bottom, cute pattern, indented waistline. I adored the flowers and the material is crisp and cottony. Yum.

Here is a view from the back. I thought about turning the dress around - using the back as the front, but in the end decided on another tactic.

I had to tackle these sleeves first. Don't like the bow action so I used my seam ripper and took out the ribbon which released the elastic look. I then ironed the sleeves to make them smooth out.

I cinched and gathered the front a little and sewed it by hand to give the top a little more flair.

I added a wide black belt to the finished product and I think this is my newest fave! I haven't seen Mad Men but heard they are all about 50's clothes and this would fit right in, don't you think?

Flying Nun needs Rescue

I loved the material and the floral pattern of this dress. Wasn't too keen on the wings at the top or the length of the skirt part. I cut the hem shorter, seam ripped the wings off and then took the sleeves off too so it would be sleeveless. Had to take it in a smidge too. No problem.

I added the sash (made from leftovers when I cut the hem) and tied it into a neat little bow. This dress lends itself nicely to a brown or black belt too. Add a cardigan and it can be worn in the fall. Leave it sleeveless and it's a sweet little number in the summertime.

Flower Power

It's hard to tell from the photo but this is a total 80's shirt - huge underarms, tight waist with darts all over the bottom. I loved the colors, the skirt it came with was WAY too small so I donated it! But I am keeping this beauty.

Had to take it in quite a bit, especially in the arms.

Now I cut the excess material...In fact, I cut too much. I didn't get a photo of the disaster-to-be but I ended up having to re-sew a piece of the part I cut out because the top part of the blouse was too snug!

Lesson for the day: first pin, then sew then try on! DO NOT cut excess until you are sure it fits!

Here is the finished product, sleeves trimmer, a few bottom darts released and ready for some jeans or a slim skirt.

Can't Have Too Many Gray Sweaters

Lesson for the day: Do not be put off by sizes! I found another extra large sized sweater that had great potential at a garage sale. I adore the heather grey color and thought this one had mucho style. Loved the cuffs and the bottom trim so they will stay in tact.

After taking in the sides with my machine, I was very careful when trimming the excess so as not to repeat the hole I made in my argyle sweater makeover! I used these neat little weights to hold down the sides as I snipped away.

Easy peasy, new sweater! Still loose enough to add a long sleeve t under it or just wear by itself.

And add a belt for another look. I was listening to The Kinks , Dedicated Follower of Fashion song which was very inspirational and kept me going to the end.

Michele Obama and I Love Sweaters

Today I saw a picture of our first lady wearing an argyle sweater and I thought to myself, well, I am right up there as fashionable as Michelle Obama. Cool! Of course hers is not three or four sizes too big. So that will have to be first on the agenda.

Taking it in with my trusty Singer was easy as pie. I first pinned it and tried it on to check for sizing. Then I was ready to sew up the sides to make the sweater snuggy!

Once the seams were sewn, I tried it on. Perfect! Ready to trim the excess.

Lesson learned! Be careful when cutting excess fabric - I caught a bit of it when I was trimming and made this hole. Determined to fix this, I resewed the seam around the hole and presto, all betta! Luckily the sweater had some give and there was room to correct the mistake.

I chopped the sleeves to short length, rolled them up and WALA! We have a finished product. Target and Kohls' ads have these sweaters all over the front page and I got mine for ONE DOLLAR!

Woodstock Here I Come

Oh yeah, child of the 60's I am! I loved this material and knew with a few minor adjustments, I'd be wearing flowers in my hair soon!

This is the back - notice the looped action. It made the dress lopsided so I pulled the string out and began to take the sides in to make the dress more fitted.

Shoulder Pads - Sooo 80's!! I used my seam ripper and got these babies out, out, out! Far out!

I had to cut these loops from the back since the string was now my new sash used around the waist.

As you can see, the sleeves also were shortened a bit too. I kept the longish length of the skirt though. I heard midi skirts are making a comeback!

Oh, and I recommend listening to Bob Dylan or Jefferson Airplane when recreating a dress like this.

After I wore the dress I decided it was still too long so I trimmed the hem and in total hippie fashion, left it un-hemmed with the frayed edges slightly exposed.

I used the leftover material from the hem as a scarf. Peace to all!!

Welcome to Sew Creative with Karen!

A month or 2 ago I discovered the very inspirational and over-the-top creative blog called A New Dress a Day. You can view it at the following address: http://www.newdressaday.com/

The gist is the writer gave herself a challenge - only spend $365.00 (or a dollar a day) for a whole year of clothes shopping! She scours garage sales, thrift stores and dollar pile sales for her finds, takes them home, alters, cuts, sews, goes short, adds a sash here and there etc.and BINGO - the clothes are transformed into the cutest, most fashionable and stylish outfits.

Well, I love challenges, I still have my Singer machine from college and garage sales abound near where I live. So I have been having loads of fun re-creating the dollar clothes I have found. My creative juices are in full gear, my brain loves the learning curve and if I do say so, my closet is looking quite 'Project Runway". OK, sure, Heidi Klum will not be borrowing anything I own anytime soon, but my sewing chops are getting a workout and my inner fashion designer is in full bloom.

Yes, I feel SEW CREATIVE and that makes my life just that much more enjoyable. Follow me as I spend the coming year reinventing, restyling and saving big bucks at that!

A few early 'Before and Afters"

This sweater was in my closet. I decided to make it into a vest. I wanted to do something easy so I would feel successful in my new venture!

This dress screamed VINTAGE but taking my lifestyle into consideration, I felt I was more likely to wear a top then a pencil wide dress. So I cut the skirt portion off the dress, recreated the neckline into more of a V-shape and left the flow-y ruffles on the bottom. Thinkin' it'll look great with a pair of jet black pants!

Super quickie, this one! The long sleeves were a little tight and I love cardigans with short sleeves. So I simply cut the sleeves short, hemmed 'em up and presto, change-o new sweater. Daisy Fuentes, eat your heart out!

OOOO I loved the colors of this one. It just says SPRINGTIME dontcha think? However I am not yet a Grandmother and the collar was just a tad old school. So changes were about to be made! Cut the sleeves short, off with the frilly collar, shortened the dress to the knees and we are set!