Perfect Spring Top from Tablecloth

 

Yes: you read that title correctly! While looking through some cabinets- trying to downsize my overstock of everything, I noticed the trim edging of this tablecloth I almost tossed into the donation pile. We received it as a gift but it was never my style. The trim spoke to me! I have been imagining a dreamy white top with pretty trim for some time now! (Like THIS one or THIS one) So I thought I'd just try and make it out of the tablecloth. I felt like Scarlett O'Hara to say the least. ;)

If you happen to come across such a lucky fabric find, you can make yourself a perfect Spring Top too!

1. Using a (boxy) top as a pattern, lay it on the fabric that has been folded so it's double layered. I cut the arm holes a bit bigger then my pattern shirt just because I liked the idea of it being more roomy. If you have pretty trim on the bottom, line up the pattern and make sure you cut in the same place on both fabrics. Also be mindful of how much you leave. (i.e. I liked the idea of the pattern to seem continuous around the bottom of the shirt.)

2. Sew the top shoulder part together, laying the fabric right sides together and sewing the wrong side. 

3. Using another pattern for the sleeve, cut out two sleeves. (I had a dissected sleeve for this part. Or you can buy the sleeve pattern in the store. I recommend finding an old shirt you don't need to use as a pattern or buying a pattern. Sleeve shapes are weird!) Since I was making a long sleeve, I also was mindful of the pretty trim around the sleeve. I left the bottom opening 24' and it created a big bell-like sleeve.

Open your two attached body pieces and slide your sleeve up to the opening. Pin around, wrong side up to wrong side up. Sew this nice and slow. It will have an awkward curve.

Repeat to other "arm hole"

4. While still inside out, sew down the side of shirt and sleeve to close off your shirt.

5. Now for the neckline, Cut two strips about 3 inches thick of your same fabric. Using your neckline as a template, arch one more for the front neckline and the back one less arched. Pin around the top of the neckline- this time with the shirt right side out. (Make sure you are marking with washable pencil :)

6. Flip the flaps into the shirt and iron down. Sew around the top as straight and uniform as possible, creating a pretty edge. Pin to insure it stays put..

7. Iron your finished top!! DONE!

 

 

I LOVE how it turned out! And love my sweet husband that took his time to take these pics of me. :)  Love you babe.

With love,

Viktoria

DIY Pleated Brocade Midi Skirt Tutorial

Happy (LATE) Valentine's Day! Although I did want this to be a Valentine's Day post:  there is no wrong time to make this skirt! Pick a fabric and let's make this! :)

 

 I got this gorgeous pink brocade fabric at Walmart a few years ago and I fell in love with it.

 Velvet bow inspiration from my favorite blogger: Julia from Gal Meets Glam :)

YOU WILL NEED:
2+ yrds heavier/thicker fabric
matching thread
matching invisible zipper
sewing machine
pins


Measure the length you want the skirt.(You can use one of your existing skirts as reference point.) I cut 36 inches from the top (not including the waistband or later hemming) but ended up trimming it more later.

Leaving some room at the beginning (I left 3 inches) and start measuring 2 inch sections, folding the back end into itself, pinning, to create pleats. Keep measuring each one so you have even pleats. Do this all the way across the top of the fabric. Sew across in a straight line.

Measure it around your waist, making sure it fits on your natural waist (above your hips)  Be sure to leave 2-3 inches between your first and last pleat. Trim the sides to fit exactly how tight you want it around your waist, leaving 1/2 in room for zipper.

Cut a 2 inch thick piece of your fabric the length of your pleated skirt top. Fold in half, pin and attach to top of your pleats- attaching the pinned side to the raw edge of your skirt and folded part underneath. Using the same pins, attach the skirt to the strip of fabric. This will create your waistband and seal your pleats perfectly. Sew at top, removing pins as you go.

Flip the waistband up to hide the seams and iron down the pleats and waistband.

Next, install invisible zipper. I watched this video while pinning and sewing my zipper. It was perfectly explained!

Line the zipper up to reach the top of your skirt, including the waistband. (You may need to trim your waistband to end at the edge of the skirt)
Optional: You can choose to attach a hook and eye here to add better closure to the top of your skirt.

After zipper is installed, pin down the open edge of the skirt and close it off, inside out.
(It will not seem like a straight line while pinning because of the volume of the skirt at the bottom compared to top.)

Hem bottom to desired length. This is where I chopped extra off because it was a bit too long on me. I did the hem at an 1in thickness.

Trim all the crazy hanging pieces and you're done!

When looking back at my blog, I am shocked that Valentine's Day is one of the holidays that has the most blog posts. (Well, not reallllly shocked considering pink is my favorite color) Hope you had a wonderful day with your loved ones. Or if you are like us and trying to beat the crowds on Valentines Day, enjoy your weekend date! :)

Thank you for being here! Hope you find the time to make something for yourself this week! Its so good for the soul!

Love, 

Viktoria

Appliqué DIY Shirt

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays. I love everything pink and girly and an excuse to wear it all. But usually I'm tempted to go buy every pink and heart print thing I see. Man, bloggers do such a good job at showing off the clothes, right? I think you should buy yourself a new dress. :) But considering making yourself something too!

When I was online browsing (sorta like my therapy: filling up my virtual basket) I saw soooo many pretty things from ASOS that were embroidered! Dresses, jeans, jackets and even bags. So pretty (love this one, and this sweater, and these jeans) I realized that they looked like appliques that you just iron-on. I decided to try and recreate the look.

I had this pretty lace top for a long time and it was finnnnnneeee but I wasn't wearing it and didn't want to give it away. It turned into the perfect "dressy" top for perhaps a Galintine's Day, or if you don't want to wear a skirt/dress because you live in a place that has winter. This would be SOOO cute with distressed/boyfriend jeans paired with pumps. (Mannn, that's what I should've wore. haha)


1. Decide which applique you want to use and where you will place it! This is the hardest part in this whole tutorial. If you want to attach to a basic tee, Old Navy or Target have great options. Or go to your local thrift or your own closet for a pretty piece to spruce up! (I ordered my appliques from this site!)

2. Pin/Mark where you want the applique. (I tried it on and placed it where I thought best)

3.  Place a towel on top of the applique gently so not to move it from its place (remove pins if you pinned) and hold an iron (on the highest setting) directly on top of the towel, that is on top of the applique. Press firmly down for 20-30 seconds. I did this twice since the first time my edges weren't quite on. (This may have to do with adhering to lace) MAKE SURE you're on a heat-resistant spot like an ironing board.

4. Optional: hand sew down around some of the edges in matching thread.

Now, whip your hair back and forth. Whip your hair back and forth.

Yea.. Sorry about that. Don't know where that came from...

Enjoy your new top!

With Love, 

Viktoria

Quick Refashion: Bell Flare Sleeve

Hi hi hi!!

I am not going to make any promises on here- just happy to have a new blog post up. I really have missed sewing and crafting!  My phone is full of screenshots of inspiration and "to-refashion" ideas. Anyone else do that??

This refashion started with my new love: bell/ flare sleeves. Kinda like the 90's but more modern. I had this striped shirt (that used to be a dress, and the bottom half I made into a skirt for my daughter: see the post HERE) and it is the perfect stripe. I am sure everyone has their own opinion of what the "perfect stripe" is but this is IT for me. I have refashioned the same piece twice! Case in point: never say no to a top with the "perfect-to-you" stripe. It's hard to find!

This JCrew top is my inspiration. (The stripe is nearly identical toooooo!) Sadly it is sold out. SO make your own version! Instructions below!

1. Cut your sleeve at the desired length. I measured first a bit lower then were I wanted the ruffle to start. Remember, when you attach the "ruffle" it will go a bit higher then where you cut it. The effect I wanted was above my elbow.

2. If you want to try this refashion be on the lookout for a dress or tunic at the thrift store or your own closet! Cut off the bottom of shirt (sweatshirt material means no hemming needed for the bottom of the shirt and you can keep the factory hem for your sleeve! SCORE!) I used the bottom part of my shirt (dress) and it worked perfectly to add enough volume to the sleeve. Cut down the sewn seam and you get 2 pieces. The width of material for ruffle should be about 1.5 / 2 times the size of your armhole. The length is also preference! Cut it if you'd rather have a shorter "bell" which I should've probably done on mine.

3. Sew a basting stitch along the top. Pull gently to gather.

4. Measure around the sleeve hole opening and pin the gathered part to the correct size. Sew down the side to create a "tube". Make sure to match up stripes if you have a striped shirt!

(Love that notch out that happened on its own because of the way my dress was hemmed on the bottom!)

5. Turn inside-out and slide onto your shirt that is on the right side. Pin around the sleeve hole (again, making sure to line up the stripes and the sewn line)

6.REPEAT to other arm!

If you have any questions, ask away! Hope you get inspired to make something for yourself.

Don't flowers just make everything better? :)

Until next time,

With love,

Viktoria