Day 4

Today's focus - skirts. Both of these skirts are actually remakes. I found skirts at a thrift store. Both were too big for me but I loved the fabric. The grey was a frumpy, long, old lady skirt but I loved the embroidery on the bottom and I figured worse case scenario, I could make a pillow with it. But I managed to actually get a skirt out of it. Unfortunately it is going to remain incomplete until the end of this month.
First of all, I like the length but still need to hem it, so I am going to create a bias binding hem - there will be a nice ribbon of black satin. I think it will look fab. Secondly, even though the original skirt had a lining AND I was able to cut out a skirt from the main fabric, I was NOT able to get a complete pattern cut from the lining fabric. Go figure. So I need more fabric for the lining (trust me, I scoured my stash and no suitable fabric for the lining was found.)

The brown skirt was a similar story except that I had already sewn it up except for the hem, so I just finished it.

By the way, the blouse is done.

HIp to be Square

Like almost every knitter/crocheter/sewer that I know, I have amassed insane quantities of yarn and fabric and continue to acquire more! I am not delusional, I know the stash will outlive me, but I am at least trying to keep from being completely buried by it by exercising a little stash management. What project would take up a decent amount of yarn or fabric? A blanket. So I have been working on some quilts and afghans as a way to use up some oddball skeins and fabric.

Unfortunately, quilts and afghans do NOT use up as much yarn or fabric as you think but they can be fun. I came across a block pattern for a baby blanket and started knitting squares. These squares are fun to knit and I think they are pretty. When I have enough to make a big afghan (I really hate those tiny little blankets, I want to be covered from my feet up to my neck), I will crochet the squares together. This particular one is going to be in blues, violets and greys.

On a separate note, I got a surprise day off yesterday and went to a favorite thrift store. I came home with some amazing finds - a Ralph Lauren hooded sweater, a Limited jean jacket (I seem to be collecting jean jackets as that is my 4th one) and this:

I absolutely adore this cardigan. Unfortunately, it is falling apart but I bought it just to remind me of the possibilities. It is a combination of knit and woven fabrics and I love the juxtaposition of the chunky knit with the silky and sheer fabrics. It has a very boho vibe and I adore it.

I managed to find quite a few good tops that I will refashion as well as some sweaters that I will be unravelling for yarn.

I don't know what it is, but I love the thrill of a hunt and hitting paydirt (and being economically responsible and earth friendly at the same time).

Chalk it up for another one

I am moving at a steady pace, using up some of my stash and putting together a stylish, comfy wardrobe. And as I said before, I have committed NOT to buy any clothes for the next 2 months.

Here is my latest completed project. I knit this from a 1976 pattern with some minor changes. Used a seed stitch for the bands and collar instead of garter stitch and I eliminated the pockets. Pockets would have been nice but considering that this is what I had left, I think I leaving out the pockets was a good choice.

I still need to add buttons. I went shopping today but the selection was mediocre and if I bought the ones I found, they would have cost me more than I paid for all the yarn!

Speaking of yarn, I made this by unravelling 2 Gap sweaters. I didn't even realize I had bought two identical sweaters because I got then on two separate shopping trips at two differnt thrift stores (total cost about $5). The yarn is part wool, part acrylic and is incredibly soft.

I've learned that the best defense against the weather here in Texas is to layer. Summers are hot but indoors are arctic. And winters can be chilly, especially when the sun goes down.

Wardrobe Refashion

I have taken the Wardrobe Refashion challenge for 2 months. I have pledged not to buy any new clothes (except underwear) for the next two months. I can buy clothes from the thrift store and refashion them, sew or knit new ones though. Of course, I picked the two holiday months, not sure what I was thinking but I've done it before so I can do it now.

What many people don't realize is that the fashion industry is NOT very environmentally friendly. The manufacturing process, dyeing yarn, threads and fabrics, fuel to ship clothes from overseas, etc are very damaging. Then factor in that most people wear their clothes for a season or two and then get rid of them creating a landfill issue. Using natural fibers is not any better usually because cotton is a crop that uses more pesticides than any other and those pesticides leak into our water supply.

By using materials that have been reclaimed (much of my yarn has been purchased at my local resale shop), repurposed (taking a garment that someone might have thrown out and refashioning it into something different) or recycled (such as unraveling a thrift store sweater and reusing the yarn so you can knit or crochet it into something else), you are actually being eco-friendly.

So for the next two months I am going to try to do my part. Here is my first item a sweater that I knit from a cotton/acrylic blend yarn that I got from a resale shop. I didn't follow any pattern, just used my own measurements.