Refashion fashion

70’s revival that seamed hot when I was in my twenties made me buy this vintage dress years ago at a thrift store.  It seemed to reappear every now and again but I never wore it so this means something’s wrong.  I can’t help it, and my husband keeps telling me I should, but throwing away clothes is against my nature and everything I stand for. This dress is made by someone once, I can tell by the way it was stitched it was not from a retailer and maybe that someone shared the same passion for fabrics and sewing as I do.  It makes me nostalgic but after all these years this piece of clothing will be ‘remade by me’.

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This is what’s left of my seventies dress after cutting and sewing… see the result below!

leftover dress

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I used the basic pencil skirt pattern I made before and just added a waistband, side pockets, a new lining and some pleats at the middle back.

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The paisley woven fabric is amazing, isn’t it?  I love these kind of fabrics!  I did go all the way with this recycling dress, I even reused the old metal zipper for my new pencil skirt and I still had enough leftovers to create a diamante flower belt.  I have this crazy obsession with belts, I wear a different one every day, one more to add to my collection…

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Follow my  instagram pics and see what I’m up to!

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Upcycled leather skirt

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I love to stroll around on markets, always in search of vintage belts, purses and gloves.  Last week I found this lovely leather skirt in superb condition.  The seller, a very proud lady, said she used to wear this and maintained it with leather grease as she saw me looking at it and touching the leather.  I just couldn’t resist to buy it and because she was so persistent about the good quality I couldn’t haggle either.  She’s probably very good at selling her things… Anyway, a leather mini was still missing in my wardrobe!

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Vlooienmarkten afstruinen is echt mijn ding, altijd op zoek naar ceintuurtjes, handtassen en handschoenen.  Vorige week vond ik dit fantastische koopje, een leder rok in super conditie. De verkoopster, een fier madammeke, vertelde me dat ze deze rok vroeger droeg en onderhield met ledervet toen ze me zag kijken en het leder betasten.  Ik moest die rok kopen en omdat ze zo overtuigend was over de goede kwaliteit durfde ik niet meer afdingen.  Ze is waarschijnlijk zeer winstgevend in de verkoop van haar spullen.   In ieder geval, een mini leder rok ontbrak nog aan mijn garderobe…

sewing machine

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Determine the desired length and add 3cm seam allowance.  Use chalk to mark where to cut.

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Fix the hem with Pattex.  Maybe leather glue would have been better but this worked really well.  Don’t overdo it though.  Fold over the seam allowance and press well to get a nice clean seam.

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I could have stopped here and that would have been great too but I decided to add something extra.

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Why not use the hem leftovers?

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I want to use the back finish of the slit in the front.   I cut the hem in 2 equal pieces.  They are pleated and sewn on just below the waistband. Not that easy to stitch but with some patience and good needles…

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picture leather peplum

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