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Thrift Store Remake- Guest Blog Post

Background about our guest blogger: In honor of National Sewing Month Shanni has decided to challenge herself and create a new piece every week throughout the entire month. To learn more about her adventure you can find her social media links at the end of this post. Enjoy!

 

For week two of my challenge I decided to transform one of the many thrift store bargains I have picked up over the past few months. I found this wrap skirt in a fall’ish flower print. It’s a medium weight stretchy cotton blend of sorts. I paid no more than $2 for this.


Shanni the Mani…I know your dying to get this on

I wanted to keep it as a skirt but envisioned it as a high waisted button up. So first thing I did was
cut the skirt into 3 separate panels…then I cut off the stretchy waistband on the back of the skirt.



The back also had two darts that I let out. I put it on Shanni the Mani and pinched out two new darts.

Sewed those bad boys up then used the scraps I had cut off the bottom for the back waistband…

Now for the front two panels, one panel had 4 buttons and the other side had the 4 buttonholes that went down the side of the skirt. I was able to use the panel with the existing buttonholes as the base for the front center of my skirt. My intentions was to add on 5 more buttonholes…didn’t exactly turn out that way, more on that later. I basted the side seams together so I could play with them more later and not stick myself to death with pins. Now mind you through all this I had me a little helper too…

Your first button should go riiight here.

So back to them buttonholes. I had every intention of making 5 more buttonholes to end up with nine total. I was going to make actual functioning buttonholes. Then I thought why go to all that trouble?? I already have 4 working buttonholes, I don’t really need anymore. I can easily get the skirt off and on with what I’ve got. I ended up just sewing the two panels together down the center starting below the first 4 existing buttons. Then I just sewed the buttons on top and switched out the existing buttons. You can’t even tell that they are not actual working buttonholes and why would anyone be staring that hard to notice they aren’t is what I would want to know!

So I think it turned out pretty well..

I ordered some really cute brown suede wedge boots that should be coming any day now. I think they will look super cute with this skirt. Maybe switch out the blue tights for some brown and get me a skinny brown belt for a work look. This look will do for a lazy Sunday…

Hope you all have a great week! What’s everyone working on? Here’s a peak at what I’ll be working on for week 3…

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About our guest blogger:
As a little girl she often dreamed of being a mermaid. Swimming in the neighbor’s pool pretending to glide through the water like a mermaid would. Her favorite movie was Splash. She thought Daryl Hannah was so beautiful. She often reenacted the movie in the pool. It was such fun being a kid and playing make believe.
Flash forward to now. She still visits “Imagination Land” from behind my desk at work. She’s a Financial Analyst. She still don’t know what she wants to be when she grows up. A veternarian…a dancer…a writer…fashion designer… One thing she does know, what she really enjoys is Home. She loves her animals, all 5 of them. 3 cats, a Pug and one Husband. Always loyal and always happy to see her.
Shanni Loves Facebook Page
Shanni Loves Blog

 

And we love everything she had to offer to share with us!


8 Comments

  1. Posted September 17, 2012 at 9:36 pm | Permalink

    What a clever way to transform a fabulous thrift find, Shanni! Thank you for sharing the tutorial (and for including pictures!).

  2. Posted September 18, 2012 at 7:15 am | Permalink

    What a neat way to upcycle a thrift store bargain!

  3. Tamsyn
    Posted September 18, 2012 at 8:23 am | Permalink

    The next generation needs to be inspired to learn to sew. Our LQS holds classes for kids and arranges special times for scout troops or other groups.

  4. Kimberly N
    Posted September 18, 2012 at 4:24 pm | Permalink

    Turned out great! It’s sometimes hard to remember just look for great fabric in what you have or can find and then fix the rest. :)

  5. andrea
    Posted September 18, 2012 at 4:31 pm | Permalink

    what a great skirt for your thrift find i haven’t done that yet think i should try it

  6. Shane Bracewell
    Posted September 18, 2012 at 5:44 pm | Permalink

    Great job, I love the re-purpose cloths!!

  7. Posted September 20, 2012 at 5:12 am | Permalink

    Hellow my name is Rebecca and I’m a student and this blog really aided me. I’m refocused! Thank you!

  8. Posted September 20, 2012 at 8:32 pm | Permalink

    Thanks for all of your work on this web page. I am looking forward to reading more of your posts in the future.