Leftovers

When I've sewn something I usually have scraps of fabric left. I tend to throw all the little scraps out but chucking away bigger pieces seems like a waste. These pieces just sit in my fabric stash because I have no idea what to do with them. I don't want to make little purses or rag rugs or any of the other cutesy things all the lists I've seen online suggest. When one of the pairs of pajama shorts my mum had made me for Christmas (not to wear for Christmas, but as a Christmas present) years ago started to fall apart I realised what I could use all those fabric leftovers for. I used an old pair of pajamas as a pattern and then whipped up three pairs in a couple of hours. They were really easy and quick to sew.  

 I managed to get two pleated skirts (I sold one) and a pair of pjs out of this vege print fabric. I used french seams because, as previously discussed, I am lazy and they look good. The elastic was all stuff I had in my stash. I'm not quite sure why I have a stash of elastic given I hardly ever make anything with that type of elastic. Forethought, maybe?

I used this sheer cotton to make a dress (which I will do a post on shortly), and made these with the leftovers. This is a view of the back. As you can see, it's very similar to the shape of the front.

My mum used this fabric to make a dress and I stole the leftovers to make these. I wish I had a dress made out of it because the print is awesome, but pajamas will have to do. I didn't make any tops to go with these because I usually just sleep in singlets.

Is she pretty on the inside?

I bought this pattern with a bunch of other early 60's ones. I liked the bow-type thing on the neckline, but didn't find either of the skirt styles very appealing. I decided to do a box pleated skirt instead of the a-line or straight skirts from the pattern.   

Most of the seams are french ones because I'm lazy. You see, the overlocker is in a different room to my sewing machine. This means I have to go all the way to the other room if I want to overlock anything. It just seems easier to stay at my machine and sew an extra seam. As an added bonus, the finish you get with french seams makes the inside pretty.

This is the detail on the neckline.The background colour is weird. It looks white next to cream things and cream next to white things. I topstitched it in white which looks alright, but doesn't match perfectly.

There was a picture of me smiling in this pose, but the dress didn't look good so bored face it is

I love this dress. Yellow and cream/white are not normally colours I would go for, but I love lemons, both real ones and prints.

Sunglasses: Vintage shop in England
Dress: Simplicity 4987
Belt: Op shopped
Shoes: The Warehouse

Op Shopping Finds

I haven't posted in ages because sometimes life just gets in the way. Anyway, here are some things I've bought at the op shop in the last couple of months.

This dress (which my mum actually bought me), was handed to me by someone in an op shop because they thought I looked like someone who was into 'retro stuff'. I certainly am, kind stranger.

I think it's from the 1940's or early 1950's, but the hem has probably been shortened at some point. It doesn't look much here but it fits perfectly.

As an added bonus, the wool that it's made of was from Salt's Mill which I visited when I was in England. It's cool to think that this dress that I found in an op shop in Christchurch was made 60-70 years ago with wool from a mill on the other side of the world that I visited this year.

My mum also found this. She actually showed it to me because she thought I would laugh at how ridiculous it is, but um...I thought it was cute. I got the last laugh, though. When I got home I looked it up online. It originally sold for $285. I paid $6.  

I bought this (probably) '70s makeup case because I use them to store things like gloves, scarves and hats in. I don't love the colour but the shape is nice.

This wool coat was from an op shop in Petone. I have a similar red one, but the green one fits much better. Since I took this photo I've taken off the fur collar and put another one on because the original collar did not feel nice at all.