Burgundy cape

After two weeks of strenuous and stressful load of translation I wanted an easy project that shan't require much deciphering patterns and counting stitches.
For the easy project I had in mind I decided on this ball of coarse wool yarn that I bought simply because I liked the colour and I knew that whatever I make it will look a bit raw. And it does, but little do I care. I feel nice with it on my shoulders.

Thus, I present the Burgundy cape. It was too easy and plain even for my taste so I embellished it with a braided neckline after deciding that making a lacey edge is too much work and that it will not turn out that glamorous with this type of wool.

Golden leaves

Induced by my last refashioning, I wanted to try and make a blouse with a stand-out collar. The quick visit to the fabric shop yesterday yielded in dark navy velvet, light pink cotton and mustard-yellow blend which I had noticed on my previous visit there but was not eager to buy it then.
As soon as I got home today I set to work and an hour later - this is what I made myself.

I love the way the sleeves turned out!

I like the design so much I now want to make this into a dress.

Refashioning a Hidden treasure

 

I have had this dress since I can remember. Its place was in the last drawer of my mother's wardrobe, discarded with other clothing not considered fashionable any more, yet not thrown away due to beautiful memories of past times. 

This dress was not my mom's - it was one of my aunts'. How it ended at my mother's nobody knows. I know for sure that it was made for a kind of a special occasion and not much worn afterwards.

I remember wearing it a couple of times as a little girl when dressing up with my sister -pretending we were princesses (don't tell me you didn't do that!) and I wore it once to a costume party (being a fairy queen)- pity I don't have the picture at hand.

And suddenly rearranging my stuff of old - oops!sorry! - I meant vintage clothing, this 'beauty' emerged and I instantly saw its potential and knew exactly how to redo it. 

Here it is BEFORE

The design does not deviate much from what was fashionable in the '70s. The material is not flattering at all - it's a synthetic blend and it's sturdy. The only thing I like about this dress is the cowl. I LOVE it! And that sturdiness of the fabric makes the cowl stand out. 

Here it is AFTER

 

How I refashioned it: First it was too long and too big for me. I shortened it, cut out the sleeves (urg!) and tightened it at the side but I also re-sewed the front darts. The cowl was left intact. 

 

I thought that it could do fantastically with an obi-belt, so I made one and I think I was right about that. So now, what do you think? 

Personally, I fell in love with it! I am even set on making another one with the same design but of course in different fabric.

The greatest compliment I received was from my daughter. While I was preparing the camera for some pictures, she tagged behind me saying; "Wow, mom - you are soooo beautiful" and she just kept repeating that..... My sweetheart! (Eva's the photographer of all the photos! She was so proud of making a fantastic photo session I didn't have the heart to just put one or two photos!) Thank you for the lovely photos honey!

P.S. Update: After posting this refashioned dress at Burdastyle, it was chosen to be featured. Thanks Burdastyle! 

Fabric from Tunisia

This is the fabric I bought on our visit of the Tunis medina.

The shops were amazing and well-stocked.

I bought mostly cotton and linen which seduced me with the designs and the quality of the fabric. Not to mention the gorgeous colours.

If it hadn't been for the weight we were allowed to take into the plane I know I would have bought lots more.

Washed, ironed and ready to indulge into new projects.

What will all this fabric be?

I already have some ideas but am not so willing to start sewing.

I think it will do my studio good if I finish those couple of projects I've started.

The most pleasant surprise was from my husband.

He bought these two Berber covers while I was in the other shop buying something else. He couldn't decide which one so he bought both.

I love them!

But I am not going to use them as covers but would love to make a piece of clothing because the cotton is one of the softiest I've touched.

Look at its border! So perfectly webbed!

My new blouse

If you remember the post about Eva's leggings then you know that I have a lot of this fabric left, so I made myself a cute blouse. Again I didn't use any pattern because I couldn't make up my mind whether I want a simple sweatshirt or a tunic. So I simply drew on the fabric and this is what it turned out. I didn't make any sleeves, but I made arm warmers if I feel cold in it.

The fabric is sooo soft and cute (although I have never been much in love with stripes -hated them to be more accurate in expression - however this condition curiously starts to change and these changes include a lot of other things I didn't like in the past -hmmm-) I am thorn between the desire to rush to the shop and buy some more and the reason that I don't actually need tons of it.

Trousers remake

One of Eva's favourite pair of trousers. The time has come when they cannot be worn any more, because my girl has grown a lot since last winter. We both agreed to keep them and make something out of them. And the most suitable solution was a skirt.