Patchwork

I decided I needed to make my kids some clothes to wear for our family pictures.  I was waiting for peak Fall colors and wanted to go with colors that had browns, olive greens, tans, etc.   Of course, I decided this when I didn’t have a lot of time to get it done.  I also didn’t want to have to buy anything for it.

I was hoping to upcycle a few things and use some scrap fabric that I had.

This jacket was from a scrap of fabric that a friend gave me at a sewing retreat.  She didn’t like to keep scrap yardage and was going to toss it.  It is a nice thick knit.  I decided to make my daughter a knit jacket out of the fabric, but knew I would have to patch up part of it to get all of the yardage I needed.

There were literally just bits and pieces of fabric left when I was done with this jacket.  As you can see the skirt part of the jacket is a bunch of fabric patched together and topstitched.

I also had to do some scrounging for buttons.  Dude, I have HUNDREDS of buttons, but do you think I had ones the right size, matching, with enough to do the front and button cuffs?  Nope.  I had some that were close, so I used the 5 matching for the front and the 4 smaller matching ones for the cuffs.

I drafted the pattern using a basic bodice block as the starting point.  I added 1.5 inches to the front, drafted a facing and collar, added a back facing, and button cuffs to the sleeves.  The back peplum type skirt of the jacket comes into the front piece.

The skirt was made from wool and a stretch twill.  It is completely lined.  I figured the wool would be itchy, so I wanted to make sure it was completely lined.  I did it a lot like this skirt here, only I sewed leather strips over the tucks.  After all of that, it looks very much like a steampunk/Victorian type of outfit.

Both their shirts are upcycled from shirts from my hubby and I.  The Boy’s shirt is an nice Italian sweater that is a mixture of wool/tencel, and I know why my hubs never wore it.  It is itchy.  I made the boy suffer for pictures, though.  I am mean like that. 😉

My daughter’s upcycled shirt is one that was a bit short for me.  I used the existing hem on that, so yes…it was short.  Both were very easy upcycles.  I did recut the arms for the Girl’s top, but kept the neckline and shoulder seams intact for both.

I also made the feather hairpiece for her outfit.  I just covered a big clip with some heavy fabric and hot glued to feathers onto it.  Not too hard.

Glad the family pictures are done, though I wasn’t overly happy with all of them.  I forgot my remote for my big camera, and it was HOT.  Way too warm for our intended-for-cooler-weather clothes.  We haven’t been overly lucky with weather for the past few years.  Maybe next year will be better!