Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Selvage September

Alliterative September themes are popular in blogworld and I thought I'd add one of my own. I want to rework some duds - things where I was quite invested because I made a good job of them, or I loved the fabric, or I just couldn't quite admit defeat just yet.

These jeans - the madras pants ( 06-2011-109 ) are a case in point. From a technical point of view they look like they could be made into jeans - but in reality they are designed for a SOFTLY DRAPING FABRIC. Way too much ease for denim. That is my mistake entirely and I still see great potential for this pattern.




However, I had made a nice job with the topstiching and following KBenco's lead, had finished the waistband with bias (made from Liberty fabric). In short, I was too invested in these to let them go. So I reworked them.




Here's what I did - on the front I sewed straight down from the zipper and cut off the hem just as the bootleg started to flare out again, creating a mermaid type hem.



On the back, 8 1/2 inches down (20 cms) I inserted a godet, and sloped out the hem to create a mermaid tail, adding a few lines of ruffles to suggest scales. The godet was cut from the bottom half of the pant leg, it was a little short, so the ruffles are on a separate panel. I was able to resew this skirt using pieces entirely from the original jeans, so it bodes well with other pants in my wardrobe needing a little rethinking. The godet is the only essential design feature, as you need to remove the crotch, but I imagine there are endlessly possibilities for incorporating it, so I might try a few different looks.



Eh voila! One dud now creatively reworked into my wardrobe. I will wear this skirt, as I am very fond of the quirk factor in clothing. I wouldn't have worn the jeans - not just because they were a little baggy, but they were "butt munchers" - you know the type where you can feel the crotch seam gnawing at your knickers. I tried scooping more out but it didn't work - something else is wrong so I might need to get a lesson or two from a private teacher to sort that out. (good to know when you just don't know enough to fix it yourself).

28 comments:

  1. You are very clever and this skirt looks fabulous. Very good save!

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  2. Awesome refashion!! I love your "tail".

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  3. Oh my goodness that is ingenious (resisting the pun). Love it!

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  4. Very creative rework! It looks like lovely denim. You definitely get bonus points for reworked projects.

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  5. Great transformation! Great that you didn't have to fiddle with the waist area too!

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  6. I love a bit of alliteration myself ;-) Great job on the skirt! Very funky. Btw, the removal of the coffee bean background doesn't mean you've given up coffee does it? (she says in horror)

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  7. Hey good save! Wonder if this is what I should do with my too heavy Ruth made jeans?

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  8. Wonderful save! Nice that you got to keep that lovely liberty binding too; it looks like a pretty detail to please yourself when ever you put them on... I love little things like that myself.
    But don't you mean "salvage" September? :)

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  9. Great save. The skirt looks awesome.

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  10. This is an awesome rework! I love this skirt. Very wearable, but still loaded with sass and personality. It reminds me a bit of a skirt that hot patterns has with a godet at the back. Love it!

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  11. You are brilliant! That is a great skirt and I love the ruffles!

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  12. A good save. Lucky you to keep all that topstitiching. The tail is very quirky indeed.

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  13. I love it! I'm of the opinion that one can't have too many denim skirts. When I look at the photo though, I'm not seeing a CF seam, what gives? Is it just the lack of topstitching there that's throwing me or is my brain truly unable to visualize?
    Nice work!

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  14. What a great skirt! You look very happy with your refashion (and justly so).

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  15. What delicious bias tape you have used. I always have a soft spot for delightful details that only the wearer can see.I had some of that fabric and wistfully wish I hadn't turned it into something else.

    As for the alliterations, you have raised the bar. What next - oh no October? and naughty November?

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  16. Very impressive re-work, particularly like the sassy look at the back!

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  17. Mary Nanna, you made me smirk. What a great job you did! Glad to see you back on da blog.

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  18. OOH, fabulous tail, um godet, in fact this skirt is so much nicer than the jeans that I am tempted to re-sew all those dreadful trousers that have mysteriously shrunk whilst I was eating too much chocolate. I love the ruffles, and am so glad you saved the binding. Liberty is precious.

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  19. I just die seeing the inside of those pants, the Liberty bias tape finish, the craftswomanship...... I love is level of detail and MAYBE SOMEDAY I will work for that in my own clothes.

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  20. Have just scrolled through all the comments. No one batted an eyelid at that glorious description 'butt-munchers'. I suppose this is where you sort the real sewers from the browsers who are in for a laugh and who wear badly fitted trousers.

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  21. I quite agree Miriam, the highlights for the good-times reader such as myself are the lovely skirt followed closely by that sordid yet irresistable phrase "butt munchers".

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  22. The skirt looks great, I'm interested to see what other wonderful refashions you have in store.

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