Happy New Year and the Top 10 projects of 2015

Happy New Year! I can't believe another year has passed by. Time seems to fly by quicker and quicker as I get older!

Here are my picks for my Top 10 Sewing/Refashioning projects for 2015.

1. Refashioned Denim Jacket - I made this jacket with a pair of hubby's old 'holey' jeans and a thrifted cotton sarong. I used Simplicity 1688 for this jacket. I was really happy with this because I had to really work hard to get enough fabric from the men's jeans for the panels of this jacket. It even has the 'holey' bits to make the jacket authentic and 'charming'!

2. Refashioned Leather Jacket - This beautifully soft thrifted leather jacket didn't fit me because of my short waist and sway back. I took the plunge and picked out the waist seam, cut off part of the top half and part of the bottom half at the waist and sewed it back together. And voila! It fit! It was my first time sewing with leather and I was quite happy with the result. The before and after:

 

3. Copy Cat Strapless Peplum Gown - My friend asked me to make a copy cat version of an actress' gown for her. I enjoyed the challenge to figure out what material to use and what existing stash pattern I can use for this gown. I chose Simplicity 8764 and made a proof of concept gown for myself. Then my friend picked a tangerine Ponte Knit for her final garment. It was a good learning experience copying a gown and sewing for someone else outside the family. Here is the inspiration, the proof of concept and the final result:

4. A Princess Dress for my birthday girl - I had never sewn a princess dress for any child before. I was happy to take on the challenge when my daughter asked me to make her a 'pink shiny princess dress' for her birthday. I used a stash thrifted pattern New Look 6579, stash metallic pink denim and stash orange broadcloth for the lining. Both my daughter and I were thrilled with the result:

5. Refashioned Beaded Bolero Jacket - I thrifted this too small beaded crop top with no clear ideas on what to do with it. Then the trusty seam ripper inspired me to rip out the centre back seam, took out the zipper, turn the top around and make it into a beaded bolero jacket! What fun!

6. Black linen jacket - I used a stash pattern (McCall 4928) and stash black linen fabric to make this little linen jacket for the summer. I was happy to have tested out this pattern. Now I can make more jackets (different fabrics, different sleeve lengths) with this tried and true pattern.

7. Refashioned Denim Bags for teachers - I had lots of little bits of denim scraps from refashioning men's jeans into garments. I didn't want to throw them into the garbage so I used them to make unique bags for my kids' teachers as end-of-school-year presents. I'm happy to have used most of the scraps that would otherwise have been thrown into the garbage.

8. Colour blocked swimsuit - I have always wanted a colour blocked swimsuit. So I used Kwik Sew 2792 as a base, and drafted the front, back and side panel patterns. Unfortunately the white swimwear fabric that I have in my stash was a little too translucent and there was excess fabric at my lower back. Nonetheless, I wore it to go swimming last summer.

 9. Refashioned Suede Skirt - I thrifted this too small suede skirt with the intention of making it into a purse. In the end I decided to just cut off the top 2 inches of the skirt where it was too tight for me, and bound the top edge with soft knit. Now I have a comfortable, slightly on-trend midi length suede skirt to wear this Fall/Winter/Spring.

10. Keepsake Boxes for Kids - I thrifted 2 wooden boxes and transformed them into keepsake boxes with my kids`favourite characters on them. They were well received by the kids on X`mas day! The before and after:

So that was my top 10 list for the past year. Looking forward to more sewing/refashioning/crafting projects in 2016!