Friday 12 February 2010

Bustin' the Navy and Gold Stretch

Last week I set about bustin' some stash. I chose the piece of stretch fabric with navy and gold stripes, half of which I had previously deployed in the creation of my comfy dress. As you can see from the pic above, a fair sized piece still remained, and I was determined to be left with nothing but little scraps.

With my homegirl Harriet's birthday close, a gift for her was my priority. Harriet also follows the Wardrobe Refashion rules but is a super-busy teacher/poet lady who is presently too busy to get much sewing done. Therefore, I thought a nice new handmade top would be nice for her. So using the pattern I developed for my blue and white striped top, I made her this:

Harriet was a big fan of the original's puffy sleeves. For the neck line, instead of zigzagging some regular elastic around the neckhole on the wrong side, I used some navy satin-y fold over elastic (FOE) that was part of my recent eBay haul. Although FOE is generally used for underwear, it creates such a nice clean finish, I wanted to try it on this top. I think it works ok, particularly because the sparkly fabric lends something of a disco vibe anyway!

I was hoping to squeeze out a vest and pants set from the remnants, but the remains were odd shapes that prevented a vest. So instead I eeked out as much pant-age as I could:


The top pair in this pic are cut on the straight of grain, but then the strange shaped remains got even stranger and less accommodating, so I drafted half pattern pieces so I could cut more on the cross-grain and form chevron effects. I used the rest of the navy FOE and some scalloped edge navy underwear elastic, using different combinations and techniques on each of the pairs as practice. One of these will remain mine, two will become gifts. I think there are only so many pairs of disco pants it is necessary for one girl to own!

Well, my target was met. Nothing but small and unusable scraps left. This fabric has been thoroughly BUSTED!

9 comments:

Karin said...

Ouh, I love them all! The blue trim looks great, fun and sober at the same time. You have become quite the master of panties! Will remember to be inspired by them if I try making my own :-)

EmilyKate said...

Oooooooh, I want to make a top like that! Actually I have never bought a pair of undies with FOE, but many of the tops that I have from Kookai use it as a neckline finish and you are right it is lovely and neat-looking!
Those undies are suitable for a superhero :o)

Clare said...

I love that top, would definitely wear it and FOE is a great idea for necklines; will keep my eyes out for that. The stripes look great in the pants too!

beckyDazzler said...

stash busting is definately something I need to do! Evey drawer has fabric spilling out of it! I LOVE this top, can I ask you a silly question? How did you sew on the elastic around the neckline?

ButterPeanut said...

amazing! I wish I had your skillz.

naughty little pony said...

Freakin genius!

Veronica Darling... said...

ARGH! You are so good! I love this post so much!

I just bought some FOE from the shop the other day, and the lady said you have to do all stretch stuff on the grain horizontal (ie from hip to hip) and that will get the approrpiate stretch etc. I'm SO going to try this too, I have the FOE, I have the time this weekend, and have some undies to cut up to use for a pattern!!!! Woo!

Oh, and I'm going to borrow your button too, is that ok? As most of my stuff at the moment is stash busting (I can't fit any more fabric on my shelves) I'm totally in!

Gail said...

You are truly a woman of style when you match your knickers with your t-shirts. Seriously nice t-shirt.

Ashima said...

I love these! I never ever think of making own pant-age, but these are truly a great way to stash-bust! Great work! You are indeed a hero! Also I'll have you know you are the instigator to my PLAIN is the PLAN wardrobe sewalong....:)

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