Quick shirt refashion in blue and yellow

I love the colours of this shirt. I bought it to match a particular skirt, so it doesn't go with much else. It also has 3/4 sleeves, not my favourite. So it needed a refashion.

I didn't like the length of the sleeves so I removed part of them.

The shirt was also a big short in front and this was the main reason I didn't wear- don't like flashing my stomach all that much! I thought about adding the leftovers from the sleeves below, but decided not to and just left the refashion at the shorter arms.

Good to have a quick win sometimes!
#lovelypennypatterns

Robin Hood Cosplay: A Merry Man and Woman

My archery club have a traditional shoot each year where they have a recurve/longbow competition, hieing back to older times. As part of it this year people are invited to dress up in traditional archers garb, from whatever era or mythical land they choose. One of my favourite movies is the Robin Hood with Errol Flyn in the title role: so Merry Men and Women it is.

Over Shirt

I started with one for a friend as a test. I used an existing pattern and cut a rough top out. I didn't want the additional seams, so I didn't do four pieces, just two. Back panel:

Front panels:

All of the edges were overlocked, which they certainly wouldn't have done in Robin Hood's time!
I cheated for the castle cut-out pieces: instead of having to sew all those extra seams to make the shapes, I cut them out of t-shirt fabric. No hemming necessary!

The sleeves went on perfectly!

Once I was sure that this method was going to work, I moved on to my own costume.

My Over Shirt

I cut my outfit out of hot pink, because why not?

I used some t-shirt yarn that I had made to create the lacings for the front once it was all sewn together.

And I had an old singlet with interesting front detail that I cut in two to use as the sleeves and for the decorative bit on the bottom.

I went with the blue contrast to match the hat I had already made.

Some fake leather for the lacings and I was done! I had picked up a white shirt at an op shop to use for dyeing, so I rescued it for this project. Without it I just looked like I was wearing a dress!

Very happy with how it turned out 😊

Husband's Over Shirt

I used an existing shirt for my husband's costume, as I've had trouble in the past where the shirts that I've tried to make him don't fit across the shoulders. Need to work that out some time.
I cut the long sleeves off the shirt and removed the buttons down the front. 

I cut the sleeves off an existing t-shirt again, and cut the decorative cut outs.

Sewed them in.

I left the pocket on because it was going to be a pain to unpick, and it usually leaves a hole.

I cut the collar off, turned what was left under and sewed it down to create a different neckline.

Sewed the decorative bottom on as well.

I went with green t-shirt yarn for the lacings. I forgot to take a photo, but I had sewn extra button holes in the match the existing ones for the lacing. Below that I used a piece of one of the sleeves I had cut off to make the shirt a bit looser and to close the front.

Happy, merry husband! 

And a photo from the day:

#lovelypennypatterns

Shirt Refashion: Something fishy for my father

I bought this fabric at an art fair and wanted to make something for my dad with it.

But what to make:

• Table cloth?
• Pillow cases for his bed?
• Beanbag cover?
• Fabric place mats for the table? Though they would have to be washed every time they were used then

I had made my dad shopping bags before, so I didn't want to do that again. He also already had car seat covers, which would have been pretty cool in this fabric.
I decided on a shirt. I have tried to make men's button-up shirts before, but have had trouble with the fit. So I cheated and bought a plain shirt to add the fabric to. I had plenty of fabric, so I could design it however I liked.

I used the shirt as a template to cut out a panel to go on the back.

It was printed on calico, which wrinkles a lot, so I had to iron every piece I used. I don't iron clothes as a general rule, only busting it out for quilting and sewing!

My dressmakers manikin wasn't quite the right size, but it did well enough for me to pin the fabric on.

Did I want to add to the sleeves? I wasn't sure.

All of the fish faced the same way, too, which didn't work so well for the sleeves. The final creative consultant's (my husband's) decision was to leave the sleeves blank. Another option would have been to have removed one entirely and replaced it with fish fabric.

Sewed the back panel on and hemmed it under:

Added a panel to one side of the front.

Did a contrast pocket on the other side, after I had removed the existing white pocket.

And used a little fishy face to cover the tiny hole I put in the shirt when I took said pocket off.

Presto - finished shirt!

And happy dad :)

#lovelypennypatterns