Refashion Idea | Adding Jean Sleeves to a Sweatshirt for Textural Contrast

thee inspiration:  Womens Patchwork Sleeve Knit Blouse by SooLinen 

I had leftover jean jacket sleeves after making this denim jacket with contrast chunky knit sleeves. The sleeves were perfect to refashion another top. So I found that blouse on Pinterest and I loved the idea.

(this jacket available here in thee shop)

I took a plain black terry sweatshirt style top and exchanged the sleeves for the jean jacket sleeves. It was important to pick a shirt with drop shoulders so that the sleeves would fit no matter what.

With a seam ripper I took off the bottom portion of the sleeves on the sweatshirt and then cut the jean jacket sleeves to that length.

I sewed the jean jacket sleeves onto the black sweatshirt, serged the raw edges inside together, topstitched and that was it. Came out looking pretty similar if I do say so myself.

☮♥♻

New in thee Shop: Upcycled Denim and Vintage Embroidered Poncho Bags

A lovely customer was kind enough to send me some interesting textiles to work with a little while ago. One of them was this vintage Guatemalan embroidered poncho. There were some light stains and holes throughout the bottom un-embroidered portion but the rest was fine.

I love the bright colors throughout and the material is thick just perfect for bags.

I made two zippered crossbody bags first then two totes and lastly another zippered crossbody bag that used up the last pieces of the poncho as well as pieces of this vintage purple leather jacket and an embroidered mini pouch.

For these bags (minus one tote that got a matching leather tassel) I was able to finally make some denim tassels. Very glad I did because they matched so well and added a nice final detail. You make denim tassels too, it's pretty easy. Check out this tutorial by Pillar Box Blue

This is my entry to the 2019 Etsy Design Awards so it's not available for purchase just yet but it can still be found in thee shop with the others.

☮♥♻

New in thee Shop: Upcycled Jean Patchwork Short Sleeve Top

In its past life: remnants of jeans and cotton.

Found new life as: A unique upcycled patchwork jean top! All seam inside are serged. There is a snap closure on the top middle back. There are 2.5" side slits on the bottom hem. (I used Simplicity pattern 8602 for the fit).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @theekissoflife

Size: US Medium (please refer to measurements)

*Photographed on a size US womens 6/8 mannequin for reference

Width from underarm to underarm (chest) lying flat across front: 20"

Length from shoulder to hem: ~21"

Sleeve length about: 8.5"

Check it out in thee shop here.

☮♥♻

Refashion | Old Jeggings + Fabric Remnant

I'm not a huge fan of faux denim but I can't deny how comfortable it is. These skinny jeans in particular or rather jeggings were super comfy. The knees eventually faded out though and the fabric is starting to pucker, like most stretchy material does around the inner thighs area. I love the waistband on this so I had to keep it going. I chopped the legs off and put those pieces towards bags. Now I had this top piece left and a fabric remnant (It's rayon. It has a subtle stretch to it and drapes very well) I got it at Joann fabrics. Put them together and you have an easy maxi skirt.

This fabric remnant was about 1.5" yards in width and 31" in length. The denim mini is 7" at it's shortest in the middle front and 9.5" long at the middle back. Just gather the fabric and attach it to the denim mini. Serge the raw edges either before attaching them like I did or at the end altogether.

Apparently I take long strides when I walk so I will have to open up a side or both sides so that I can extend my legs out more. Yeah, I would've liked a little more fabric but this was a remnant I thought matched really well with the denim, I had to make it work.

☮♥♻

New in thee shop: Upcycled Denim Patchwork Bucket Hats

These upcycled denim and clothing patchwork bucket hats are the second batch I've made. Each one is different, unique and reversible. Two hats in one!

Upcycled bucket hats are available in thee shop, here

☮♥♻

New in thee shop: Upcycled Woven Sweatshirt Table Runner Tote Bags with Denim and Cotton

These upcycled totes were made from woven sweatshirt table runners, remnants of jeans and cotton webbing for straps. They are partially lined (the bottom denim) with a matching blue mens cotton dress shirt. Each bag has pockets on front and back. You can check out the bags in shop, here.

☮♥♻

New in Thee Shop: Upcycled Denim Canteen Style Circle Crossbody Bags

I've got four new upcycled denim canteen bags listed up in the shop. They all around 9" in diameter. I think that's a pretty good for a crossbody circle bag.

I had posted this work in progress photo to my instagram a while ago, took a break from them and finally finished the group. I always try to match up the zipper colors to compliment the threads of the denim hems.

The backs of the bags can get tricky when I want to make them a whole pocket and sometimes it's just not doable with the piece at hand. So two of them are double pockets, the other two are single pocket.

Just can't beat that classic look of thick thread on denim. Check them out individually in the shop for more details.

☮♥♻