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Tasha Could Make That

Tasha Could Make That

Vintage knitting, sewing, and a lifetime of craftiness

A Vintage Pledge refashion and a pair of shorts

August 17, 2015 by Tasha 22 Comments

Have you been following along this August with Portia’s fantastic Refashioners series over at makery.uk?? I hope you have! She’s rounded up sewists to take part in this year’s Refashioners challenge the entire month. I’m so honored to be a part of the Refashioners again! Today, you can see my full refashion post on her blog.

The theme is “Get Shirty”, so we were all given a man’s shirt to start off with for our refashion. Marie sent me a great and colorful Hawaiian shirt. Which was fantastic, as I’ve been wearing a lot of Hawaiian-themed items this summer! (To that end, a killer dress I’ve finished is coming soon, hint hint!)

Refashioners 2015 - before and after

As you can see, I decided to turn it into a cropped top for summer (and I’m not the only one who had this flash of brilliance! 😉 ). I used a pattern I’ve used in the past, McCall 6116 from 1945.  So it also ticks another item off my Vintage Pledge goal for the year (nor was I the only one there, either!). I committed to 5 #vintagepledge items and have sewn 2 that I’ve blogged so far (a sleeveless top and flannel skirt), with one more unblogged (yet!). The pattern isn’t actually for a cropped top—it’s just the bodice from a vintage dress pattern! Which I’ve sewn twice before as dresses.

tasha-shirt-progress

I first had the idea to turn the pattern into a cropped top last summer, which I never blogged about, but you can see below from our trip to the Renaissance Faire last year. It was just made up in a simple turquoise cotton.

cropped vintage top

So I knew I could do it again, should everything fall into alignment (literally and figuratively) with the refashion shirt. I talked about it more on Portia’s blog, but it was a bit of a bear to get it all to work! I retained the original button placket up the front, and finished the neckline and hem with bias tape.

tasha-button-topstitching

I used the remainder bits of fabric to make a simple headband. Umm now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure the reverse turquoise side is leftover fabric from last year’s cropped top, ha ha!

I also had to make a pair of resin earrings to match. They were cast in molds I made from vintage pieces, something I’ve really been enjoying doing lately.

tasha-refashion8

headband and earrings

The shorts? I made those too but you’ll only get the details about that here, since they weren’t part of the refashion!

Butterick B5895 as shorts

When I finished sewing them I instantly thought I was going to give them away, as they just felt a bit too tighty and pinupy for my general taste. Which is absolutely zero surprise at all, seeing as I used my often-sewn cigarette pants pattern, Butterick B5895, as the base, and the only thing I changed was giving the leg a slight bit more room. So really, I’m just a dolt for being surprised at how they fit in the end. Of course they’re tight! Hello!

shorts closeup

If you’re familiar with the pattern, you’ll see I made a major construction change to the front pockets. The pockets you see are actually patch pockets I drafted, although they’re finished inside the side seam. I got the idea from a pair of Freddies of Pinewoods shorts I have. Once I had the shape figured out, I interfaced the slash side of the pocket before turning it in twice and doing two rows of topstitching. Then I carefully basted the seam allowance under on all the sides (except the side seam), pinned them to the shorts, and topstitched them down. Then the side seam of the pocket was just basted to the pant leg and finished together with it when I sewed the side seams.

Since I didn’t have any topstitching thread that matched, and I find the triple stitch on my machine too slow for any serious amount of topstitching without making me want to go a bit batty, I just threaded my sewing machine with a spool and a bobbin of the same thread and sent them through the machine and needle eye as one. I only had one or two tiny areas where the tension was a bit off and I had to fuss around, but not more than you get with topstitching thread, and it was a great backup solution in a pinch! I used this method all over the shorts and I’m really pleased with how it looks. Pops like topstitching thread does.

Butterick B5895 as shorts

About a week after finishing these shorts and feeling very humdrum about them, I tried them on again. I’m kind of coming around to them. Yes they’re very pinupy, so I doubt I’ll wear them out and about much. But I also made them in a stretch cotton sateen (Robert Kaufman Vera sateen, I think the colorway is Azure), so they’re super comfortable! And now that it’s been a million degrees in the last couple of weeks, I actually have reason to wear them.

While I’m still planning to make more shorts from the less-fitted Simplicity 3688 (the swing trouser pattern everyone including me loves), and I’ve already done up my muslin for them, I will still wear these ones sometimes, even if it’s mainly knocking around the house.

A Vintage Pledge refashion and a pair of shorts

refashion9

refashion-outfit

outfit details

refashioned shirt and headband: made my me (full post on makery.uk)
shorts: made by me
earrings and purple scalloped bangle: made by me
Bakelite bangles: misc.
shoes: Swedish Hasbeens


So that’s the scoop on the shorts and a bit on the top. To read more about my Hawaiian shirt #vintagepledge refashion, pop over to the Makery!

Be sure to check out all the great refashions the have been cropping up this month and keep following along, they continue all of August! And pssssst…. if you’d like to get involved too, there’s also a community challenge with a truly gigantic prize package. Be sure to take a look! 😉

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Filed Under: Sewing, Vintage Wardrobe Tagged With: clothing refashions, outfits, vintage pledge, vintage sewing

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kacy Burchfield says

    August 17, 2015 at 10:20 am

    This is absolutely adorable. I know those shorts aren’t your style, but honey, you make them work! They look fabulous on you.

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      August 18, 2015 at 1:10 pm

      Thank you! I’m coming around to them. 🙂

      Reply
  2. jeanine says

    August 17, 2015 at 10:37 am

    Um, YES. Simply fantastic remake and the shorts are divine. You wear those. You get used to them. Cuz they rock!!!! Love the inspiration of patch pockets instead. I have made that pattern countless times into shorts (flared out the sides a bit to make them more sailor-y) but I like the more fitted look you did so may have to try that!

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      August 18, 2015 at 1:11 pm

      Ha ha, thanks! I like your pep talk!

      Reply
  3. Emma Youens says

    August 17, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    Oh wow those shorts are great! love the pocket detail! Em x

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      August 18, 2015 at 1:11 pm

      Thank you! The pockets are definitely my favorite part of the shorts!

      Reply
  4. Begum Sen says

    August 17, 2015 at 2:09 pm

    Awesome refashion!

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      August 18, 2015 at 1:11 pm

      Thanks, it was fun!

      Reply
  5. Fraulein Nina says

    August 17, 2015 at 2:47 pm

    Holly hell, that is cute! You have definitely inspired me to go trawling through some charity shops looking for some cute prints on men’s XXL shirts.

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      August 18, 2015 at 1:12 pm

      Definitely!! It’s amazing the various things you can do with a really large shirt. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Vegan Vintage Geek says

    August 17, 2015 at 3:31 pm

    That is so awesome! I adore mend and make due projects. I myself have yet to acquire a sewing machine. I’m so use to sewing every thing by hand. The shirt and headband is absolutely getting me itchy to sew some more. I’ve sewn a Hawaiian skirt that I ‘ve been wearing a ton all summer and another skirt I recently finished. I am so excited to post these two skirts on my blog soon.

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      August 18, 2015 at 1:12 pm

      They sound lovely. And wow, by hand even!

      Reply
  7. Sewingwithkate says

    August 17, 2015 at 5:06 pm

    I am obsessively following Makery and your top is one of my favourites. Love it!

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      August 18, 2015 at 1:12 pm

      Thanks! I’ve been obsessively following it too!

      Reply
  8. Jessica Cangiano says

    August 18, 2015 at 4:11 am

    Fabulous refashioning! I love that you were able to make a matching headband, too. My well coordinated outfit adoring heart smiled when I saw that. 🙂

    ♥ Jessica

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      August 18, 2015 at 1:13 pm

      Thanks! I figured since I had a bit left, and the outfit felt like it would call for a summery updo, why not? 😉

      Reply
  9. Jane says

    August 18, 2015 at 7:48 am

    Great refashion Tasha, it really is a darling little top! I have to mention the shorts too, they’re fab and such lovely detailing with the pockets and top stitching. I think they look amazing on you, but understand what you mean about wearing shorts that are too pin-upy. I’d feel like I wouldn’t be able to breath out the whole day! Great idea to use that pattern though, may have to try that – with a bit of ease added! xx

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      August 18, 2015 at 1:13 pm

      Yes, definitely build in more ease or go up a size from what you’d normally sew them! I might try that again in the future, although probably keeping the waistband the same size since I wouldn’t want them to veer into lower rise territory! 😉

      Reply
  10. Christina says

    August 18, 2015 at 10:32 am

    Amazing re-fashion! So inspirational, great job!

    Reply
    • Tasha says

      August 18, 2015 at 1:14 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Jessyka says

    August 19, 2015 at 12:57 am

    I love this outfit. You look so cute in those shorts. They fit you well girly wear them out!!! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Sonja says

    September 7, 2015 at 9:22 am

    Cute outfit!!! I know you feel self-conscious about the shorts but no one else would think they were tight… they look like a perfect fit! Great refashion!

    Reply

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