Our Thrift Shop Sewing Circle

**Incognito** · 05-14-2009, 10:47 AM

This thread is for those of us who buy clothing cheap at the Thrift Shops and garage sales, and plan to make it into something, or alter it to fit us. And though we've planned and planned, we haven't got much done, so far... In other words, we have a closet full of Thrift Shop clothes, and nothing to wear.

Remember way back when a woman had 2 or 3 street dresses, a nice little black dress, a winter coat, a summer coat, and 2 or 3 work outfits for home. Now fast-forward to the reality of our own wardrobe. Anything to wear? Not counting a bathrobe or sweat pants. How many outfits are too small, too big, unpressed, un-mended? How's that working for us?

So, the aim of this thread is to share your personal needs, plans, and progress into making our closet-full of clothes into a wearable wardrobe.

Now if you're the kind of person who always immediately uses all their Thrift Shop clothing, then post here too...we need your sage advice.
But for the rest of us, this thread is about our acquisitions and our aspirations and our actual progress--an online sewing circle for emotional support.

For instance, now that spring is here, it's too hot to wear my sweat pants, and this week I couldn't find anything at all to fit me.
I have 4 new pairs of Thrift Shop pants that need alterations in the waist, so I did the stitch-ripping yesterday, and they're now lying across my ironing board, ready for the real work of the sewing alterations.

MY IMMEDIATE GOALS:
1 summer jacket
4 pr. summer pants (capri or long)
2 blouses

MY LONG-RANGE GOALS:
1 patch-work skirt (long)

So, if this is where you're at, please join in and share!

**imagine** · 05-14-2009, 11:19 AM

Thanks for this thread

Okay here is the one I need to finish asap. a spring and summer skirt

It was a long elastic waist skirt two sizes to big with an outdated thick elastic band at the waist. The elastic wore out and now makes a crunchy sound when it is stretched.

The print of the material is very in style for a shorter skirt (under knee not near ankle length).

I have already cut off the old elastic band, shortened the dress, and made a new elastic casting at the waist.

All it needs now if for me to take the elastic out of the old thread bear flannel fitted sheet and put the elastic in the skirt.

**Incognito** · 05-14-2009, 11:27 AM

Because you replied to my post, you have motivated me to shut off my computer now, and spend 30 minutes on my sewing project.
I want to sew up 1 or 2 waistbands this morning. These I started on yesterday by removing the elastic inserts at the waist in order to enlarge them.
Here I go...
Thanks!

**imagine** · 05-14-2009, 11:30 AM

A few weeks ago.
I tried to make my size 26 short sleeve t shirt into a size 16 short sleeve t shirt but it didn't work. The sleeves ended up to tight and when I tried to fix it the material tore. I tossed it. Shortly after I thought that the yoke of the shirt would of been pretty sewn under another shirt for modesty making it look like a two layer shirt without the extra weight and heat of another layer. Oh well.

**imagine** · 05-14-2009, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Incognito

Because you replied to my post, you have motivated me to shut off my computer now, and spend 30 minutes on my sewing project.
I want to sew up 1 or 2 waistbands this morning. These I started on yesterday by removing the elastic inserts at the waist in order to enlarge them.
Here I go...
Thanks!

I look forward to your report on your completed projects.

**imagine** · 05-14-2009, 12:18 PM

Okay I finished the spring/summer skirt

Now I have three skirts and one dress that fit in my closet.

I also have a denim skirt that is a great length but is a few two sizes to big (I just wear a belt with it as it has belt loops) That might work for a while longer. Try to see if it is worth it to make in tucks in the skirt or not and if I can figure out how to make it look good.

Cost of the 4 skirts and dress in my closet $2 and the cost of the thread to alter the skirt and sew on a missing button on the dress (the extra button was included with the dress)

**baxjul** · 05-14-2009, 12:50 PM

Okay! I need to alter the waist in 2 pairs of capri pants.
I will plan on starting them this weekend! Great thread.

**Incognito** · 05-14-2009, 08:08 PM

Well, after spending about an hour this morning, I have 2 beautifully sewn waistbands, but the pants still don't fit me.
So, it's back to the sewing machine ASAP to fix that. The pants need some tailoring, so I'll open the seams on the inner stitching-line and check out the fit after that. I use the outside-pinning tailoring method. I try on the pants, and pin any areas that need to be taken in or out. Then I chalk-mark the pin marks on the inside of the garment, add ease, and draw a new stitching line.

And I tried to cut corners by cutting apart the side elastic in the waistband where it was stretchable, then sewing it flat, but that didn't work. Now the waistbands are too big, falling off even!!!
The words of my childhood 4-H sewing leader come to mind:
"If you're going to do something, do it right the first time..."
That means opening up the waistbands again, attaching more elastic so the bands are firm not floppy, then re-sewing them.

On the plus side, I actually got this far!
Oh BTW, I forgot to thank and hug you, so I'm going back to your OP to do just that.
I'll be back....

PS1: Cost of the pants, maybe 25 cents for 4 pairs. My Thrift Shop has bag sales--all you can put into a plastic grocery bag, then you pay $3 per bag of stuff. I stuff the clothes into 2 bags, then find a quieter place, and repack them all, neatly folded, into 1 bag, and there's still room for lots more after that!

PS2: HIgh-priority short-range goal:
Crochet a tiny purse for my 3 yr. old granddaughter for her upcoming birthday.

Originally Posted by imagine

I look forward to your report on your completed projects.

**imagine** · 05-15-2009, 08:55 AM

Great progress Incognito. Keep us updated please.

I'm tossing around another project.

When I was doing the laundry I noticed a sleeveless shirt my mom gave me that had been made smaller with just a new seam on each side. This didn't work when I tried it with the short sleeve shirt (probably because of the sleeves) But I need some sleeveless for really hot days and under other shirts and I have three that are to big so i figure why not give it a try. Not much to lose.

**Debbie-cat** · 05-15-2009, 09:00 AM

I love this thread but I am not talented enough with a sewing machine to actually make clothes smaller or change them. I will continue to follow you ladies though and maybe take a plunge one day and try something! Keep up the great work!

**pollypurebred39** · 05-15-2009, 10:30 AM

oh my, i just love this thread. i aspire to these heights. i'm still learning though. i did recently however take an old fashioned house dress and turn it into a simple skirt with an elastic waist band. i still need to dress it up with ribbon that i found on clearance for a dollar. i did it by hand, still working on learning machine sewing.

**RaineyDaye** · 05-15-2009, 11:10 AM

I have some things I got from the thrift that I would like to remake, but not necessarily for clothing. For instance, I got a pair of jeans with beautiful embroidery on the pant legs. I'm thinking about how to remake it into a bag, purse, or maybe a throw pillow. However, I haven't gone farther than just thinking about it ... maybe I will get inspired to actually start cutting.

I also sometimes remake jeans into skirts or shorts for my granddaughters. These are usually really cute things I had originally purchased at the thrift, but that have subsequently become worn at the knees.

**mommy4ever** · 05-15-2009, 11:30 AM

This is a great thread!!!!

We are prepping for a garage sale, so I don't have much time to sew right now. But I'm setting aside things that I can remake, or alter. Then will set aside a little time daily to do it! I have a favorite pair of socks to fix..lol. The toe stitching came undone. I'll bring them camping and mend them there.

And watch dh look at me like I've grown horns..lol

**mommy4ever** · 05-15-2009, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by imagine

Great progress Incognito. Keep us updated please.

I'm tossing around another project.

When I was doing the laundry I noticed a sleeveless shirt my mom gave me that had been made smaller with just a new seam on each side. This didn't work when I tried it with the short sleeve shirt (probably because of the sleeves) But I need some sleeveless for really hot days and under other shirts and I have three that are to big so i figure why not give it a try. Not much to lose.

Look at the top. It may need to be taken in in different areas. Adding a dart can take away some width where you need it, maybe 2. Adding a couple pleats in the back and a little decorative touch can bring it in there too. This can help make it fit better than just takin gin hte side seams as the shoulder isn't touched but the side seam is. Clear as mud..lol

**imagine** · 05-15-2009, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by mommy4ever

Look at the top. It may need to be taken in in different areas. Adding a dart can take away some width where you need it, maybe 2. Adding a couple pleats in the back and a little decorative touch can bring it in there too. This can help make it fit better than just takin gin hte side seams as the shoulder isn't touched but the side seam is. Clear as mud..lol

I think that might work for the short sleeve shirts. They might need to many darts though as I went from a 3 or 4 X to a regular XL. Plus sizes shirts are to big now.Thanks

I have a denim shirt I'm trying to figure out what to do with it. I'm thinking darts like you suggested or maybe a back tie. That would be easy just a pretty coordinating ribbon sewn in the seams and then tied to pull the shirt in.