Oversized to Just Right!

Okay this project was a bit of a learning experience. While I have been sewing for close to 15 years, I have just recently started to re-fashion/tailor clothes so I’ll show you what I did and then tell you what I will do differently next time.

 

I started with an oversized men’s sweater that I bought at a thrift store. My first step was to try it on and decide how much I needed to take it in. I placed 1 pin under each arm and 1 or 2 on each side, securing it to fit how I would like. Then I (carefully) took the sweater off.

I measured from the original seam to where I had pinned it and averaged it out… i.e. one side seam to the pin measured 3.25” and the other side was 2.75, so it averaged out to 3” …So as I said, I needed to take in the sides 3” and the arms only needed to come in 2” I took the pins out and turned the sweater inside out. Using a marking pencil and ruler I drew a line 3” in from the original seam from the bottom to just past the arm pit area. Then I marked the arm in 2” from the cuff to the arm pit curving it slightly at the end to match up with the mark along the side seam. Stich along your markings, back stitching at the beginning and end of seam. Trim 1/4” away from stitching. Repeat on other side.

I turned it right side out and tried it on. It fit great through the body but the shoulder seam was a couple of inches below the top of my shoulder, as you can see in the pic. I knew I needed to address this. Next time I will start here and then take it in, but live and learn.

Do to so, I cut along the original sleeve seam then made another cut 2” in (closer to the collar)

With right sides together pin, making sure the match under arm seams and the top of the sleeve with top of the shoulder . Stitch with a 1/4” seam allowance starting under the arm. Don’t forget to backstitch at the beginning and end of you seam!

Turn right side out and Waa-LAA! Please let me know if any thing is unclear or if you have any questions. This is my very first tutorial and it was harder then I thought it would be, but I survived to post another day!

Well here it is again.

So I found my original post and decided to re-post it for anyone who didn't get a chance to read it before I accidentally deleted it. OOPS!

My first post!! Ahh! I think I may be crazy trying to start a blog, but here I am doing it anyways. What can I say I like to live on the edge (wink wink). I'll be honest in the past I have tired to do the whole blog thing but I haven't been very consistent with updating them and they actually fizzled out after only a few posts. This time however, I am determined to rewrite the script and I hope to post at the very least once a week.

So now that you know a little about my commitment to this, I'll tell you what can expect to see in posts to come. Lately, I have been bit by the crafting bug. Making everything from curtains to pajamas to refashioning thrift store items. So I decided it is time to share my ideas/projects with... umm well... anybody who wants to take a look. I started to sew in the 7th grade and have been hooked ever since. I love to quilt but unfortunately I have not done nearly as much as I would like to for the past few years. Life kinda got in the way, ya know how that goes right? Beyond sewing and quilting I love to create, mostly things for my home or for family members. I will admit that I am a full blown PINTEREST addict and most of inspiration can be linked to it, whether I follow a tutorial precisely or seeing something sparks a thought (or notion) inside this head of mine. I may even throw in a recipe here and there or some fun tips and tricks I have learned along the way. So basically, you can expect to find things related to the home, family, children, ect. And to give you FAIR WARNING I am not an English major nor do I claim to be so you can probably expect a few poorly worded sentences and the occasional misspelled word or two.

Oh and to explain the name of my blog "NOTIONS OF MINE" (mostly just because I am kind of proud of myself) I was thinking of name ideas and came up with A Stitch of Thought, but lo and behold it was taken :( So I started thinking of synonyms for thought, then a light bulb went off NOTION! Ah ha that's it I proclaimed! Then I quickly searched for the proper definition...

no·tion(nshn)

1. A belief or opinion.

2. A mental image or representation; an idea or conception.

3. A fanciful impulse; a whim.

4. notions Small lightweight items for household use, such as needles, buttons, and thread.

It fit perfect and I was in love! Plus in my book, I even score bonus points for the double meaning/sewing reference! So here I am sharing the "Notions of Mine" ENJOY...

Duh....

I am such a dork! I accidentally deleted my post from the other day. :( But on the upside I went to a bunch of different thrift stores today and was able to pick up some amazing things to work on so be on the look out for some great tutorials coming soon! -love