Keeping the shorts in the family

My husband once bought some very expensive shorts in a fit of extravagance. It was a little bit of a joke for a while, until he wore them virtually every day. After about ten years, they started to disintegrate. I repaired them once, and at that stage, his mother started hating them, and telling him not to wear them.

So his shorts finally died (see picture).

Mainly in order to torment his mother, but also to make hubby happy, I refashioned them into some long pants for MrJ, using a pair of his pants as a pattern.

It was a very easy refashion, except that I managed to make the waist too narrow, and had to add a crotch gusset. I don’t mind the look of that in the end, as it works well.

My favourite bit of these shorts in the features that have been kept from the original shorts. The cuff is worn, the badge is still there. I used the back pocket to reinforce the knee (the fabric is really soft and fragile in places). The front pockets are in the anatomically correct space, although they are sewed up. And there is a nice contrast between the faded and unfaded portions of the old shorts.

And is my son wearing pink stripy socks? Yes. Any problems?

Pillowcase Tote

I finished this pillowcase tote last week. It was fun enough to make. I didn’t really follow instructions, but just created it from memory based on a picture I had seen. I used the folded over edge on the inside to make various sized pockets for pens and phones. It is a fun tote and will sit in my car. Something about the way the shoulder strap sits prevents it from becoming a favourite. I will probably not make this again, but I enjoyed the process.

All weather pants

I recently shared some pants I made from some table napkins. I managed to get some action shots over the weekend, and proof that they work dry,

And wet.

The stash hat

I have started doing early morning personal training, and decided I would need a warm hat for my walk to and from the venue. One afternoon, while both children were asleep, I whipped up this hat from my stash.

The fabric was once used for a pocket nappy for MissZ, so the hat is a bit nostalgic for me. But pretty comfortable, and fits me even better than the bear!

He will wear it now..

I made this hat from Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Maltese Fisherman hat pattern. Both gorgeous children refused to wear it last year, but I managed to find a gnome to wear it for me now.

Child’s Shorts from Table Napkins

I found these fabulous table napkins at my local op shop. Fantastic, bright colours in really good nick. I had 6 serviettes, so made three pairs of pants for my kids. I generally make the same size shorts/pants for both my children, as when nappies are accounted for, they are the same size.

I made them as long as I could, so that they would last. So they have ended up being pants for my elder child, who is three. They will fit MrJ, who is 18months, if I roll them up. Can you guess that the last pair I cut from another pattern was too small? These are HUGE. But cute.

(Clearly, the blue pants have already been worn and washed, and the green are still pristine…)‘

Found objects: a festival of aprons

I had a chance to nip into my favourite op shop today. One of the excellent finds was this haul of aprons. I need one, but I couldn’t leave the rest there. Three were brand new (red/pink, purple and green/brown). A festival of aprons.

Wardrobe Refashion Pledge

I, Cris Cuthbertson, pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of “new” manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 4 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoted, recycled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftiness brings!

Signed

Cris.

Sharing my finished objects

I am normally a health blogger, but I do some crafty stuff too. I was getting all excited about that, and tempted to post it on my blogs to share. But I am aware that not everyone who is into health really cares about my attempts at crafting.

So my solution is to make this basket for all my creative stuff. If you are interested, you can subscribe, and we can stay in touch.

My corduroy chair is a big red lounge chair and one of my favourite places to sit. If I am being creative, knitting or stitching, then that is where you will find me.

I have always been a crafter. My “home sport” is knitting, but I sew as well. As an extension to this, I have signed up with Wardrobe Refashion this month. So I will be trying to refashion and reuse more over the next few months, and I hope to share that process here.

If you would like to catch up with me over places, I am