Made with Moxie: August 2014

August 28, 2014

Upcycle Men's Shirts

Refashion a man's shirt into a fitted style for you. An upcycle challenge || I'm so doing this to all my husband's nice shirts! lol

There's something about men's dress shirts that I find irresistible. Be it oxford or fine spun cotton, it's the hand of the fabric that gets me first. Such lovely textures. The stripes and patterns are most often woven in instead of stamped like women's clothing which is a sign of a nicer construction as well. I personally love a man's dress shirt for it's length too since I have a long torso. But most of all there is a sexiness to a man's dress shirt. Maybe I shouldn't have watched Flashdance as a kid, but it taught me that a woman in men's clothing can be damn fine looking. Also, Jennifer Beals taught how to take my bra off underneath my shirt. But that's another story.

The trouble with men's dress shirts is that they are boxy and a woman's body is anything but. All you need is a few nips and tucks and your husband's dress shirt can be YOURS!

Refashion a man's shirt into a fitted style for you. An upcycle challenge || I'm so doing this to all my husband's nice shirts! lol

Start by putting your shirt on INSIDE OUT. Yes, buttoning a shirt on inside out is challenging. You'll be a pro by the end. You shirt should be large enough to button over your breasts, but not super large.

You're going to make four double pointed darts in the shirt, two in the front and two in the back. Pinch the front of your shirt directly under your breasts where your waist is its smallest. Place pins at those points in the pinched fabric. Next, slide up those folds until you are just underneath the curves of your breasts and place pins out on the very edge of the folds. Then slide down the folds and determine where you want your darts to end. I stopped mine just above my hips so the fullness of the shirt curved over my hips.

Refashion a man's shirt into a fitted style for you. An upcycle challenge || I'm so doing this to all my husband's nice shirts! lol

Take off your shirt. Straighten out the two folds of fabric you made so that they are both going perfectly straight up and down and are both equal distance from each side seam. This is fairly easy to do with plaid and striped shirts. Use a straight edge to draw a diamond shape along the fold connecting your three pins. Stitch those double pointed darts down. Press your darts. Try on your shirt, right side out. Move around in it. Make any adjustments in each dart length or rise.

Refashion a man's shirt into a fitted style for you. An upcycle challenge || I'm so doing this to all my husband's nice shirts! lol

Put your shirt back on, inside out and pin two more darts in place in the same manner. Yes, bring your darts up higher, since you don't have breasts on your back. Yes, stop them a bit sooner if you have a nice round buttocks you've got to account for. Yes, this is a bit more challenging, but it's not an exact science. Just a little trial and error. Straighten your dart folds out, draw your lines and stitch in place. Press.

Try your newly refashioned shirt on. Make adjustments as necessary. Then roll up your sleeves, pop that collar and you're on your sexy little way!

Refashion a man's shirt into a fitted style for you. An upcycle challenge || I'm so doing this to all my husband's nice shirts! lol

Refashion a man's shirt into a fitted style for you. An upcycle challenge || I'm so doing this to all my husband's nice shirts! lol

My husband should be afraid. I'm starting to go shopping in his closet! Totally kidding. He really loves it. He just wants me to accessorize it with only a pair of panties. MEN!

Refashion a man's shirt into a fitted style for you. An upcycle challenge || I'm so doing this to all my husband's nice shirts! lol

New to upcycling and refashioning clothing and afraid you're going to screw something up? Don't be! Head on out to the Goodwill and grab yourself a practice shirt. I got this gingham one for only $5 and it's from Johnson & Murphy. Before you know it you'll be going through your closet and everyone else's.

Got the refashion bug and need some ideas? Check out the rest of the Refashion Blog Hop!
Refashion blog hop
    1. Vintage pillowcase upcycle by Sew Country Chick
    2. Large tee to adorable dress by Peek-a-boo Pattern Shop
    3. Rit Dye upcycle by While Camden Sleeps
    4. 15 minute tank upcycle by Raegun Ramblings
    5. Men's shirt refashion by Made with Moxie
    6. Women's tank & tee to girl's tunic & leggings refashion by Andrea's Notebook
    7. 15 minute tee into bike shorts by Sew Like My Mom
    8. Fringe cardigan upcycle by Rebel and Malice
    9. Mu-muu refashion by Lil' Bit & Nan by Bethany

August 22, 2014

Pattern Parcel #4: Let's hear it for the BOYS!

Any Maker Momma of a little dude will tell you how the wee men get the shaft when it comes to sewing patterns. Really, all clothing in general. It's usually nothing but boring basics. Well, I want modern. I want hip. I want fun and comfort all rolled into one. Our sons and grandsons ooze character and they deserve better!

So we wrangled up our favorite digital indie patterns for boys and, BAM! Introducing Pattern Parcel #4!

Pattern Parcel #4

Pattern Parcel #4 includes:

Schoolboy Vest by Sew Much Ado
Maxwell Top by Shwin Designs
Small Fry Jeans by Titchy Threads
Zippy Jacket by Blank Slate Patterns
Jet Pack Bag by Betz White

Choose a price of $26 or more (which, hi, that's still only 50% the retail price of the first five patterns, never mind that you'll be getting six!) you'll get the Bonus Pattern, the Knight Hoodie by Charming Doodle. This pattern is so awesome. I want one for me!

Pattern Parcel #4

Remember, you get to choose the price you pay for the Parcel. Show your love for the indie designers in the Parcel and choose to share some of your price with the charity, DonorsChoose.org. We take our portion of the sales to pay all the costs associated with running the sale then give the rest to DonorsChoose.org as well. Get freaking awesome patterns, shop independent artists and feel good doing it.

Buy Pattern Parcel #4


Follow along with the Parcel #4 Inspiration Tour Schedule:

Friday, August 22 casa crafty || Lulu & Celeste || Keep Calm and Carrion

Saturday, August 23 Max California || Amanda Rose

Sunday, August 24 little betty sews

Monday, August 25 Kadiddlehopper || Radiant Home Studio

Tuesday, August 26 La Pantigana || Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy Crafts || Friends Stitched Together

Wednesday, August 27 Make It Perfect || Modern Handmade || GYCT Designs

Thursday, August 28 Needle and Ted || Mae & K || Mimi's Mom

Friday, August 29 Pienkel || Once Upon a Sewing Machine || Friends Stitched Together

Saturday, August 30 FABulous Home Sewn || Gray Skies || The Crazy Tailor

Sunday, August 31 Nine Stitches || Max California || Oliver's Fancy || Friends Stitched Together

Monday, September 1 a happy stitch || lady and the gents || Our Family Four || Swoodson Says

Tuesday, September 2 verypurpleperson || Things for Boys || The Crazy Tailor

Wednesday, September 3 Our Family Four || Rebekah Sews || a happy stitch

Thursday, September 4 Sew a Straight Line || la inglesita || Made by Sara || Knot Sew Normal

Friday, September 5 Knot Sew Normal || Gracious Threads || Sofilantjes || Max California

Pinterest junkie? Follow the Official Perfect Pattern Parcel board to add the latest Inspiration Tour creations added to your pin feed. Upload your Parcel creations to your Kollabora profile and make sure to tag the Parcel as your Supply!

Happy Friday, y'all!