January 22, 2011

sew la tea do

_MG_7144.JPG_effected


One of the first places I go to in thrift stores lately is the sewing section. I could spend hours digging through old fabric, unfolding them from their neatly made squares, putting them on the floor and putting garments over them to see if they are the right size. I get a lot of weird looks when I do this, mainly because I am in my own world - but the thrift store ladies are nothing short of gems, helping me pick out the right thread and lace details for each piece. I decided that this weekend was going to be a Kate weekend..and with much needed time to myself, I made it just that. I have closed my door (& was even tempted to put up a 'no boys allowed sign') stacked up on tea and crackers and have sew sew sewed my life away. I bought all of the fabric for these three dresses shown above for a whopping $1.75. Yes, thats right folks, one dollar..and 75 cents. Through digging and unfolding and washing and ironing (even though some of these creases and wrinkles seem like they will never come out) and hours spent in my 'hidden room' - you remember the one right? ;) - I have turned these three neatly folded, elastic band secured pieces of fabric into three wonderful dresses. If that wasnt the best $1.75 I have ever spent, I dont know what is.

Do any of you sew? If so, what is your favorite thing to make? Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!! x

30 comments:

  1. I wish I could sew.. And I can picture you at the thriftshop now!

    Would you ever make a custom-dress? I would pay you in money AND Trident Layers gum.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AH-MAZING. I have so much respect for people who can sew - I've always been afraid of the machines or just stuffing it up. Those dresses are gorgeous. Do you make your own patterns? Any tips for someone who's dying to get into sewing?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my goodness, these look beautiful Kate! I lovvee love love the one on the left!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You made these Kate? How amazing! You did such a lovely job! I'm lovvving all of them, but certainly the one in the middle! Such a pretty collar! Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I really wish I could sew, well I can sew, I just wish I could sew well :) you're so clever, they really are beautiful
    Scrapbook de la Emma

    ReplyDelete
  6. I just think that the title of this post is great... but so are you... and your sewing! :) xo

    ReplyDelete
  7. Way to go! So proud of your projects, and you're making so much use out of your little secret room.
    I need to stop spending time in the sewing aisles and piles and start sewing already! Maybe something for the baby soon, like a stuffed animal friend.

    ReplyDelete
  8. i sew my own clothes! :) i love making dresses and skirts, it feels wonderful wearing your own creation!

    http://power-of-words-tmc.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm sooooo impressed by these. they turned out amazing <3 I must learn to do more exciting things with my sewing machine!

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  10. I totally wish I could sew! I can only imagine all of the wonderful things I would make! I can do alot of mending - but its all by hand because I dont have a sewing machine. Recently I've begun making hair accessories with the left over fabric from things Ive taken up in length, so thats ben fun - but can get time consuming because I am doing everything by hand.

    Your new-vintage dresses look great - and at $1.75 - who would complain!!!

    xx www.christie86.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Beautiful! I love the first dress! I'm terrible at sewing, I always got yelled at in Fabric Tech at school!

    x

    ReplyDelete
  12. You made these?! Uh-may-zing! I'm so jealous. They're fabulous! x

    ReplyDelete
  13. I need to sew desperately, I always want to but never seem to find the time. Your dresses are wonderful and show exactly what you can do without spending much.

    ReplyDelete
  14. i used to sew much more - shirts and dresses and stuff like that. now, i mainly sew pillowcases and i'm trying my hand at a quilt. it's hard stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Those dresses are amazing!
    I try my hand at sewing. I mostly make skirts. But I love making dresses!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm really happy you took a weekend to yourself. Those weekends can be the most productive, and needed. The garments you made are pretty, to say the least. I wish I knew you in real life so we could high-five!

    The craft section is ALWAYS my first stop when I go thrifting...Where I live though, the fabric is never enough to make dresses out of, maybe purse if I'm lucky.

    xoxo mama wolf

    ReplyDelete
  17. ahhhhhhhh that middle dress is so prettyyyyy!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. What beautiful fabrics!!! And you turned them into such great dresses! I wish I could sew a garment. I can only hem and make pillow cases:(

    ReplyDelete
  19. Ohhhh these are so gorgeous!! From where do you get the patterns for your sewing projects?

    ReplyDelete
  20. ahhhh, those dresses!! I'm very embarrassed to admit this but I actually have no idea how to sew! it's pretty pathetic in my eyes, especially being someone that loves vintage and clothing in general. I've been meaning to take up a few classes, it would make my life so much easier.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh my goodness. I want to learn how to sew so badly. Good job, you are so talented!

    ReplyDelete
  22. i sew occasionally, when i'm not too lazy :]

    i really enjoy making skirts, as they are practical (well maybe not practical.. but pretty!) and so very easy. they only take a little while, and if you have some fabric and elastic.. BAM a skirt.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wahh!! I can't believe you made those! But then again I can because you're cool like that. I wish I had skills to make my own clothes! Those pieces are fabulous. Good for you for not being afraid of weird looks and stuff. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Those are beautiful dresses, love them. I wish I could sew, I tend to make too many mistakes though :( xx

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh my gosh you made me want to buy a sewing machine so bad, my grandma taught me to sew a long time ago, I think I've forgotten, but I figure I will reteach myself one of these days.

    Beautiful pieces you created! www.indcfashion.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. These are WONDERFUL!!! You've made me want to buckle down and sew again!! Did you use patterns for these?

    ReplyDelete
  27. i am attacking your blog with comments today! i somehow missed this post, but it is SO inspiring. i'm currently trying to learn how to sew, so i am just so inspired by your dresses! they are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Those look so spendy!! I'm so impressed, I wish I could still sew, I haven't in ages.

    savannah-joyofliving.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

Thankyou so much for reading my blog. Every comment means so much to me, and I treasure every single one. Come back soon <3