Sew: a needle pulling thread
I realize it’s been a couple of months since I had something to say to the internet. I have been busy entertaining two small children, trying to enjoy my favorite time of year, and managing some personal stress. It feels like all of those motions are ebbing now and I have a moment to look up and share something creative with all of you.
Earlier this summer I found a treasure trove of free textiles on the side of the road, including a collection of small, but charming quilts, a couple of nice bedspreads, and a handful of other odds and ends. It got me thinking about making clothes. I’ve wanted to repurpose a quilt to make a jacket/chore coat for a while now (none of these freebies would be big enough, but someday!). And then there’s this pinafore dress idea using old table cloths or bedspreads...
It’s too good of a bedspread! Look at the beautiful appliqué!
But I needed to start with something super easy and quick to make. I needed to scratch that creative itch before getting bogged down with self doubt and before the summer slipped away from me! So I set out to make a wrap skirt based on one that I’ve had for years. Seriously, I think I bought the original in high school. It survived the Peace Corps in Senegal and is still something I wear often enough to warrant a duplicate. I didn’t want to worry about messing up any precious fabric so I pieced together some scraps of an old bedspread (bought around the same era as the wrap skirt). I actually used the center of it to replace the backing of an old quilt a while ago, but I still had the perimeter to work with.
Replacing the old quilt back, old skirt as template, new one taking shape
It was about as quick and easy of a project as I could have hoped for. I’m so glad I just jumped into it, not too much planning or thinking involved. Sometimes you just have to DO. Just pull that thread with that needle (or sewing machine as the case may be). It’s usually worth it one way or another. This skirt is not perfect, but it was certainly satisfying to make. I love that I got to use a fabric that has been with me for a long time and that I still like a lot! The repurposing is as gratifying as the making. I still have a bit of the fabric left and wasn’t sure what to do with it other than return it to the scrap collection. However, a friend and I have been communicating about cloth napkins these last couple of days (she gets me 😉) and now I think I might have to see if I can get one or two out of these remnants!
What about you? Have you ever made clothing from repurposed material? Does she use drapes in the movie? 🤔 What should I do with the little quilts I found on the roadside?!
