2023:REPAIRS & REUSE

January 12 

So I bought this red & black checkered plaid polar fleece top  at Old Navy maybe 2 years ago on sale! It has always been uncomfortable with the zipper  catching at my neck- big brass zipper. AND for some reason I bought a Large not extra large. I layer things.I remember standing there and thinking I should have crossed the aisle to Mens. It is next to impossible to pull off over my head. LOL So I was ready to turn it into a seat warmer after wearing it to bed for a few nights. This morning decided to remove the zipper. Started out with the stitch ripper then got out the heavy duty scissors and went to  town.

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January 15

it was still too tight and uncomfortable so I will try to make a cut out hat or two with the body. The sleeves would make good draft dodgers for windows. we will see.Did not work as a draft dodger. I ended up duct taping the seams of the front windows and THAT works. I am thinking when I feel like it I will make a hat with this and hope I can use the hemmed edge as a brim- we will see,

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March 8

This sweater has seen better days but still useful in layering. I have stitched up the front and cut sleeves off a little above the elbow. Now to make it more comfortable I cut off the buttons!

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March 22

2 henley shirts that were uncomfortable so cut off buttons and save material for rags

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April 18

Heard the other day that a sign of a man growing old is him rolling the cuffs up of his pants. I looked down at mine and had rolled them. Does that mean I am a guy? or getting old. or what? LOL BUT Before the reporting of the gas leak I was ready to go below and clean off the glass table tops and fill another bird bath. I looked at my unraveling cuffs and decided it was time to cut those suckers. So win win- no hanging cuffs and I had two rags to use to clean table tops and did not use massive quantities of paper towels.

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 March 28

cut off sleeves- hope to make a hat 

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May 24

was able to make 2 hats! Polar fleece is a bitch to sew on a small machine though

Good enough

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June 25

Laundry day and ironing what I could. Putting away jeans and rotating stuff I finally decided to do something about the Canyon River Blues jeans I keep rotating and not wearing. They are huge now on me. Bought them at Sears around 2005-6. They were the only pair that almost fit right. But fine I usually layered with tights, long underwear etc so it filled up space. But the waist was almost like hip huggers.

So decided to turn them into cut off jeans. Not Daisy Dukes as that would be a sight on 75 year old legs. I rolled the cuffs.

Wearing them today those cuffs are uncomfortable. So...

I stitch ripped the seams I had taken in twice already. Was thinking of making them a skirt- but too much work. So will trim more off of length and fringe a bit. after a few washings they will self fringe and likely be too short and disappear into the trash someday. What I at first cut off is perfect for an iron rest so I will no longer scorch the ironing board cover.

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June 26 re do- ripped out seams from when I made them narrower, using a stitch ripper

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September 12

So yesterday I had planned on cleaning up my photo files a long process. I looked at my dresses drying on a rack by the window and thought- I better alter those. SO! 3 hours later 4 dresses shortened. I have one of them to finish off today. Now I have 5 inch wide material of different patterns all at least 36 inches long- waiting for inspiration. Window dressing? Lightweight quilt? or yard stick covers? :)

During all of this  I was sewing with an empty spool and did not realize it until half a hem was done. and on one pink dress I "caught" the hem on the dress. I did not rip out stitches but cut it away. who's to see it!? small hole.

oh and note to self- never use zigzag stitch- it was task stitch ripping that out.

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