How to Refashion a Night Gown into PJ's

How to Make This  Tank and Shorts Set From a Night Gown

Want to make this cute little PJ set?  Sure you do, because it it super easy and I am going to show you how.  Step by step with huge photos.  SO you hardly have to do anything, just scroll down this little blog page, look at the pretty pictures(well the color is actually really bad) and absorb all the info into your huge crafter brain.  Then grab an old OR thrifted night gown and CHOP IT UP!

So I made it out of a cute little night gown I got at the Goodwill.  I was excited at first when I found it because it was new and very soft.  The brand is "simply vera vera wang".   So I thought it was some expensive brand. I swooped it up for a few bucks not sure what I was going to do with it.  Now since I felt like a Kardashian, owning some Vera and all, I looked it up on line to see where this little number came from.  Well friends let me tell you, Khols was not what I was expecting.

Moving on from that embarrassing moment...  I am not really a night gown gal.  However I am TOTALLY a tank and short set gal.  So I figured why not fix it up so it is more my style? I know that is what Vera would have wanted.

Ok lets get started.

Step 1 Get your Supplies 
The first thing you need to do is get your supplies toghter and it is likely that you have them all at home right now... so what are you waiting for?  Oh yeah, the directions.
You will need a
1) Nightey
2) Waist band from old yoga pants
3) Basic sewing supplies
*TIP The fabric that I used on this project did not need to be "finished" to keep from unraveling and/or fraying.  I used a cotton with a little spandex(T-shirt type fabric).   My tutorial is for this type of fabric.  If you want to work with something else then you will need to finish the edges in a different way than I did as well as leaving a seam allowance to hem the bottom of the tank
Step 2 Measure

The way that I like to measure this type of project is very easy and it works on all types of sewing and refashioning projects.  This is another example of how I used this same way to measure a refashion. Since I want to make this gown into a tank top and short set, I used a tank top and pair of shorts I own that fit in a way that I like.

To take the measurements place the top and bottom(that fit) on top of the gown. Another example

Step 3 Pin and Chalk
With your sewing pins and chalk mark in between your top and shorts where you want to make your cut

Step 4 Make your cut
Cut along the chalk line(its hard to see in this photo)

After you make the cut you will have a "top" piece and a "bottom" piece that looks like a skirt.  I am leaving my top as is(with out hemming it); so the top is done!  Now I only need to make the bottom portion into shorts rather than a scarp of fabric.

Step 6 Get a new waist band
I used a waist band of some old yoga pants.  So I just chopped the waist band of the old yoga pants. Make sure to save the pants for a future refashion.

Step 7 Pin and Stitch
Pin the new waist band, to the bottom portion of the gown.  (The part that dose not look like a tank top)  The bottom piece was(and should be) much wider then the new waist band so I pinned folds into it that will give a slight gathered or pleated look.

I wanted to leave raw edges on the waist band because I love that look and how that fabric will curl up when left this way.  To do this I pinned the gown fabric on top of the waist band fabric, right sides down.

You could fold it under to give a clean finished look, if you like that look more.

After its all pined then stitch with a zig-zag stitch with your machine or by hand if you must,(YUCK)

This is how it will look after the waistband is stitched to the bottom section of the gown. To give the raw edges that "curled" look, just pull on the fabric to stretch it for a few seconds and it will curl under on its own. I did not stitch too close to the edge so that some of the fabric will curl under.  If I would have stitched right along the bottom then stitching would be viable and not curl up like it did.

Step 8 Make Shorts
Ok this is how you make the skirt into shorts.  Fold the skirt in half and make a cut down the center.  I had a section of silk fabric and decided to make my short legs as long as the silk.  You will have to do what is best for your size. Then unfold and you will have a skirt with a slit down the center.

Then pin and stitch the legs shut to create the shorts.

TA-DA! this is how mine looked.  I just LOVE how they turned out!  I folded the yoga waist band down, but it can be worn up as well.

*NOTE You can see where I pressed the fabric before I stitched it and how that created slight pleats in my new shorts.  It also made the fabric color look funny, but that will go away after I wash the shorts.

The whole set is so cute.  I am very happy with how this refashion worked out,  I have already worn it a few times.

So are you going to try and make this? let me know if you do I would love to see pictures of how your night night set worked out.  Thank you so much for looking at my Refashion today.  I would love to know what you think.

Why I love Labor Day!

Well friends and readers who are yet to become my new friends I probably don't need to tell you that it is Labor day  ...Again.  I am sure that a lot of you have a yearly ritual you do each year for this 3 day weekend.  I bet it's something fun and summery.  I imagine that you do something along the lines of taking your boat out on the water or going camping at a fabulous place with your family or best girl friends.

I also have an amazing annual ritual I look forward to each Labor Day.  I love my annual ritual so much that I actually feel happy inside just typing this out.  Why is it so wonderful?  Well I am about to tell you... just in case you don't know.  Around theses parts also know as the Divide.  Labor Day is also 50% off day at the thrift stores!

I LOVE THRIFTING! This is my thrifing Haul, I spent about $55.00! Not much for what I got, would you concur? 

I got some short dresses

I LOVE the the little metal things happening on the blue dress. What do you think?  I agree that its too much for a dress... I am going to need to refashion. That is why I used this image for my art at the top of my blog post. 

I got some long dresses too.  The black one is some fancy brand... I will be chopping it up

I got some tank tops too!  The yellow one is made by Guess, it is too small so I need to work on that.  I think the orange one is my very favorite and I am sure I will be leaving it and wearing it(out) just how it is. I actually HATE the purple one because it is made by Old Navy and I don't like them.  I didn't look till I got home, but I am sure it will make a lovely refashion. :)

Guess tops are always such nice fabric 

I would say these are my faves.  The dress fits me really well and the top is just a perfect casual top.  It has sleeves that button so I can wear it up or down.

I got some jeans! They are kinda mom jeans or more totally mom jeans but I need them now to hold my post baby belly nasty stretchmarks weirdness in, that no on warned me about by the way.

That is not it but I got tired of taking pictures and your probably tired of looking so I just stacked it all up and took this photo! This pile has some really great stuff in it too! It has a weird Liz Claiborne sweater, a Banana Republic shirt that I totally love and some fun weird wood things. Also some plain T-shirts that I will be dismantling very soon.

So that's about it friends now you know what I do every Labor Day here on the Divide.  I load up on a bunch of stuff that I will be refashioning through out the rest of the year.  I am sure you will see many of these items again in DIY posts to come.

Thanks for reading, I would love to know how your Labor Day was!

Kasey

Easy DIY Button Bracelet Tutorial

Make This Easy Accessories with BUTTONS!

Button Charm Bracelet Tutorial

A little back ground info on this button bracelet tutorial

if you want to skip my "intro" and get  on with the tutorial  skip down to Step 1

I have always loved everything about buttons.  I find each and every one to be very special. Every button has a unique tale to tell. Like the one I have from Grandpas WWII Navy Peacoat, if it could talk...  I remember the day my Grandma gave it to me. Or  how about the one I have from my High School cheerleading uniform, I had some good times in that button.  New buttons are just as special, like the start of a new book. Their story is yet to unfold but is sure to be an amazing one.

So when I had the opportunity to shop at Lots of Buttons in Exchange for a craft tutorial.   Well I don't have to tell you how excited I was, I am sure you can guess.  I owe this opportunity to Totally Tutorials! You can find more details about the exchange program here

What will I be making with the buttons I got with my gift certificate?   

Well one of my favorite things to make is accessories!  So I am going to show you how to make multiple types of accessories with... you guessed it, buttons!  When I saw the button selection the first thing that came to mind was a charm bracelet.  They are so easy to make, and look absolutely stunning when finished.  So let's get going with the first tutorial!

This bracelet will look a little different from every angle because of how the buttons lay.

Step 1 Gather The Materials  For this project you need

(and your jewelry pliers) 

1. Buttons These are the ones I used

   

I recommend using buttons with a "shank" backing.  They are easy to use and give a  finished look.

2. Jump Rings

*Tip

* A good option is to get a pack with multiple size jump rings.This helps since the button shanks are all different sizes.
*oval jump rings will help the buttons lay flat, but are not necessary.

3. Chain with Clasp

*Tip 

*The "charm bracelet chain" like the one in my inspiration photo is a good option.  

* Different chains will produce a diffident look. Bigger chain works best with bigger buttons, while the smaller chains work best with the smaller buttons.

 4. Jewelry Pliers

*tip Using two pairs helps attach the jump rings in an easier way.

Step 2 Arrange You Buttons You will see what looks best

My button "rough draft"

Place your buttons along the length of your chain. This helps you visualize what order you want to attach the buttons to the chain.  Keep in mind that once you do attach the buttons they will hang a bit differently, do to the movement provided by the jump rings.Think of this step as a "rough draft" . 

*tip

Don't spend a lot of your time on this step, because no matter how you attach the buttons they will look amazing.  That is the beauty of this project it looks great no matter what, you can't mess it up

Step 3 Attach Buttons Now this project will come to life!

Attach the buttons to your chain with the jump rings.  Sometimes after adding a few buttons, you might want to move one and try it in a new spot.  This technique works well to produce the perfect look. *Tip If  you do move a button, remember that jump rings will start to loose their integrity the more times they are opened and closed.  So when you find the perfect location for your button make sure to use a new jump ring.

Guess what?

 That is it, you are done with this fun accessory!

The left side

That is all it takes to make this gorgeous Button Charm bracelet!

Just look how beautiful it looks from this angle!

The right side

Then some how it looks just as amazing form this angle!  

What I love most about this, its how good it looks and how easy it is to make!

Oh I almost for got... One last step

Try it on and admire your amazing work

Thank you for looking at my tutorial today.  I hope you will give this bracelet a try. If you do Please show me how yours turns out!  I would love to add your photo to my blog.

 It was fun and easy to make and I think you will agree that it is a  stunning piece to have in your collection   ENJOY!

Kasey

lots of buttons.... Got em!

Wanna see, I know I was excited too

I just received my buttons from Lots of Buttons 

I applied for this fantastic exchange program organized by Totally Tutorials. I got a gift certificate from Lots of Buttons in return I will be creating and sharing a fab tutorial.  I just received my buttons! And let me tell you I am excited!  They are AMAZING!  You should be excited as well, why? Because all this means a Fab button tutorial is on its way.  The project deadline is tomorrow... I don't know how I am going to do it.  I will not let any one down though.  

This is how it looked when I first got it! Exciting, right? From over seas!  I feel special.

When I opened the package I found another package!  A cute little white envelope that had the LOTS OF BUTTONS logo on it.  I don't know about you but I just love when companies take the time to add cute packaging.  It makes people like me, who love  receiving things, feel that much more EXCITED.  This second envelope was very puffy... I knew that meant it was full of... you guessed it. BUTTONS! 

This is what I got!  

 I made it a little hard for you to see them all, so you will have to tune in tomorrow for the final project reveal if you want to see everything I got!

OK then I am off to bed for some beauty rest so I can craft away during nap time tomorrow.

Kasey

A Minute In My Life Monday

A Day in my Life? How About a Minute?

I am standing about 8 inches away from my very large TV. Why so close? This is the only way I can even partially hear it. I have been trying to catch the end of this movie for a few days now. The baby is slamming his toy on the windowsill while he screams as loud as he can some random baby babble. As for the dogs, well they are running in circles barking at the air like fools, this is pretty normal. I am using my new gift that came with motherhood and tuning all this noise out in hopes of being able to listen to the last minute of this movie. A movie that I have already re-wound a number of times in the past half hour alone.

While standing there trying to watch the end of this movie, I realize that this is probably the only moment in the day, if not the week, that I will not be holding my baby. So I take advantage of the few seconds I have and pull out my pony tail holder and let my hair down. I try to finger comb out the gigantic knot that has developed in my hair. Keep in mind my hair is still falling out in huge globs since giving birth. Finger combing is not putting much of a dent in the gigantic  knot. I started thinking about how I got this nasty knot in my hair... again this year. Something that has been occurring ever since having the little man.

Yesterday when the baby was in my arms, naked he had a number two type of accident. So the two of us jumped into the shower. I was so concerned with getting us sanitized that I forgot to remove my pony tail and wash my hair. Then when we got out of the shower I realized we only had one clean towel! DAMN IT! I thought as I dried the baby with the only towel. I whipped my hair into a bun while I dripped dried. I pulled my clothes on to my wet body holding a squirming baby. Simultaneously yelling at his Dad “stop that damn drumming, you need to watch this baby so I can start some laundry”. Obviously someone needed to start a load of towels and baby Daddy had told me his hands will fall off if he has to do this.

DAMN IT AGAIN! I totally lose track of the movie, again while I was thinking back on how I got this stupid knot in my hair. So as I try to bang the battery section on the back of the remote; so I can rewind. I notices a big wad of hair accumulating in my hands from my finger combing. Deciding that I was getting know where fast with that and opted to put my hair back up. Something other than the TV caught my eye. Shocking as I was standing right in front of a HUGE TV. You see we live on the side of a mountain and have a wall that is all windows; I guess the idea with that is so you can always have a great view of the mountains. But that is not what caught my eye. It was my extremely handsome man who was outside the wall of windows. Well actually his arms are what caught my eye, he was loading his drums into his truck, I guess this takes some muscle flexing. Just as I was admiring him and thinking about all my love for him. The TV quickly tuned out and the sounds of the dogs barking and the baby yelling all came rushing back to me. They were loud, so loud that I can’t believe I had them tuned out. I realized that the baby was yelling DAAADY!. Ahhh, now I know why they were all being so loud. They were all trying to get Daddy’s attention through the window. I noticed he was oblivious to the family trying to get his attention from inside the house. I picked up the baby and noticed the TV… the credits were playing.
DAMN IT!