Weekend Project: Give Life to Home Cabbage

Since there is no too much lace cotton in my wardrobe, here's how I gave a quick transformation of my 3 "unwanted" clothing pieces.

I own quite a few pieces of Cotton garments, very durable and relatively environmental friendly as a natural fiber fabric. A great breathable, heat friendly material, ideal for making summer pieces of all time.

They are old pieces that I would probably never wear again, rather than donate them, I transform these pieces into new summer piece with my lace trimming stock from my previous making (because I admire their lace fabric so much!).

In previous making, I used 100% thin cotton and embroidery lace with historical referenced lace insertion method.

This time, lace fabrication transformed from trimmings to lace pattern fabric, embroidered lace fabric. Lace has a long long history since 1600s and knowledge left behind regarding lace construction, read more here. (Look at how nice is the technique shown needle lace and bobbin lace! Master piece indeed!)

Some days in the future, I wish I can handmade my own lace...

Let’s explore my making from the very start!

From Left to Right: long cotton lace dress/powder yellow mini dress/lace tank top

First step, removing unnecessary elements.

I cut the elastic band and ruffles trimmings and extra embroidery on sleeves, because I was going for a neat and flat surface, all the add-on elements will be flat sew later.

Second step, remeasure and reconstruct.

Dropped the neckline, shorten the hem and added extra lace on fabric.

Hand tack lace on fabric to secure for lace insertion

Left: Hand tack lace on fabric to secure for marking new neck line and waist line (original: powder yellow mini dress)

Right: Hand tack lace on fabric to secure for lace insertion

(original: long cotton lace dress)

Left: cut body fabric on the wrong side after sewn on lace

Right: machine stitch to open and secure the hem on the wrong side, leave edges raw as fabric not easy to fray

(original: long cotton lace dress)

One of the way to #memadewardrobe is reusing material from my own clothes, transforming old clothing to new one, give old clothes another life with less waste.

Right: final outcome of the add-on insertion lace on dress bottom

(original: long cotton lace dress)

Left: wide scope neck line and bust line added to change from mini dress to volume flare top (behind)

original tank top is top half body is cut and added lace straps to transform into cami top (front)

Tried a new attempt of #memadewardrobe. Good side is that the reconstruction of clothing is rather relaxing process, because I have kept the cut of the clothes by adding some minor twist.

Down side is the choice of remake pieces are really selective, the fabric has to be durable. I like to see with stable fabric, such as cotton/ linen/ wool because it is easy to sew and handle.

Summer is approaching, more making of projects are planned, can’t wait to share more! I always wanted to share me wearing it, but I need to find a good weather day and nice place for shooting first. It is getting hot now, sunny day will be good for photos. Stay tuned.

SUET xx

FIND ME ON

instagram @suetbysuet

twitter @suetsuet20

goodreads SUET