• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Me

Mary's Thrifty Chic

Upcycling thrift shop clothing/sewing

  • Jackets
  • Blouses
  • Dresses
  • Skirts
  • Sweaters
  • T-shirts
  • Sewing
  • Refashioned Upcycled Clothing

Sweaters

Refashion Runway Allstars- Week 2 Metallic!

August 13, 2016 By Mary Peterson 16 Comments

Hi Everyone!

.

This is week 2 of Refashion Runway ALLSTARS! This week the challenge is METALLIC. SO, after you check out my entry, click here to VOTE FOR ME!!!!! Just scroll down through the entries and the voting app will be at the end.

.

Metallic? Thinking about this challenge, I needed to find something to incorporate this into my wardrobe without looking like a cheesy episode of “Lost in Space” (Dating myself here)or someone who had never left disco behind 🙂 It had to be simple, classic, and fit into my life. This sweater was a $3 Goodwill find and made of lurex yarn. It is a classic shape with a perfect fit, but VERY see through…Uhm no!. I had to jazz it up! When I saw it, I knew the plan immediately! I had an idea and rushed home to try it out. I actually finished this piece before the velvet challenge!!!

.

bferont

.

bb

.

I love the way this turned out. I am wearing it with a gold tank underneath here and paired it with some great heals and white jeans. This would be a fitting look for a party, cocktails with friends, or the holidays. I think if I were wearing it during a non-holiday, I would wear a white tank underneath to make it more casual.

IMG_5032

.

IMG_5022

.

IMG_5102

The plan was to use some off white cotton yarn from my stash and weave stripes into the body with a tapestry needle. The technique created a wonderful chevron pattern!

Screen Shot 2016-08-09 at 8.35.15 AM

.

Screen Shot 2016-08-09 at 8.35.24 AM

The hardest part of the entire project was making the stripes match and making a visually pleasing stripe pattern across the front and back of the body.

.

.

IMG_5103

.

IMG_5102

The under bodice was created from an old wrestling costume I made for one of the boys years ago for Halloween! Such memories this one gave me.

Screen Shot 2016-08-12 at 7.51.30 AM
Screen Shot 2016-08-12 at 7.51.40 AM

.

IMG_5032

I can’t wait to hear what you think!!! Please consider voting for me this week. click here to VOTE FOR ME!!!!!

See you soon and happy refashioning…

Love ya,

Mary

Filed Under: Sweaters Tagged With: refashion runway/gold

Basic Sweatshirt Re-imagined!

August 3, 2015 By Mary Peterson 24 Comments

Hi Everyone!

Have you ever wanted to “Do Something” with a basic sweatshirt? I have, because sweatshirts do nothing but make one look like a prison inmate! I wanted a sweatshirt with some shape and fashion.

Then I saw this sweatshirt version on Pinterest and the ideas started to come! So, I set out to see if I could recreate it!

Inspiration Picture:

My Result:

Here is my result!!!! In the future I will never be seen in the prison variety. You can be fashionable even with a basic sweatshirt!

Front
Back

Tutorial:

Here is what I started out with. It cost me a whopping $1.99. Definitely what one would call “Prison Chic.”

.

.

IMG_3303

Step 1) I took the basic sweatshirt and turned it inside out. I marked my design lines using pins

IMG_3314

.

I cut the yoke halfway and then doubled it over to cut the other side. I did the same thing with the front and back panels.

IMG_3317

.

IMG_3321

.

Step 2) I sewed the front and back panels to the yoke

IMG_3323

.

IMG_3324

.

Step 3) I created the side panels and cut them from the remaining fabric. I apologize that I lost the pics for this portion. Maybe I took them maybe I didn’t???

IMG_3395

.

IMG_3396

.

Step 4) After putting in the side panels I cut down the width of the sleeves. I tried to make a drop shoulder like the picture but couldn’t stand the bulk in the arm. I decided to make them a regular set in sleeve which took quite a few fittings.

IMG_3430

.

I used the first sleeve as a template for the other

IMG_3426

.

Step 5) I used the rib from the bottom of the original seatshirt as a facing for the side panels. Then I gace this area a 3 1/2″ double topstitch. The front and back panels got a 1″ double top stitched hem.

IMG_3683

.

IMG_3777

.

I am ready to rock with this one. Let me know what you think!!!!!

.

There you have it! Can’t wait to hear what you think!

Love Ya!

Mary, Thrifty Chic

Filed Under: Sweaters, sweatshirt Tagged With: gray

Tablecloth to Sweater and Coat Update!

July 1, 2015 By Mary Peterson 22 Comments

Hi Everyone!

.

I had a circular piece of a tablecloth left over from this prior project:

.

IMG_36142013-11-03 10.37.36

.

This is what came out of it!!!!

Front

IMG_3687

.

Side

IMG_3690

.

Back

IMG_3694

I swear I put that piece of crochet on the floor and over the dress form sooooo many times until the answer finally hit me! Here is how I did it!

Step 1) First I draped the circle over the form and determined where I wanted the armholes.

IMG_3619

.

This is how it looked while on the floor. I had to be sure the armholes were cut evenly

IMG_3614

.

Here is a picture of the cowl drape of the back neck.

IMG_3625

.

Here it is ready to crochet the edges!

IMG_3616

.

IMG_3684IMG_3627
IMG_3631

.

.

While it was on the form I crocheted around the neckline, armholes and all of the edges of the collar to create a finished look!

.

Add an antique button and crochet a loop and I was done!

IMG_3685

COAT UPDATE! I FOUND THE BLACK SLEEVES AFTER ALL!!! THEY DID NOT GET THROWN AWAY! MORE TO COME!

Let me know what you think!

’til next time

Love Ya!

Mary

Filed Under: Sweaters Tagged With: lace

Another Sweater Rehab and Coat Update!

April 5, 2015 By Mary Peterson 10 Comments

Hi Everyone!

.

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter Holiday/Break! Once again it has been far too long but I am still here! Today I bring you another quick sweater rehab and an update on my winter coat project. I know you all probably want to see it on me but my photographer has been a bit busy as of late (my son) and if I wait any longer to post you all will forget me. I will post a modeling update at another time.

.

Here you see the AFTER! A well loved sweater transformed into a new life! It may be difficult to see the but I have place large and small flat, faceted beads around the new neckline.

IMG_3238

.

Here you see the BEFORE! This sweater has been well loved and used but it is still in great condition. Not a pill or worn spot on it except…

IMG_3069

.

The neckline was getting stretched out and the top button hole was destroyed. I couldn’t get rid of my favorite leopard sweater. There had to be a solution!

IMG_3072

.

I had this neckline that I ripped off of another project. It was loaded with the flat faceted beads you see here. A perfect answer to make my new neckline sparkle! The first step was to release them from their old neckline.

IMG_3076

.

The second step was to create a new v-neck by pinning down the neckline in the front…

IMG_3073

.

and the back…

IMG_3075

.

The final step was to sew the beads around the front side of the neckline in a new pattern. I just stitched down the back neck as I didn’t think the beads would be comfortable around the back neck. I am in love with the end result!

IMG_3236

.

COAT UPDATE!

The addition of a third fabric is going to work. Here is the new direction I am going. As you can see there is a gusset in my future. Now that the side panels and pockets are ready to sew, the next step will be to work on the gussets and the sleeves. I will not lose them this time!!!

IMG_3223

Well, what do you think? You will all let me know I am sure!

‘Til Next time…

Love Ya!

Mary

Filed Under: Sweaters Tagged With: beaded neckline

Quick Sweater Rehab!

February 14, 2015 By Mary Peterson 8 Comments

Everyone!

.

It has been too long my friends! But alas! I am back!!! The following is my latest rehab, just a simple one. Both the sweater and the skirt were given to me by a friend. The skirt was a perfect new one, exactly my size! The sweater was a 2X however, and had to be cut down. For those of you following my coat project… part 4 is nearing completion…(not total completion, just part 4!) I know you must be wondering if it will be done before next Christmas! LOL! but wait, good things take time!

IMG_2911

.

The sweater in this picture was in perfect new condition but unfortunately was a 2X.

.

IMG_2861

.

I saw great potential as a good basic and the knit was a close tight one, thus easy to cut and sew!

IMG_2862

.

Step 1) Once again my sewing professors would shudder, but this is the “Thrifty Chic” talking. I just laid down a favorite t-Shirt and lined up the top of the sleeves and the neck.

.

IMG_2863

.

Step 2) I cut away the excess under the arms leaving a 1/2″ seam allowance under the arms.

.

IMG_2865

.

IMG_2866

.

Step 3) I pinned the underarms together and made a 1/2″ seam followed by a finish with my overlock machine!

IMG_2871

.

There you have it, another great classic to fill out my wardrobe!

IMG_2895

As always, I want to hear from you!

Love ya,

Mary

Filed Under: Sweaters Tagged With: Sweater refashion

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Get New Posts!

When I add a new post, you'll get a notice in your inbox!

Patterns at a Great Price!

Recent Comments

  • Mary Peterson on Men’s Stripe Shirt Refashion
  • Jean Aiko Gee on Men’s Stripe Shirt Refashion
  • Mary Peterson on Upcycled Maxi, T-shirt & Micro Crochet
  • Mary Peterson on Upcycled Maxi, T-shirt & Micro Crochet
  • Janene on Upcycled Maxi, T-shirt & Micro Crochet

The Renegade Seamstress

the-refashion-handbook

Copyright © 2026 · MarysThriftyChic.com | Privacy