Sometimes I end up creating the coolest things out of mistakes… I had originally envisioned creating a simple drapey jacket like the one pictured below.
However- after cutting a bit too much length off of the back and using it to create a collar that looked not at all like what I was going for, I was a bit disappointed and about to just throw the whole project out. Somehow, after trying the thing on a hundred times and staring and pinching and pinning and thinking- I got the idea to create a kimono sleeve- and then the rest just unfolded naturally. I’m really happy with the final product. I would consider this something for a medium skill level- but if you take out the troubleshooting time- it’s a pretty simple project that’s perfect for Holiday hangouts.
Smells Like Teen Spirit (and thrifted flannel)
I started out with two flannel XL in coordinating colors. One was cotton- the other was the real deal. Step one was to cut ‘er up. I cut off the bottom at and angle so I could use it to create a collar. I then removed the cuffs and collar…
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Next, I folded the collar fabric I had cut out in half and cut out a lining out of the bottom of the other shirt…I then stitched together the straight portion, leaving the curved section pinned but unsewnUnderstitching and ironing is important for it to lay right 🙂I cut it down as well (after pinning it down and realizing I didn’t like it) In order to create a square collar that sticks out.I pinned it down, with the dark flannel side facing in to the wrong side of the flannel. I sewed this, finished the seem and sewed it down again so it would look clean should I decide to flip up the collar…Once this was done- I cut the bottom front at a diagonal so it would have a better look… (the bottom edges were all ironed under once and then hemmed using a zig zag stitch)Next I cut off an addition 3 inches from the sleeve and seem ripped it up a couple of inchesusing extra sleeve fabric from the other shirt- I created kimono sleeves. I sewed these onto the dark green flannel and then closed the seem back up using just a clean diagonal line (I tried the square angle kimono thing but it looked terrible- lol)To create a more fitted look I put darts in the backI also created darts in the front (if you don’t have a bodice- you can just pin it while it’s on you) by pulling the fabric and making a fold. I then pinned the armpit seem to the back and pinned. all of these days were seem on top of the garment with a 1-2 inch straight stitch.
All I had to do after this was iron under the kimono leaves and sew down to hem. Definitely a lot of tweaking and fitting for this one- but if you are a mid level sewer- it’s quite easy to do 🙂 I loofa how this thrifted flannel makeover turned out!
365daysofthrift 
Creative in the highest sense of the word.
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