Recycling? Upcycling? Hmmm?

Back in the day when the dinosaurs roamed and people travelled in covered wagons, I shopped the thrift stores for fashions to revamp.  I was just out of college and there was a lot of 60's and 70's stuff (my favorite decades) to be had. Nowadays, I just troll them for good sweaters to harvest great yarns. Being a mom of 2 boys who wear the same size, I am left with a lot of these...

 

Normally, I would just bag 'em up and drop 'em off at Goodwill.  This time I thought I would do something different.  I could cut 'em up and make a patchwork picnic blanket.  Seriously though, who was I kidding. I don't do picnics, don't like sitting in the grass, I don't hike.  Yeah, that would not work.  So, I went stash diving and came up with this.

 

 

The pattern- Vogue 1036 

I've had it a could of years now and it was time to cut it up and give it a whirl.

 

First off, the pattern is broad shouldered and looks like it was designed to have shoulder pads (hello the 80's called and they want their pads back).  I had to take it in 2" to bring it to my real shoulders then, I pushed on.  I opened pant legs, and place pattern pieces on various washes.  I sewed, I topstitched,  I pressed, I hammered.  Finally the pay off!   Don dona don....



THE FRONT

 

I opted for a center front metal zipper instead of snaps. 

 A CLOSER LOOK

 

I'm not convinced that I like that light wash strip in the front or at the bottom hem.  I'm thinking of dyeing the whole jacket.  Still debating, though.

 

THE SLEEVES

 

My favorite part of the whole jacket  ; )

 

 



THE BACK 

 

Um, I like that I used the outseam of the jeans for the sleeves.

 

THE VERDICT: All in all, it was really a fun project.  I'm most proud of not using any new fabrics. Now, the jacket languishes in the closet till the fall.  I can see it now, a black turtleneck, plaid A-line skirt and black leather boots.  Ooooh, it can come fast enough!