Western theme for Sew Weekly

Last week for sew weekly we were to make a western theme look. Now I don't ever wear western look and my hubbie really dislikes and prairie look, so this presented a problem. I didn't want to spend a great deal of time or money on this project, but no one wants to post a shabby creation either.

I was thinking denim skirt, but I have several cute denim skirts in my closet now and that too seemed wasteful. Suddenly I remembered a denim skirt I had in my "refashion" stash that I had gone through lately when straightening up the sewing room. (It has to be done occasionally!)

I purchased this skirt at Walmart one year when long denim skirt looks were in. It was on a sale rack for $5 and it was my usual size so of course I didn't try it on and through it in my cart. Well, it was about 4 inches too wide and came below my shins. With my short little legs, it looked like a gunny sack. I threw it in my refashion bin and it has lingered there for 5 years.

When looking for inspiration for a western look, I was browsing an online store called Crows Nest, which really did have some nice western, southwestern and boho looks. I had seen a skirt called "rock and roll", which had a jeans skirt top and a black net ruffly long skirt attached to the bottom. Hum, I say, maybe I could finally use that jean skirt.

I measured below my hips and cut off the bottom of the offending length. Then I took the side seams in for a snug fit in the waist and hips. I had some challis fabric I had purchased from Fabric.com $1.95 bin with these bright, lovely colors of the Sedona desert that I thought might do nicely.
I cut three 7" strips of the challis, each a half measurement longer than the previous. I hemmed the tops of the strips with a 1/4" hem, placed a gathering stitch, and fitted them in succession to the jean skirt top. I call it my Sedona  Sunset Western-prairie skirt.

                                          Original skirt (after I had sliced off bottom and taken in top)

                                                    styled with white T and vest.



 

Rear view. (Sarah, one of my canine companions) is helping me. I should be using that hoe in the garden instead of as a prop!

Could also be worn with long in any of the colors in the skirt for a straight prairie look. This could be styled with a turquoise trimmed belt. (or a nicer top than this $5 Walmart special!)














Well, that was my effort for Sew Weekly this week. Maybe not the most expert technically, but I am proud of my refashion. We throw so many clothes away in this country and waste so much money on clothes we never wear. I try to re-purpose as much as possible and this can include jackets into vests, sheets into dresses and of course T-shirts can become so many things. Check out Megan Nicolay's book Generation T for many ideas for T's.
These projects require minimal sewing skills and are a great crafting activity you can do with kids.


This week I also worked on this dress.
I also am almost  finished with my polka dot mania dress. You don't know, but I have been nuts over polka dots this summer and my hubbie is not a polka dot fan. He can't get excited or even understand my dottie craziness. I will post all my pics when I am done with my latest dot obsession, but here is an preview. What do you think?



Have a blessed week and get coloring your world!