Video-Use a shirt to make a pillow

Up-cycling is different from Re-cycling.  Recycle means to collect, sort, and process unwanted  items and waste.  Upcycling means taking what you already have and creating something useful.  You can read about our landfills, climate change, environment, and so on if you are interested in why we should upcycle.

Meanwhile, I'll do my part...it's fun!




Make a pillow from Hot Shot Polka Dot on Vimeo.

Flower girl dress

I had so much linen fabric...I decided to make flower girl dresses (or soft summer dress). It is a creamy white. I added linen hankies as the hem of this dress.

This dress is made of  100% cotton that looks like a polished muslin.  The dress can be worn with the bow in the front or back.  The color is an off white and would be perfect for a rustic or beach wedding. I added a shabby chic flower in the third picture.

Christmas wreath

Christmas gifts!  I used greenery from my yard and added a fabric letter and a bow.  I'll add a Spring wreath picture soon!

My sweet Brooklynn

Brooklynn was so tiny (5 lbs, 9oz) that I had to use an American Girl doll pattern for her top.  

A little blurry...she was in motion!

Upcycling

Recycling shirts is my favorite way to sew...it is economical, shirt fabric is usually of excellent quality, and the buttons and holes are already there.  However, I want people to be surprised that the finished product was a shirt rather than "Oh, that was a shirt, wasn't it".

For example, I made the three bathing suits out of an Ralph Lauren Searsucker shirt.

Bathing suits for my 3 little cuties.

Miss Maddi

or

The Gap shirt is now a romper with a hand painted applique.

 

or the Hollister shirt is now little overalls

 

My first video

Here's a video for my non-sewing friends.

Sewing on a button from Hot Shot Polka Dot on Vimeo.

 Wow! Loading a video is more complicated than I expected!  Filming was easy.  The lighting was surprisingly good.  My voice was normal.  Next time I will turn my camera horizontally....DUH!!!!!

American Girl Doll clothes and shoes

I absolutely love to sew American Girl Doll clothes and shoes.  My sibling outfits sold for $40.00, but I would love to offer my friends this same item...just email me at hotshotpolkadot@gmail.com if you are interested.  My future plans are to open a PayPal shopping cart on my blog.

Seven items are included 2 shirts, the gown, a skirt, shoes, and 2 hair accessories.

Free Pattern

I usually like to make my own patterns but I couldn't resist this free! pattern that I found on Craftsy. It is called the Izzy Top. I lengthened it 2 inches to make little dresses for Maddi and Brooklynn. It only took 1 hour and 30 minutes to make one dress.

I like the tab on the back

Basic lessons

I've been asked by hundreds well...maybe 5 people..."could you teach me how to sew?" Sure! Make a request.  Most of the request are JUST basic sewing projects such as hemming, sewing on buttons, repairing seams.  Basic instruction seems to be a good place to start.   I will prepare online videos and/or photos and I plan to offer sewing classes for local people.

1980?

Anyone have one of these little toy sewing machines?