I Upcycled My Upcycle!

I made this skirt from men’s shirts but I wasn’t quite happy with it, so I upcycled my upcycle by adding a pair of shorts into the mix and now I love it!
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#sustainablefashion #Upcycling #DIYFashion
Music: Across the Ocean by JR Tundra from the KZbin Audio Library
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Until next time, take care!
~Catherine
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[@TodayinJensSewingRoom]

I have to say - if I didn't see you being so brave to cut and hack and piece on a regular basis, I'd never have made my most recent dress. I don't give up easily but gathers - what a hassle! I even cut into a first tier down after the dress was done just to put in some pockets, no side seams, pieced all over the place, but it worked! Thank you for the inspiration as always - but also for inspiring the courage to hack and slash and make it your own!

[@abaigealduda2756]

The newer version definitely fits you better. I'm not the person who would know why, but I can see that it is more flattering. Thank you for making a little error now and then, and for sharing it with us. For one of my first projects, about 30 years ago, I took on a dress that was way too advanced in the wake of taking one, 8-week adult education sewing course (where I also missed the "shoulders and zipper" week due to my work schedule). I think I was diligent at adjusting the pattern before cutting, but I was a mess when assembling, and I sewed pieces in reverse, etc. I thought I was a failure. I didn't realize what an amazing skill sewing is, and how much time it takes to develop that skill. I think the KZbin world really reflects an ethos where people don't necessarily want to try to master a skill from perfected presentations (like the aspirational Martha Stewart recipes and projects of my early adulthood), but want to learn "with" someone who is incredible at his/her craft and also "real." Thank you for your approach as our teacher, but also as a fellow person just trying and exploring and enjoying the process as well as the results.

[@laurajones4088]

I did like the original version of the skirt, but now I love it! Retaining the back pockets of the shorts added an interesting detail, too. Catherine, thanks for a great upcycled upcycle.

[@therian_forever12]

Love how you let us in on all your thought processes. It's really helpful. Love that you include all mistakes too.

[@cassieoz1702]

The original skirt has a gathered/poofy waistline (not as flattering for some if us who dont have a noticeably narrower waiste 😉) but the shorts create a smoother/fitted look. Well done

[@NewsfromtheGrove]

Yep that's better. So much more flattering on you! I think the pockets look great on the back! thank you again for showing us how to get there from there!! LOL!😄

[@kristinjacobsen3417]

Would have not known to cut the bottom of the shorts in that curve. Thank you

[@rketek]

Good job on this second try! The original version was loose around your hips and you always like your clothes to have a tidy or tailored aspect to them.

[@susanhemion2981]

Love the newer version of the skirt. Very cute on you

[@elizabethfletcher3530]

Fabulous! I love the pockets.

[@masuahkokro8957]

When you drew a line on the back pockets, I was like no Catherine please do not spoil the project. You did a great job

[@lorrainedempsey3320]

I would be so afraid to recycle, the recycled skirt again. But, I have to say, that, the skirt turned out so beautiful ❤️❤️❤️

[@kellyritter7521]

I've been sewing for decades, but I always learn something from your videos! Thanks!

[@linkay6]

I love the skirt with the shirts top. I would never have thought of that. I appreciate that you included the things that went wrong so we can be aware in case we run into similar situations. Thanks for your videos!

[@Seejaysew]

A great lesson in perseverance! The top of skirt in denim makes a huge difference. Think I’m going to have to go through my denim stash and copy you! Thanks for the inspiration.

[@llamasugar5478]

Oh, my goodness! I just had a _eureka!_ moment.💡 I have a pair of overalls that I just can’t get to fit properly in the legs; they have been a source of frustration for a year. I’m just going to cut those pesky legs off and make an overalls skirt! I even have some men’s shirts that will go perfectly with the denim color. TY, TY, TYFS this great project!!

[@belieftransformation]

Great makeover that looks terrific on you! 🤗🇨🇦

[@susanskidmore9516]

You are so much fun! I love this creative video and the skirt looks spectacular on you.

[@loisgehman949]

I’ve been trying to up cycle some of my clothes and this tutorial has inspired me to go back to a couple of the ones that I wasn’t happy about… THANK YOU!!!

[@karens1967]

Thanks Catherine. My Babylock Quilter's Professional is in for a tune up. So this is the weekend I finally learn how to use my serger 🎉

[@lucilledaub5991]

I love your sewing skills.I like the skirt without the pockets to a point.

[@normacooper6377]

Yes, you totally upgraded your skirt🙌 You gained some useful pockets, too. 😊

[@georgiacorey954]

I love the denim top. I need to make one too. I love pockets too, more the better, so I don't have to worry where my wallet & phone are. I always cringe every time I see someone cut thru or cut off a pocket, lol. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@amandajenn-h3o]

You look great Catherine….another success for you & great tutorial for us …..love love love your videos 🤗💝

[@karenwilliams4152]

You look Great in your new skirt!!🎉

[@christinegraham2579]

I learn so much more just watching your wonderful videos. Thank for sharing your knowledge with us all! 💖💖💖 I hope you enjoyed your lunch with your friend!

[@katieduffy593]

Cool skirt Catherine!

[@egreen9841]

LOVE the fun back pockets details!!!! Glad you love this new iteration of the skirt, I think it's great 😊

[@dominiqueguigon8851]

J’adore cette transformation ! C’est très joli et c’est plus fun.😘👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@ArlenePMCM]

I love them both but the denim top and extra bottom do win the day! I'm gonna try that for fall/winter with my unwanted corduroy "jeans".

[@PatriotCoder]

Looks fabulous! I think I would stitch the button plackets closed.

[@therewillbecatswithgwenhwyfar]

It's so wonderful now!

[@lobodo988]

Really nice improvement! Waist-to-hip location always looks so good skimming the body instead of gathered waists that floof out &deny the important definition. Hip definition is almost always pretty as opposed to the thighs, lol, which can look lumpy on some of us. (Not yours though! Yours are good. Hope I’m not being too overly personal). Very pretty skirt, esp the back pockets!

[@theresastricklin7397]

Catherine, thank you! I’ve had a serger for many years. But I definitely need to learn to use it more. I’m in the middle of lining a sundress that needs gathering. Now I’m going to use my serger to help me do that ! I learn something from on every video!

[@lorrainedempsey3320]

WOW!!! GREAT SKIRT!!!. I want one just like it. ❤

[@janethickett9423]

You are such an inspiration to enable me to hack and recycle clothing. Love this new version ❤

[@CreativityFromBlueberryH-wo3gu]

Great remake!

[@saseim1]

I love that! A great improvement! 💗

[@carolcarter865]

Love the up cycle. So creative

[@lizz7162]

It looks gorgeous.. well done from South Africa

[@barbarawarner4645]

Love the newest version or your skirt!

[@jamieomahen2656]

I love this!!! Thanks for showing the method! Makes it so easy for us to follow.

[@anitabrock6858]

Your skirt turned out awesome! You have inspired me to try this.

[@debbie845]

So much better and it looks great on you!

[@tracyfrost]

Wow that’s much better

[@reppeplucw]

Thanks, Catherine -- this is great. Suggestion for some future video: how to make a reversible vest or top. Or just a lined vest or top with all seems enclosed. I've done this before, but it was cumbersome and I'm sure you have a way to do it more simply and efficiently. Love your videos. Thanks for all you share!

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

Oh I do love it too! The skirt looks so much better.

[@CAMVIN]

Omg...wow 🎉..just love the final result ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@susanharber6488]

Loving that look!! ❤😉

[@praxisfurnaturheilkunde5394]

I plan something similar. So thank you for the tipps and tricks!

[@alishajennings2013]

I love it. It's perfect

[@lesleylatham8414]

Love it! I'm starting to collect my fabrics to do the same. Thank you!!

[@lilaskye2375]

Yes…. I much prefer second version with denim top. More figure flattering and interesting design composition

[@suzannecrelley2369]

Wonderful. As usual a great inspiration. I have learnt so much from your videos and have altered so many of my clothes and thrifted items. Thank you

[@mcremex827]

Thank you for sharing this! Love the 2.1 version better too. Definitely more flattering. I made a similar one a while back and don’t love it. You just showed me what I may have done wrong and I’m ready to try one last time… you’re the best inspiration!!

[@arvettadelashmit9337]

Great job. ❤❤❤

[@mjcechman]

Excellent! Great information! Thank you for sharing!❤

[@cmiller974]

I have loved and admired everything you do until today! I do love the extra band of striped shirting in the skirt! But I was taught from High school sewing class on most of my 75 years of life to never ever draw a horizontal line across the fullest part of the hips! Yikes! It draws the eye right there and on your sweet skirt those gathers emphasize the width there! If you had cut across the hip either just above the back pocket or just below, it would have made an immense difference and be so much more flattering to your hips! I would have gone above the pocket and appliquéd them on later! Just a thought! Keep coming up with more ideas!

[@janicevisger497]

It's a keeper!!!♡♡ I love the changes you made!!♡♡♡

[@Maplecook]

Wooooooot!

[@Monga_Makes_Things]

So cute! Your upcycles are always inspiring! Have you ever upcycled a broomstick skirt? I have one that is just too full and long. I’m thinking of turning it into a dress but trying to figure out how to cut the bodice out of the removed gathered top tier. I love a good challenge 😂 -Addie

[@EmmBee20014]

Youn are brilliant! Love it !

[@hamsonthehill]

Cute. Do you ever have someone stop and ask you where you got something that you made like that?

[@ArabianShalifa]

I put on an a sleep shirt that I had up cycled two into making it a modest length. When I pulled it out earlier this week I said, I need to make adjustments to it. I need to seam rip my surging make it a somewhat shorter and going to make a ruffle out of what I take off cutting it in half to make it long enough to gather. I need to finish my bandanna dress making the arm whole bigger. The two pockets I can wear with my clothes without pockets. Then I can work on it hopefully by the end of this month. I went back and watched the one where you made it again today as well. I knew I had seen it before. I have six men’s shirts my sons and husband have cast off I plan to make a skirt out of I was thinking I was going to make maxi length strips about 7 or 8 “ wide run vertically. I did seam rip the yoke off and the sleeves but set it aside for the time being. Maybe if you show me how you would draft one like that I’d pull it back up into my queue to work on. Then again I put on my jean jacket today and decided I wasn’t to make it into a pattern for three bolts of fabric in my basement. I was not sure what I wanted to make with them when I JoAnn’s moved in our town and I was working there. They make employees a deal too god to pass up and 117 bolts followed me home.

[@MiPointIs]

Putting a denim top on a layered skirt where the waist no longer fits, the denim section could be from shirts or a skirt

[@jebens12]

I am looking for a new iron. What is the iron that you use. Thanks. Love all your videos-you've given me courage to do some alterations of my own.

[@robyn3349]

❤

[@alanmarsh5834]

Cathrine loved the video could you show how to alter neck band on dress that is to low Being small on top I always have problems with this love JEAN from Canterbury uk

[@Bernietheoc]

👏🏻👗

[@juliec4750]

So, here’s a riff on the same theme. It just looks to me like that horizontal line at the hips would hit me in just the wrong spot. Is there a way to cut the denim part that would be a bit more flattering on a heavier figure? I think if anyone can figure that out, you can. kzbin.infoq1Q_3w7RWeo?si=HC1loAWUQJ9pleDV

[@wtogspedersen860]

Does your serger have a straight stitch in the seam?

[@carolejebens7281]

What is the iron you use?

[@daxxydog5777]

I’ve done that mistaken cut. Delete, delete, delete! It doesn’t work, lol.

[@Do-U-Know-me00]

Cute idea, but those shorts are too small for you. You can see that, because there are bulging gaps between the buttons. The fabric is being pulled too tightly, in the horizontal plane. Similar to how a buttoned shirt gaps in the front, when the wearer's breasts are too big for the shirt. That isn't a very attractive look, and it's obvious they're too small. Nice idea when the shorts fit properly to begin with.