New Upsycle-- A safety riding vest

I have a motorcyle (HD V-Rod) and often ride with my husband on the military safety rides.  This precipitates the need for a reflective safety vest.  Until now, I've been using my husband's PT cheap reflective vests.  Not only are they ugly, but they fly all around while careening down the highway at 65mph.  So I decided to create one myself that will satisfy the requirement and be more "sexy".  This will also be stored in my motorcycle saddle bag for use at night when we are caught out on a ride at night.

 

Reflective tapes and piping, white nylon, & blck leather jacket

Here is the leather jacket I purchased from a second hand store.  I bought the nylon, reflective tapes and piping from a fabric store.  Not pictured are the grommets (silver) that I will use to make the sides adjustable.  I want the vest adjustable so that I can use it over my other riding jackets or by itself (or if I lose weight, which is a goal).

• The first step will be to remove the zipper, sleeves and collar.  I will salvage the lining too, to be used in lining the vest.
• I will create a "cyncher" to attach to the leather bustier portion from the nylon.  I will also need to create an inner lining from something durable, ie duck/drill, leather, etc.  (I haven't decided how I will do that yet).
• Next I will cut bottom portion of the leather jacket, saving it create a leather pouch.  I may have to create a couple of darts under the breasts.
• I will baste the inner lining to the nylon.
• Next, I will layout and sew on the reflective tape.  Then I will line the top portion of the cyncher with the piping.  
• Now to attach the cyncher to the bustier.
• Then, I will line the whole thing with the piping (center front, side-over-the-shoulder, and bottom).
• I will then attach the zipper (salvaged from the front of the jacket and cut shorter).
• Then for the lining attachment.
• Finally to set the grommets on the sides, under the arms.  I will set them in a spiral lacing fashion, like I do with the Elizabethan wardrobes.

As a side note, I will also reuse the sleeves to create removable sleeves for the vest later on.

The Plans for the "ZEMA" Upcycle .

Recently I visited the second hand store and found a leather jacket, sheath dresswith vest, and a home decor item that I thought would make a very earthy faerie up-cycle garment.  Below you will find the plans.  The items that crossed out were plans that I found to be unneeded or that I changed my mind as I went along.  If the line description is in green it was an idea added as I went along.

• Steps for the DRESS:



Second hand sheath & vest

• remove the embroidered elephant pocket. 
• remove the buttons from the bottom front.
• make an inverted pleat beneath each breast
• cut a deeper "V" into the front center neck
• add a standing collar to dress neckline
• create and add lacing loops to the "V" in the center front neck
• (2/23/11) Where the elephant was is a shaded area, this I will attach leather to to create a nice edging for the collar
• cut the sleeves of dress with a "V" into the center cap;cut from the sleeve of the dress to create a "V" fall.
• split the dress seam all the way up the sides to the waist.
• add cotton/linen to the sides (similar to the Heather dress)
• maybe curl the edges of the sides (create a seam up the front and back) and the front and back, back on itself
• use the buttons on the back as decoration
• find buttons to create a decoration on the sides and front as well.
• sew a "V" on the back neckline down the center of the back about 6-8 in.
• create a waist cyncher that is permanantly attached to dress; laces on the sides
• maybe use the lace from the triangle fabric or trims to adorn the cyncher.
• A new note (2/23/11): I saw something that inspired me to add a new detail.  This will be faux hood and sleeves-- ethereal feel.  The Heather design had sleeves similar to those I will utilize for the Zema.
• 
  
• Steps for the dress SLEEVES:



home decor item with lace

• add linen or cotton to the sleeves-- billowy
• see if there is enough either of the dress jacket or of cotton/linen to create a fall of fabric at the wrist that falls
• gracefully from the under the jacket.
• using the dress vest make cloth bracer cuffs to attach to the wrist of the sleeve linen/cotton
• decorate the wrist bracers like the cyncher

• Steps for the JACKET:



leather jacket

• will add two more sets of grommets in front of jacket to create a "cyncher"
• split the side seams of the jacket
• turn the collar of the jacket lapel under and stitch down.
• flip the collar of the jacket to create a standing collar.

Finished Product

The "Zema" went live last week and here are the steps I took to completion.

I had a change of idea--Inspiration!  I decided that I wanted to make a line of Steampunk Elven Designs.  So the Zema became just such.

I did no use the leather jacket-- this was one of those times where going with the flow instead of forcing my will turned out a great product.

The neck line with the wool applique
and gears.

Drape seen from behind, falls of linen
at hem. The sleeves seen hanging.

Gear and watch parts applications.

• I cut the neckline down, as with the "Heather" Upcycle.  The problem I faced with the Zema was that the pocket seen on the original dress left a shadow on the breast.  To cover this, I made a wool applique.  
• I added  a drape made of linen at the neck line. It is edged in brown satin ribbon.
• The sleeves were made of linen as well and are long.  They can be left hanging free or worn attached at the wrist.
• The wrist cuff is made from the cut away sleeves on the original dress.
• I assembled various different gears and watch parts to create different areas of conversation: the apex of each linen spring at the hem, along the curves of the wool applique, and at the wrists I used gears to button the band closed.



The waist cincher and front view of
the gown.

• A classy touch is seen in the waist cincher.  It is made from scraps of leather that is to be used with my Hattie doublet later on.  I used two belts found at a second hand store.
• The falls of linen at the back can be worn down to trail gracefully behind or can be hooked up on the gears at the back to keep it out of the dirt and mud.
• All the falls at the hem were overlocked with a dark brown thread.

Rear fall seen
trailing behind.

Rear fall seen
attached to the
gears.

Up-cycling from Second Hand to Fantasy Glam

I was introduced to up-cycling in a round about way.  So roundabout, I can't even remember all the twists and turns.  But it hit me recently that I should consider the option to optimize and expand my customer base (right now via Etsy).

I purchased two dresses from Goodwill, one embroidered green buttoned down sheath and a purple silk sheath.  The green is a M(edium) and the purple is a size 4.

Size Medium 

Size 4

  
  

I started with the green.  Put it on the dress dummy and sliced up the side seams, popped all the buttons but two, and turned down the neckline to create a better view of the cleavage.  I then pinned in the ribbons at the shoulder (needed more-- purple) and pinned in a white gauzy cotton for sleeves.

The fabric around the waist is a mock-up for the waist cincher.

***
Finished product and notes:

(click for larger view)

(click for larger view)

(click for larger view)

The transformation: Added cotton gauze to the sleeves and at the side seams of the green dress.  Ribbons at the shoulder and at the bicep of the arm of various colors.  Removal of the original ties in the back and cut and re applied to the front as loop holes for lacing.  A redesign of the neckline to allow for a deeper scoop.

(click for larger view)

(click for larger view)

The Partial cape : cut up both side seams of the purple sheath dress.  Hung sideways from the neck to cover the arms or hang from the back.









The waist cincher was made from purchased linen/cotton blend and appliqués and lacing grommets added.

I guess that covers it, LOL!

Warmest Regards,