Wardrobe Refashion Update

I've just realised that I've broken the back of my 6 month Wardrobe Refashion Challenge pledge. As of today I am 89 days in with 65 left to go and I haven't bought any new clothes in that time.

In fact, I'm beginning to wonder whether I'll ever go back to my previous shopping habits. Whilst my posting on the site has been sporadic and lacking in recent months (I'm blaming my broken camera lead) I've not been idle in terms of making/acquiring new items.

I've got seriously into my crochet, which is helped a *lot* by the monthly Stitches and Hos evening at the Hare and Hounds in Kings Heath. It was my second visit to the group last night and, after a short attempt at some knitting during a short crochet break I decided I might actually give it a go for a proper project (especially after I got free needles from the group!) .

Sewing has also increased dramatically, although I've got a few UFOs (unfinished objects) waiting around to be sorted. These are mostly items from charity shops that I've bought with a mind to revamp in some way.

This gets me on to my main point. I used to shop in charity shops a lot as a student for quirky or kitsch items but it's dropped off in recent years. Since doing the WRC though I've got a renewed excitement about them and realised most of my wardrobe staples can be sourced here. I've had a few really good hauls of clothes that I can wear as-is without fixing up and I have less guilt about sweat-shop brands like Primark if they are already "pre-loved". Plus it's ace for my bank balance! I don't think I'm ever going to shop normally again...

Why I need a dress form...

Why? Because I live on my own and have found it increasingly difficult to make any clothes for myself that actually fit, due to not having double-jointed arms and eyes in the back of my head! Cue the duct tape dress form...

I'm definitely going to give this a go at some point with the help of a trusty friend, despite what it will undoubtedly do to my self-esteem due to its 'accuracy'. Any volunteers for wrapping?

Impatience is not a virtue

I am not patient, this is a well-documented fact. I have flights of fancy and get ideas that I want to do things but I can't wait, so I end up doing them half-arsed because I want to do them *now*! I am the same, if not worse, with crafts. I'm making the crochet cardigan from the front cover of the Crochet Me book and I was too lazy to do a swatch first.




Well... I sort of did one... I did a couple of rows and roughly measured it, but it seems now I'm nearing the end it wasn't right and I'm wishing I'd spent the time at the beginning to make a 10x10cm swatch of the right gauge. It seems it is a size or two too small but I'm so far through I don't want to start again. Looks like my only option is to lose the weight I've been promising myself and tone up those arms so they can get through the sleeves. Either that or carry out some industrial-sized cardie-stretching :(