Upcycling Housecoats?
My grandmother (who is turning 82 this year) just gave me 2 housecoats. One is hers. One is my great grandmother's, who passed away soon before she turned 102. (That one has a coffee stain on the front that I'm not sure if I can get out...she's where I got that from apparently, among other things).
I want to do something with them, because housecoats aren't really my style and I'd just wear them out at some point and have nothing to pass on...but I don't want to cut them up unless the idea I have for them is worth it. I certainly don't want to cut them into tiny pieces.
There is nothing too big. I hopefully have plenty of years to work on these, or sit on them until the right idea comes along (see: almost 102) but...I want to see them and display them in some form.
I'm not very good at quilting, or sewing. I'm passable. I can learn almost any embroidery technique on the planet though, so hit me with an idea if you've got it. Other skills that are probably irrelevant: yarn spinning, felting (wet and dry), knit, crochet, basic tatting, basic bobbin lacemaking.
I'm posting pics so you can see the fabric patterns.
Grandma's. Fabric is very thin, colors are cutesy. Quarter on fabric for size reference. Fabric content unknown, from JC Penney. Click if you need the picture bigger.
Great Grandma's. Fabric is thicker, has no collar, has pearlized buttons. Quarter on fabric for size reference. Fabric is a cotton/poly blend, brand name Basic Editions (knockoff brand). Click if you need the bigger picture.
I want to do something with them, because housecoats aren't really my style and I'd just wear them out at some point and have nothing to pass on...but I don't want to cut them up unless the idea I have for them is worth it. I certainly don't want to cut them into tiny pieces.
There is nothing too big. I hopefully have plenty of years to work on these, or sit on them until the right idea comes along (see: almost 102) but...I want to see them and display them in some form.
I'm not very good at quilting, or sewing. I'm passable. I can learn almost any embroidery technique on the planet though, so hit me with an idea if you've got it. Other skills that are probably irrelevant: yarn spinning, felting (wet and dry), knit, crochet, basic tatting, basic bobbin lacemaking.
I'm posting pics so you can see the fabric patterns.
Grandma's. Fabric is very thin, colors are cutesy. Quarter on fabric for size reference. Fabric content unknown, from JC Penney. Click if you need the picture bigger.
Great Grandma's. Fabric is thicker, has no collar, has pearlized buttons. Quarter on fabric for size reference. Fabric is a cotton/poly blend, brand name Basic Editions (knockoff brand). Click if you need the bigger picture.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Guzzisue on -
I would be embroidering and beading the flowers on the top one, is there enough to make a plain skirt with a wide patterned embroidered border?
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Permalink Reply by Jen on -
I was thinking about something like that. The material is really thin but I could always attach an underskirt.
Looks like I'd need about a foot more fabric to close it. Alas, only my top half can fit in a misses medium. I could do a striped skirt (vertical stripes). Is that too 'hippie'?
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Permalink Reply by Lynn Cheffins on -
How about quilting the facric and doing a tea cozy with matching table runner kind of thing - tuft quilting is not too hard and you culd incorporate the pearlized buttons in place of tufts or as decoration. Pretty fabrics!
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Permalink Reply by Cate Field on -
These fabrics are lovely both for their pattern and history! I made my own mother a patchwork apron from leftover bits of fabric that belonged to her mother.. she wanted something to use everyday..
Do you want to create something beautiful to hang on the wall, or something more functional? Either way, I go with Guzzisue's comments below... embroidery on the flowers... perhaps using the buttons as embellishments?
Please show us what you decide to do!
Love Cate
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