“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.
If you can dream it, you can become it.”
William Arthur Ward
Welcome to Week Two of Refashion Runway!
Our competitors have, once again, stepped up to the plate and created some amazing refashions this week.
Please remember to vote for your favorite using the poll at the bottom of this post. Voting will be open until Friday, June 21. Your public votes and the competitor’s score of each other will be combined to determine a winner. We will announce the winner of this week’s challenge next Saturday. Also, the two refashions with the lowest scores will be “going home”, but we won’t send them home without some great prizes, I promise! Remember, this is a “Friendly Sewing Competition”. 
Let’s start with Miche from Buttons and Birdcages:
Before…
and after:
“I’ve been reading a lot lately about how overalls are making a comeback so
when I saw denim was the week 2 challenge I figured I should get with the
times. I’ve never sewn on denim before (this became apparent when I
immediately snapped the denim needle on my sewing machine – helpful hint
– lengthen your stitch length!). I cut the sides out of them to bring them
in, shortened them, raised the crotch, shortened the straps and made the
bib thinner. And so, over the course of 48 hours, three and a half cups of
coffee, and two denim needles, what started out as a men’s extra-large was
transformed into a pair of (hopefully) cute “short-er-alls” that I don’t
feel embarrassed wearing around my hometown.”-Miche
Take a look at Elizabeth from The Hungry Octopus:
Before…..
and after:
” I found this dress for $1 at my favorite local thrift store. It reminded me of the
dresses my elementary school teachers used to wear, with its bright embroidered
flowers and floor-length hem. But I knew it could be something more. After a week of
hacking, sewing, unstitching, bleaching, more sewing, and dyeing, it was finally
finished. I had never done an asymmetrical cut before, but I’m very happy with the
finished dress, especially the detailing around the back zipper. I can’t wait to see
what everyone else has done!”-Elizabeth
Here’s Katrina from Offsquare:
Before….
and after:
“I really hate wearing denim jackets. Hate it. They are so boxy,
heavy and shapeless, I actually feel lost in them! So this week I wanted to
challenge myself a little and create one I would love.
I’m already enjoying my new cropped jacket and know I’ll be wearing this a lot in
the years ahead. It’s tailored, feminine and light. Perfect with dresses and most
importantly, I feel great in it. It’s been good to try something different and
discover that my dislike for denim jackets was only because of the cut and style
available. There’s nothing like a cute crop jacket to flatter your figure and offset
a dress.”-Katrina
Here’s Jen from Diary of a Madmama:
Before…
and after:
“I had this really cool jean jacket I scored for a mere 49-cents, and
even wore it in our last family photos. Ever since wearing it for our photo
session, however, I can’t find the darn thing anywhere! I’ve been pretty
frustrated about losing it too, because it would’ve looked great on
several of my recent dress refashions. Rather than continuing to whine about my
loss, I decided to try and make a new one from a pair of jeans I had that
weren’t the most flattering from the back view (if you know what I mean).
My daughter suggested adding the removable flower pin so that I could
wear the collar different ways. I also like that I can wear the jacket with the
zipper in front or in back, but I personally like it better with the zip
in back. What do you think?”
~Jen
And now, here’s Sally from Charity Shop Chic:
Before…
and after:
“There isn’t much wrong with this pair of jeans, except they don’t fit! I chose a
pair with a nice, dark, even colour to cut up. I came up with a design for a pencil
skirt with a small peplum detail at the side. After drafting my pattern, there
wasn’t enough denim for all the pieces, so I used some African wax print fabric in a
co-ordinating colour for the side panels and peplum facing. I love the result! It’s
a great, versatile summer skirt that fits beautifully and flatters my figure. There
is a full tutorial for how to draft the pattern for the skirt over at
http://charityshopchic.net“-Sally
Here’s Mary from Thrifty Chic:
Before…
“Can you say “Spinster School Marm” This was a very heavy denim
dress with velvet collar a and cuffs. The prior owner never even removed the tags.
They must have known this dress was just wrong!”
and after…
“After cutting away tons of fabric and fitting, fitting, fitting, a real
dress finally has emerged!
The tab cuff on the sleeve was made of the hem from bottom of the dress. I sewed it
on the armhole and kept the original topstitching.”-Mary
And now, here’s Barbara from Zibergirl Sews:
Before…
and after:
“This was certainly challenging! I had to just jump right in, go with an
idea, and hope that it worked out. So, here you have it. I took an old pair
of my jeans and hacked them off just below the pockets. I straightened out
the curvy part of the front and back seams by picking them open and
re-topstitching. Then I laid out a thrifted curtain topper and designed
the bottom of a skirt. I pinned it on, tried it on, and didn’t like it. It
was half white and half blue and didn’t really seem to flow together very
well. I decided that it needed to be all one solid color, so I dyed it. Now
I think it works. What do you think? I have more pics and how-to’s on my
blog <http://zibergirl.wordpress.com>, so come on over!”-Barbara
Well, there you are! Another tough decision. Please use the poll below to cast your vote for your favorite refashion this week.
Just a note to the competitors:
Please send your scores to me by Wednesday, June 19. Please score each other on a scale of 1-10 on each of the following areas: Following the challenge, originality, creativity, craftsmanship, design and presentation.
If you are “sewing along”, send your photos to me at bhunting@eoni.com
Thanks everyone!!
You might also enjoy:
The Renegade Seamstress 
Great fun, and such talented ladies!
I totally agree!!!
Denim is definitely trendy right now. All of these refashions are stylish and unique. I am so excited to see more.
Kendrasclothingcloset.wordpress.com
It’s amazing how much denim you can find at the thrift stores. It’s fun to see the interpretations!
Pingback: Refashion: Denim Jacket | Offsquare
Will miss you, ladies, but am kind of glad to have been voted off! We just bought a house, so next couple of weeks will be moving moving and decorating! I did do a denim refashion though 🙂 come check it out! http://beingzhenya.com/2013/06/15/outfit-sculpture-garden-at-dusk/
Xo,
Z
I loved your denim refashion and your photos!!!
These are great and so imaginative. I love the refashioned dress over one shoulder. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Talented ladies!!!
Pingback: Refashion Runway Week 2: Denim | buttons and birdcages
This is a tougher challenge and I am impressed with all of them,but did manage to pick my top vote…
Not an easy choice again!
Pingback: Refashion Runway: Denim! | Charity Shop Chic
Such creativity!! This contest is really opening my eyes… now I am off to check out my stash.
I’m so glad you’ve been inspired!
Wow, some fantastic projects here! Kudos, everyone!
Another tough decision!!
Pingback: Refashion Runway Competition: Week Two – Denim! | Diary of a MadMama
What interesting redos! Clever style ideas. Why can’t I think of stuff like that. I do believe I will be stealing ,… er … borrowing … a couple of those designs. Great contest.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying this!!! I’m having a great time, too!
That skirt from Charity Shop Chic is just wow. Love those side panels! Great job ladies!
Pretty amazing seamstresses!!!
Good thing we have until Friday to vote, because it’s going to take me that long to decide. You all did so well!
-Elizabeth
aka The Hungry Octopus
I know, I haven’t voted yet either.
Wow, you ladies really make competing tough. My hat is off to all of you!
Well said, Miche! It’s been so much fun to see how everyone interprets the challenge.
Love all the makes, everyone has put so much time and effort into their recreations:)
I knew they would rise to the occasion once again!!!
Wow these ladies are very talented and it was a very difficult choice. The one I voted for (which I won’t say right now) Is extremely unique and cute and very creative. Good luck to all the ladies in the next round!
Thanks for voting!!!!
I love your creativity!
🙂
So inspiring!
I agree!
WOW, all these refashions are AMAZING!!! SO hard to choose…good job, everyone 🙂 and Zhenya, great job – LOVE the reversible top – very chic!
I loved Zhenya’s top, too!!
All the projects are so great! Very inspiring. Thank you!
Fun, fun, fun!!
Wow, they are all amazing…this is such an inspiring group of peeps.
Yes!!! I agree!
All are amazing refashions, and all deserve a recognition.
Yes, they do!!!
Wow! Very inspiring. I think the jeans to jacket was my favorite creativity wise…but wow that peplum skirt! I’d definitely buy that!
Cheers
The ladies really out did themselves again, didn’t they!!
These are all very well done.
I agree!
I voted for Miche, because refashions should be on trend! Way to go girl!
Xo,
Z
http://beingzhenya.com
Hi Zhenya,
I miss you already, but I’m thrilled about your house!!! Congratulations and I can’t wait to see pictures.
Beth
You know you can still feature me on your blog 😉 xo
Of course, of course!!!
I love this competition ! I am wondering why TWO competitors need to leave each week… Why not only one, like all other contests ?
Hi Claudia,
That’s a good question. When the open casting call came out, I was only going to choose six to compete. But there were so many talented people who tried out that I couldn’t narrow it down to just six. So I chose eight people instead which means that twice during the competition two people will have to leave instead of just one. I thought I’d let the voters decide….
Beth
Beth, I’m really enjoying this. These ladies are so creative. Great job.
Hi Mary,
It makes me happy to know you’re having fun!!
Beth
Hi Mary,
It makes me happy to know you’re having fun!!
Beth
My Goodness! It is so hard to pick and I generally have to go away for a while and think about it then come back to vote. I sure enjoy this!!
Thanks for voting, Kelli! Makes me happy to know you’re enjoying this. I’m having a blast!!!
Pingback: Not really a denim sew-along! | makebakesisters
it was a close run thing between the one shoulder dress and the skirt with the pretty panels. Well done everyone!
My sew along piece is here if you’d like to check it out: http://makingtimetocreate.wordpress.com/ 🙂
I hope you didn’t mind, but I put a link to your site on the sew along post.
I am thrilled! it’s been a lot of fun so far. Thank you 🙂
You are so welcome!!!
Where is the link to vote?
Hi Gail, Just scroll to the bottom of the post. Click on your favorite and push the “vote” button. Let me now if it doesn’t work.
Blown away! These ladies are so creative!
I totally agree!
So hard to vote they all did wonderful projects!!!
They are all amazing aren’t they!!!
I wait with baited breath each week to see what fabulous creations the designers have come up with. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!!! Well done!!!!!
Stay tuned …… I’ll announce the winner on Saturday.:) And you can vote on the Copycat Challenge.
What a range of ideas! So interesting and so well executed, too.
Yes, I was amazed at how different they all were.
i voted for one, but they are all great!!!
Thanks for voting!
Once again selecting one individual was a challenge. I had two favorites; and choosing one was down right difficult. All of the refashions were awesome.
I’m having such fun seeing what these creative ladies come up with each week, too.
Like many have said, these are all very inspiring! I love this competition! Madmama…how on earth was she able to do that…with pants? Super, super, stylish and clever!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying this!! Aren’t these ladies amazing!!!
Great job!
I agree!! These ladies ROCK!
This competition is a really cool idea!!! I wish I’d come across this blog much sooner, or at least as soon as the denim theme was revealed, I have an idea that I would love to sew along with but it will be a pretty time consuming one and I’m not sure when I have to email pics by to have them up in the sew along post. Could anyone let me know? Anyway this blog and competition are both awesome imho. I love, love, love the shorter-alls very cool and on trend! And she found such a great starter piece to work with (such interesting details! The patches remind me of vintage porcelain advertisements, like you always see in american/canadian pickers and shows like that!)
The sew along refashions from non-competitors were posted last Friday, so I’m guessing you’d need to e-mail Beth before then 🙂
That’s sorta the logic I was working with, ah well, maybe if I do a lot more sewing tonight :). Thanks for replying!
Hi Laura,
Thanks for all of your kind words and encouragement! The challenge for next week is “Copycat” and the following week is “summer dress”. Maybe you could sew along.
Beth
I just might have to. I have to say seeing all these different ideas on the same theme really reminds me of my FA&D program in college, it’s something I’ve been really missing lately sharing ideas and getting inspiration. It really is great when people get together in a community of like-minded individuals!
That’s one of my favorite things about blogging. I love being able to connect with people all over the world who enjoy the same things I do.
Adorable, inventive creations!
Yes. They. Are!!! Great job , ladies!!!
So hard to pick just one! Love the peplum skirt and the off shoulder dress. I’d wear either of those!
So inspirational.
I agree! Pretty amazing talent here!
Way too hard to choose!
I agree!
Voted!
Yay! Thanks! Stay tuned….I’ll announce the winner on Saturday.
Great looks!
I agree!!!
You’ve got a great sense of fashion and all your designs are so cool, actually I don’t want to miss out on all this fabulous design and that’s why I’ve decide to follow you now. Those are some lovely designs – I love your denim style
Thanks for subscribing, Kimberly!!
Pingback: Refashion Runway Denim Sewalong | The Renegade Seamstress
Oh my goodness!! I am sooo amazed at how clever these girls are!! I love Jen’s (Madmama) jacket that was a total surprise and I think the peplum skirt is adorable!!
I love both these girls work and had to choose only one but I definitely think creative wise she took it right out of the park!!
http://www.angelfairydust.blogspot.com
I’ve got some refashioning I my own to do now with a wedding coming up!! Check out my blog!! It’s going to be full of surprises this week!!
Heading over there right now to check it out.
Seeing the fabulous ideas spurs my creativity to get goin’ and get-to-sewin’ ! Thanks for the push I needed !
I’m so glad this has inspired you!! Have you considered “sewing along” with us?
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