Today I took one of my thrift store finds and altered it into something I will actually wear. When I got it, I loved the lace, but there was too much of it, and when I put it on I felt like a tiered tray of puffy cupcakes! Not exactly how I want to feel, although I do love cupcakes. It actually made me want to eat some. So I took my scissors to the excessive layers and got rid of them. Now I have several feet of lace I can use in something else, and a piece of clothing I love very much.
I get great joy from finding an inexpensive used garment (this one was $3) that is something I will like to wear. Sometimes it seems like the thrifting elves help me find things I thought I only imagined in my head!
All of that fabric was sewn in pleats around the waist, right where most any woman does not want lots of fabric!
For this top, what I did was relatively simple. If you can confidently wield a pair of scissors, then you can do this to a piece of clothing you want to alter. If the issue is I want to get rid of a layer of fabric, then most often all you have to do is trim the unwanted layer, next to the seam, where it attaches to the fabric you want to keep. Beware of cutting the fabric you like, and cutting the seam itself. Try it!
From frumpy to free! I love it layered.
Lately, I’ve also been cutting polyester layers out of cotton tops and dresses I have collected over the years. I love cotton but I’m not a fan of polyester—it is plastic spun into fibers then woven into a fabric, and our skin is smothered by it. With only cotton, or other natural materials next to our skin, it’s liberated. The difference in how that makes us feel is remarkable!!!
I’ve taken to cutting that layer out of soft, embroidered, natural, otherwise lovely things. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this years ago, but it’s something else you can try too!
I will take pictures of the next item I free from polyester’s grip, to show you!