Subversive Seamster Upcycled Sweatshirt Refashion

I’m so excited to be joining Craft Buds for their 3rd Annual Craft Book Month. The whole idea is to pull out those craft books that we’ve collected and actually put them to use. I have to admit I am definitely guilty of buying craft books and not actually trying any of the crafts. So when Lindsay asked if I wanted to participate I jumped at the challenge. I’ve already learned how great accountability is with the Sew Our Stash challenge I figured this was just the motivation I needed.

I picked Subversive Seamster, a book that a friend actually left in my sewing room…on purpose. But when you have a sewing room like mine that’s not as weird. She just figured since I host craft days it would be a good resource to share.

It’s one of those hip edgy books with a focus on upcycling and getting you to used what you have as opposed to real technical sewing. I really like how the book is laid out.

(this will be my next project from this book)

It starts off by going over a bunch of techniques like adding pin tucks or making poofy sleeves and then each of the projects reference back to the first instructions. I thought this was great since it kept the actual instructions shorter and less daunting and it gave me a good idea of how to use various methods in different ways which I think makes it easy to stretch it even further to projects that aren’t in the book.

For my project I picked one where you fancied up a sweatshirt. I’m a big hoodie fan so I loved the idea of an upcycled sweatshirt. On theirs they do a Mandarin collar but I made mine a little bigger and rounder to give it more of a Peter Pan feel.

I was kinda silly and started off with a sweatshirt that was WAY too big for me but even then I thought it turned out pretty good. And if the sweatshirt had actually fit to begin with I think it would have been even better.

The back has some fun pin tucks too. And of course I couldn’t resist poofy sleeves. The instructions were nice and clear and in words that were easy to understand. I’m excited to try more from this book. And there’s lots more for Craft Book Month see all the fun things in store below.

UPDATE: I’ve had a bunch of comments here and elsewhere about the black and white skirt. It’s from Down East Basic (and I love love love it!)

Week One
Monday 9/2: Fabric Mutt / LRstitched
Tuesday 9/3: Stitch This! The Martingale Blog / Stitched in Color
Wednesday 9/4: Fabric Seeds / Pile O Fabric
Thursday 9/5: The Feisty Redhead / Rae Gun Ramblings
Friday 9/6: Sew-Fantastic / Clover + Violet
Saturday 9/7: A Prairie Sunrise / Small Town Stitcher

Week Two
Monday 9/9: Hopeful Threads / Go To Sew
Tuesday 9/10: The Sewing Rabbit / Sewing Mama RaeAnna
Wednesday 9/11: Marci Girl Designs / imagine gnats
Thursday 9/12: Sew Sweetness / amylouwhosews
Friday 9/13: Lindsay Sews / 13 Spools
Saturday 9/14: Inspire Me Grey / Angela Yosten

Week Three
Monday 9/16: Sew Very / Craftside
Tuesday 9/17: The Littlest Thistle / CraftFoxes

9/1-9/30: Link up your craft book project at Craft Buds from your blog or Flickr account, and enter to win prizes. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, October, 1!

2012 Craft Book Month Projects (L to R):Sew Crafty Jess, Sewing Rabbit, Stitched in Color, MissKnitta’s Studio

To participate in the month-long contest, just link up any project you’ve made from a pattern in a craft book. That easy! You’ll tell us a little about the book, the project, how you personalized it, etc.

Rules

1) One entry per person.

2) Your craft book project must have been completed in 2013.

3) Create a new blog post or Flickr photo (dated September 1, 2013 or later) and link back to Craft Buds/Craft Book Month in your post or photo description. In your post or photo description, make sure to list the craft book you used and provide a link if possible.

4) All winners chosen via Random.org. Some prizes available to international winners, so please join us!

Prizes

Visit Craft Buds and link up your craft book project during the window of Sept 1-30 and you’ll automatically be entered to win some fantastic prizes from the Craft Book Month sponsors!

No time to make a project? You can also follow Craft Buds all month long for your chance to comment and win some new sewing and quilting books for your library.