That's Torn It!

I took Bob a cup of tea, as it was 11am. He turned round from his computer and stared at me, raising one eyebrow quizzically "Why are you dressed like that?" . I was wearing a crop top bra and a pair of ancient capri-length lycra running shorts. I explained it was the winter/summer wardrobe swap. I try on everything.  If something is too tight over these undergarments, then it goes. The thickness of the shorts guarantees I have 'breathing space' at the waist - and avoid anything too tight in hot, sticky weather. Three garments, all made around 2014 didn't make the cut. 

They were all made from the same Lisette pattern. The first, a tunic which I previously wore a lot with leggings, was a genuine 1960s vintage print  given to me by a neighbour. My splashy Lily Pulitzer dress. The second, was a lovely Javanese cotton sarong from Kezzie which I turned into a summer dress. The third a pretty cotton dress made from a cheap 'Poundland fabric' down in Dorset - I added useful patch pockets.

In this week's trials, I discovered that the Java dress fitted beautifully, except for the cuffs on the sleeves. A teeny bit tight on my 'bingo wings'. I love this one, so I have removed the cuffs, and will bind the edges, so it fits comfortably.

The third is just too tight - but is a cute teddy bear print. This may make something for Jess.

But the first? Ooops! This shift has no fastenings, which is why I like the pattern! I got into it ok, but when I tried to wriggle out it completely disintegrated under the left arm and across the bust.  Absolutely no possibility of salvaging this one. Let's face it, the fabric is 60 years old - and at that age most things have either worn thin [like this] or run to fat [like me]

The final casualty was that £1 Patra dress from the CS shop last summer. When I got it, it was reduced because the sleeves had ripped. I wore it quite a lot at the end of the summer - but like the Pulitzer frock, the fabric had definitely reached the end of its life, and as I shook it out, I could see it was worn through in places, and ripped even before I out it on. I removed all the lovely Mother of Pearl buttons, and cut out and salvaged the best parts of the pretty print.  And rolled up the blue fabrics to go into the loft.

The Pulitzer will make a good lining for a bag, the Petra will perhaps be used in machine embroidery, and the teddy bears may make a skirt for Jess.

A few 'wearable' garments have gone into the donate bag, A  satisfactory swap-around

Do you do a seasonal wardrobe swap?