Nylon Nightgown Repaired With Cashmere - Michelle Paganini

I just repaired a thrifted nightgown with a patch made from a moth-hole-riddled cashmere scarf.  It started  as a small hole which I ignored. It grew. And grew.  Soon it was more than 12" long, and then a second hole appeared. Although the nightgown was a favorite, I set it aside, thinking it was done.Then I looked at similar nightgowns on eBay.  First of all the color and style were difficult to find and seemed to be quite expensive (for my preferences). Hmmm.

 

I thought of repairing the gown, but with what?  Silk? Hmmm, slippery.

Then my friend Antoinette at Happy Dragon Thrift Shop rescued a moth-hole riddled scarf from going into the rag bin and saved it for me.  She knows that any cashmere, no matter how damaged, I will use. 

I washed the scarf in hot water and dried it in a hot dryer.  I cut out a section and laid it on my ironing board.  I layered the nightgown on top.  Bonus - very little slipping.  Some light pinning and I started to hand stitch. 

 

The long edges of the nightgown's hole curled under, so stitched down quite nicely. There was one hole in the scarf section that I decided to reinforce and leave, just for fun.

I think the cashmere will hold up well and work perfectly.  The remainder of the scarf will become a bed wrap.

Happy Repair and Upcycling!

Michelle Paganini

P.S. - Michelle creates upcycle sewing designs and writes tutorials for home sewists (like a pattern but with no pieces to print a cut.  Super flattering, room for hips and bellies and simple to sew.  www.etsy.com/shop/paganoonoo. The Ellie and Patti are good choices to start.

Flannel Season!

 Hot chocolate, gloves, hats, sweaters, falling leaves, and flannel.  I love a flannel shirt!  The problem for me is that the hips/belly are always too snug, or just flat out will not button.​ Refashioning is the solution. 

This Paganoonoo refashion design, The "Patti", adds a loose hip and is flattering on all body shapes. 

Fitting is simple - you start with a flannel (or any button down) that already fits your shoulders, bust, and arms - too tight hips - gets fixed.

The sewing instructions are illustrated step-by-step.  This type of refashion requires no pattern pieces to cut out! 

Instead the instructions show you how to cut apart and sew back together the garments you start with (deconstruct & reconstruct.)

You can get professional looking results without having to: 

- set a sleeve, 
- sew a buttonhole,
add a collar 

those things are already done for you!

This version used a denim skirt for the back panel.

The panel in the lower back can be made with another garment such as a shirt, t-shirt, sweater, skirt, or it can be made with stash fabric - any suitable weight material.

This red and purple version used stash quilting cotton for the back panel.  

The band waistband is the placket from another shirt.

The grey back on this Patti was made using a merino wool sweater turned upside down.  The sweater's bottom band now serves as a waistband.

If you have avoided garment sewing because of fitting issues or complicated bits like collars, plackets, and buttonholes then this is the design for you. 

If you would like a bit more room in the hip and belly in your shirts then this is the design for you.

If you would like to try upcycle sewing / refashioning but are not sure how to get started, then this is the design for you.  

This is the simplest of the Paganoonoo designs and the one I always recommend for beginners. Our sewing instructions set you up for success! Refashioning is eco-friendly, easy on the budget, and simpler sewing.

Shop your closet and refashion your existing clothes into a comfortable flattering new top. Start refashioning today!

$16 Digital instructions, PDF file 
(print on home printer, ~14 pages)

$22 Hard copy sent to you by mail