Really Cute Rescued and Recycled Sun Hats

I LOVE hats. I wear a hat every opportunity I get. I always wore an Easter bonnet on Easter Sunday, usually made over to match my Easter dress and new patent leather shoes.

I found a perfectly good straw sun hat recently and it had a slash across the crown. It hadn’t been worn so the slash was invisible, but would fray if it wasn’t repaired or patched. It was the perfect opportunity to experiment.

What do you think?

How about that cute little flower?

I braided some bright variegated cord to tie around the crown and used the same for a chin strap.

How about hot pink and turquoise?

Wish I could wear one everyday, but it’s been cold(ish) and cloudy, so they’re a little out-of-place right now.

What about this lavender straw hat?

This was a boring little hat, kind of a flat-topped boater style. The crown was caved in, and the straw was kind of limp. When I painted it the crown perked up and it became much less floppy.

I picked the color to match the vintage cotton I came across in my stash. After I cut out those little bouquets, I had some curvy edges left on the main piece of fabric. Instead of wasting a scallop, I cut the curves into sections, gathered them into “petals” and stitched them along the hat band. Twisted fabric rosettes covered the raw edges.

I glued a fabric band around the brim for several reasons.

1. Comfort. A piece of fabric is more wearable than scratchy straw.
2. To absorb sweat.
3. To attach the chin strap. I originally thought I’d use grommets, but it’s practically impossible to do that one-handed. (That’s a totally ‘nother story I’ll share later.)

The additional fabric bouquets hide—and secure—the thread used to attach the hat band and flowers on the brim.

All of the hats have ribbon or fabric inside the brim, and a chin lanyard. Practically a requirement in forever-windy Oklahoma.

I have more rescued hats in the works. A cute little white bucket hat (yes, that’s the name of a hat) with a black and yellow daisy makeover; an “up-brim” sun hat going from dull dark straw to a lively garden green; and a hot pink straw cowboy hat, which will feature a hot pink snake-skin adornment on the crown… any idea how hard it is to find hot pink snakes? …

I’ll take some measurements and list these in my etsy shop. I’ll update this post with a shopping link when I get them online. Be sure you’re a subscriber so you won’t miss what’s coming next!

Jan

 

 

Fun Felt Toys

When I scrolled through my Pinterest pages a few days ago to find images of the button-down shirt pillows  for my last post, I came across several projects that caught my attention—again. I printed several of them, including these wool scrap pincushions from Better Homes and Gardens. And this one, also from BHG.

Then I rooted through my stash and found some hoarded felt and got busy.

How’d I do?

I started with the heart pincushions. I cut out a heart shape free-hand and then stacked it on a variety of colors and cut out more of them so I could mix and match in assembly.

While I was cutting—I tend to do things assembly-line-style—I also cut out a couple of daisy-type flowers, two different sizes, and a tulip.

I assembled the hearts first and used a simple blanket stitch around the edge. As the tiny pillow neared completion I stuffed in little bits of fiber fill. I tacked a small circle of felt on a larger circle of felt for the flower. Then I snipped notches in the larger circle to make the petals and attached the little flower to the heart.

For the daisies, I found out I have to stuff the petals as I go, and next time I won’t make the base of the petal so skinny.

As suggested in the BHG pins, I attached a ribbon to the center back of each of the hearts and flowers. They suggest tying one to the handle of a sewing basket. I also suggest they can be tied to the arm of your sewing machine, or for hand-work, you can tie it around your wrist.

After the original shapes were complete, my imagination was running pretty rampant and I made a block which will be a dandy toy for a tot. I started with flowers on two of the sides, then a butterfly seemed appropriate for the garden-theme.

A caterpillar inches along a little branch. It’s one of those camo caterpillars with a fake eye at the tail end so predators can’t tell if they’re coming or going.

A friend is a fan of frogs, so I came up with this guy for another panel. I was very pleased that everyone recognized it as a frog.

And on one of the pictures above you can see I put a little blue bird on the last panel.

I wanted a ladybug on one panel, but I was manning my booth at the flea market and I didn’t have any black felt with me. But lo and behold, I came across a box full of scraps, some already cut into quilt pieces and there was a small stack of felt, including black, in the mix so now I could make my ladybug. I just love her.

If you’re handy with a needle, you can easily craft your own and show friends or family how to do it. However, if you’re someone who doesn’t even know which end of the needle to thread I can turn this into a tutorial that will show you how. Just ask.

I have one more week at the flea market and then I’ll put these on etsy. Or maybe I’ll put a kit on etsy and you can sew your own. If that’s something you’d like, let me know and I can certainly put them together for you.

Easy Peasy.

If you want to keep up with my next project, follow me. And “like” my Jan Made It facebook page while you’re at it.

I’ve shared this post on:

• Homemaker on a Dime Creative Bloggers’ Party & Hop #98
• Elizabeth & Co.: Be Inspired Features and Link Party #55
• Or So She Says: Link Party #21
• Suzy’s Sitcom Commercial Break Thursday Craft Idea Link List

Plaid Pillow Makeovers ~ 100% Recycled

 

 

I don’t remember how or when the idea occurred to me, but then my friend Dianna mentioned it, and then I started seeing samples online.

I’m talking about turning shirts into pillows. I pinned it when I came across a couch full of them—and a great tutorial—on Country Living.

 

 

In the tutorial they used adult shirts and cut them down to fit pillow forms of a specific size. But the shirts I planned to use were big-boy plaids for little boys. And the toddler-size didn’t give me room for wide seam allowances and top-stitching and other edge treatments.

 

 

All I could do was turn the shirts inside out and sew side seams as close to the sleeve as possible without infringing on the little pockets on the chest. The woven plaid made it easy to stitch in a straight line.

Next I cut the shoulders away from the body just below the yoke and that became the seam along the top of the pillow.

 

 

 

Recycling Note:

Since Poly fill is so expensive these days, I’m a big fan of recycling old pillows. I’m not talking about old stained, sweaty, smelly pillows, just pillows that are out of style. They’re usually only a dollar or two at garage sales and worth the trouble to recycle.

First thing is toss them in the washing machine, and then put them in the dryer. No matter what the fabric content, all of them have come out looking amazing, but alas, they’re still out of style.

Lightweight cottons and polys can be covered as is, but you’ll want to remove the outer pillowcase on heavier fabrics or if there are embellishments or textures that might show through.

 

 

 

To fill the pillows I performed surgery on a couple of small clean old pillows. One pillow form was ready-made and it fit nicely into the red plaid. The other pillow was naked inside, so I had to make a lining for it. I found a scrap of white lining fabric which fit the bill.

 

 

The final step was to turn them inside out and make the final seam across the bottom.

Then I unbuttoned the shirt, turned them right side out and crammed the forms inside. Then I smushed  and pushed and prodded and smashed everything around to fill in the corners and voila! Two pretty cute little pillows.

 

 

I haven’t measured these, but they’re just the right size for little naps. What do you think? Do you have a special spot for a couple of casual little pillows?

By the way, this project is 100% recycled.

 

Beautiful Burlap comes from Ugly Orange Footstool

The only thing to call this is “Ugly Orange.”

As stylish as it may have been back in “the day”—must have been a day in the 70s—it’s well past its prime.

As ugly and orange as it was, it was still in great shape. Sturdy, with nice legs.

There wasn’t much to it, just a functional wood frame.

And the plywood top had suggested it really was for feet. There was the thinnest layer of foam on top. Not a cushy spot to plant your bottom.

After I stripped her. I added thick layer of foam on the top. I forgot to take photos of this step, but it was a couch cushion rescued from our annual city-wide clean-up a few months ago.

I had jute coffee bags in mind for this makeover, but couldn’t make the patterns and prints fit the dimensions so I went with plain burlap. The burlap was in my stash of rescued fabrics and fortunately there was a piece large enough to cover the new thick foam pad.

I have an eyelet dust ruffle somewhere and I had that in mind when I thought of the skirt. To cover up the raw edges of the burlap and the cardboard that covered the sides I stapled on an undergarment of plain muslin, also from my stash.

Then for a more modest look, I covered the legs with a wide strip of crisp muslin. First I stitched lace around the hem. It was part of a huge score of lace I bought at the flea market sometime last year. The lace was a double layer, so it would have cost a pretty penny if I bought it new for this project.

I know I should have pressed it first, but this layer won’t show and I was impatient to finish.

Turns out I couldn’t find my dust ruffle, but I didn’t look very hard after I came across this curtain panel. A friend gave me this because she knew I would find a good project for it. She was right. I cut it into four strips, but only used three of them to add this skirt.

The skirt got two more layers of lace at the hem, this time, two different pieces.

I hid the waistline by stapling double-edged lace—it had a finished edge along the top and bottom—along the seam. Then I covered the staples by whip-stitching a narrow bit of trim over the staples.

And that is how an ugly orange duckling became a beautiful burlap ottoman. It’s a great accent piece in the den or living room and it would be fun and functional in front of a vanity in the powder room, or master bath. Little princesses of all ages will love it.

The staples are the only part of this project that aren’t recycled. But I didn’t buy them at the hardware store. They came out of a box someone else bought at a hardware store many years ago. I bought the box of staples at an estate sale a few months ago.

So while it’s not 100% recycled, I’d say it’s 99.99% recycled. What do you think?

 

 

Antique Chair Makeover

Who likes stripes?

This very old chair somehow made its way into my life.

For the life of me I can’t remember how I acquired it, but it was a mess.

The seat is made up of about four slats assembled tongue-in-groove style.

Many years ago it started coming apart and someone tried to keep it together with over three dozen nails, two wood scraps. two strips of iron and over a dozen screws. 

But the repairs were done so long ago the slats were dry and separated again. While it wasn’t going to collapse, it was not safe for wearers of shorts.

It was so dry, in fact, that after I got it back together—without the extra five dozen or so screws and nails—I wiped it down with a generous coat of oil.

Then a few days later I painted it.

The wood was still dry. Kind of scuffed and rough. It would look best distressed but what color?

I decided on all-of-the-above.

I figured I can always paint it over in one color if this doesn’t work.

But I like it. If I can find a little desk or small table it might become part of a set if it hangs around very long.

If it was yours to paint, what color would you choose?

Denim Ottoman Makeover

Another salvaged footstool is finished. Check it out.

The fabric was 50 cents a yard a couple of years ago at Hancock’s. I bought the last of the bolt  and ended up with about three yards. I still have a couple of yards left.

I hadn’t used the fabric yet because I couldn’t decide which side I wanted to show, and the ottoman gave me a place to show off both sides.

Here’s the before picture. I can see why someone would throw it away. It’s not quite as old as the first ottoman I recycled. It’s got great bones, as they say.  Very sturdy. I think it’s from the 70s maybe?

No wheels on this one. Just nice square wood mid-century looking legs.

I got better with the “seam” on this one, so no need to hide it. It’s also firm enough to do double duty as a coffee table. Just place a large serving tray on top and you’re good to go with a few snacks.

What do you guys think?

Is this something you’d prop your feet on?

Little Ladybug Footstool

Another one of my flea market footstools is now upcycled and ready to go to a new home.

This is very small—about six inches tall, and maybe nine inches in diameter.

Little kids love carrying little chairs and stools around, if for no other reason than they can. I see it at the flea market all the time. Toddlers who can barely walk will make a beeline for little furniture. They pick it up and carry it—how far depends on how soon their parents try to stop them—put it down, and with great care turn around and sit on it. Then they look up at mom or dad or me and flash the biggest smile. So cute!

This plain handmade stool sat around my house for a while. Then about the time I painted the Flower Power Table and the Shabby Love Stool I came across a some very cute ladybug images and inspiration struck.

For the footstool I decided to go with a yellow ladybug, for no other reason than I had several shades of yellow paint and not  much red on hand. I sanded the top and lightly distressed it.

Do you like the yellow ladybug? Or should I have gone with the traditional red and glossed it up?

Check out some photos of a real ladybug over on my photography blog, Cottonmouth Creek.