Project: Recon (Doppel)

I have two reconned projects to show you today.

First: The Denim/Fur Skirt

My idea for this originated from seeing various Saracen/bellydancer styles, but it went north from there and came out made from denim with faux fur trim. Here is the original:



There were several things I found myself not liking about this, after wearing it for a while. Try as I did, I didn't manage to get the waistband to actually fit me. It was too large. I added darts to it and it was still too large, I found myself constantly pulling the skirt up because it felt like it was falling off. I didn't like how bulky the gathers were (even though it's fairly thin denim), and the weight of the skirt was straining and eventually breaking the waistband seam. Finally, the overpanels on the sides were certainly an interesting design element, but the skirt felt cumbersome enough without the added bulk of these panels flapping about uselessly.

So it went in the mending pile and came out like this:



One of the useless side panels was used to create a new waistband, this one very high and fitted. I moved the opening to the front (the previous edition had two buttons on the side). The other panel got turned into a large patch pocket with a zipper. I kept the skirt width the same, but pleated it all in the back. I wore this a few hours after making it, and find it to be very comfortable, and it doesn't feel heavy and in the way like it previously did.

Second: A T-shirt Recon

Tshirts are my fashion nemesis, so I don't know why I keep buying them. I tell myself to stop. I got this one at the Scottish Festival/Highland Games at Thanksgiving point this summer. It sat in my mending pile for so long that I forgot it existed. Then I remembered and thought I had lost it. Then I found it.

I didn't get a before photo, so just imagine the basic boxy oversized tshirt.

I cut the neckline differently and added elastic to it, added small gores at the sides, made the sleeves a tiny bit smaller, and gathered it in the back. A very simple recon, but it works.