The great closet renewal project

Hello, Permies!!

There are a few reasons I've not remade my closet with natural fiber clothes. One is the price. The other is my favorites I don't want to give up.

But, since JoAnns went out of business this month, I've got a whole bunch of new fabrics and colors to pick from! So, an inventory of my wardrobe shows that I'd need to replace:

Underwear,
Bras,
Shirts,
Skirts,
Pants,
Shorts,
And socks

Almost everything, lol. Anyways! One project at a time

This is one of my favorites shirts. I use it as an athletic layer under other things, like jerseys and sweaters if it's cold. It's recycled plastic fiber and spandex....

I'm going to cut it apart and use the pattern to make at least one copycat new shirt from lightweight, woven merino wool and a breathable cotton mesh layer for the underarms and sides.

Can't wait!!

Yesterday, I dyed the wool fabric (and cotton underarm strip) with sumac! The berry like clumps on a staghorn sumac from my friends' front yard. Sumac has natural tannins in it and doesn't need a mordent to hold color. Surprisingly, the cotton turned light pink while the wool pulled a darker mauve. I am quite happy with it!! I may have to hunt down more sumac with which to dye more before spring hits and the clumps fall off.

Today I washed and dried it. Tomorrow, I will put the pieces together ❤️

You know, it takes FOREVER to unpick squirrely knits.

I had to unpick and redo the underarm seams, seeing as how the "pattern" didn't come with instructions and I have trouble seeing things 3d in my head. Got it done eventually, including the awesome thumb holes in the long sleeves.

The pink in the underarm slits faded almost entirely as I ironed the pieces for seams. 😥 Cotton and sumac aren't a great combo, it seems.

The neckline was the biggest trouble. I wanted a bias tape, like the original garment had, but the fabric wanted to roll and it was squirrely to get two rolling edges to match evenly. The homeade bias tape I attempted turned out with a horribly lumpy neckline. It worked when I tried this with linnen on another project! Bummer. Anyways, I unpicked it all and let it roll and sewed it in place. Much better.

I spend a lot of days in yoga pants. So ive been dreaming of how to make yoga pants that are natural fiber and stretchy. Possible? Here's my first attempt:

I love the pocket placement!! The waist fits me just right, too. I did a doubled-over fabric piece for the waist front and back. The legs werent doubled, and honestly, they are too thin. I'd love to try this same pattern with a slightly heavier-weight knit. This pair will have to stay more like long johns.

The finished pants don't stretch nearly as much as the originals. That makes them tight in the thighs. I should have added extra seam allowance AND a little extra for the less-stretch-factor. But alas... I thought I would be losing weight and slimming down, so I erred on the size of too small. These are now my 4th garment that I made too small.

Anyone else ever shop thinking "when I'm down pounds down, these will fit like a dream!" Oy. Why do I do that to myself!?

Anyways, final analysis is that the yoga pants failed to be good yoga pants. I will try again!

Nice pants! If you open the center seam, and put in a strip of the same fabric, it would loosen up the legs, for you. The width of the strip would (of course) have to include both the seam allowances and the amount to loosen them to achieve the fit you're looking for. But, at least it would make them fit comfortably.

This is a big step I've been planning for awhile! I ordered new underwear 😄 since I wear special underwear that reminds me of promises I made, it's a bit more complicated than just buying new ones.

These are the most natural fiber variety availible, I believe. 95% cotton. Since I was wearing straight-up polyester mesh before, I consider this a big step up. Now the fibers touching my skin all day has improved. Wonder if I'll notice any changes?

What changes have you noticed from switching undies?

I have been all 100% cotton on the undies forever. I have tried a few with some or most poly and just didn't like it.
Bamboo is okay but I still like cotton best. You should find it feels softer, drier and more "clean". (That is harder one to nail down, but that is the best way to describe how it feels to me)  
I hope you enjoy your new stuff!

Thanks, Dian! Next up, I've got a skirt to replace. It's a grey, stretchy pencil skirt. I used the wool knit fabric I had, but I doubled it up so it would hold up better and not be see-through! ;)

I then dyed the fabric, which has been my most favorite, successful color fastness so far! I used sumac, like I did for the yoga pants, but I only picked the more reddish bunches this time. I also added avocado pits and skins. It stayed a lovely dark purple-grey after washing!

I used my server this time for most of the seams, to which I had added a half inch seam allowance after last times' experience.

This is the first article of clothing with which I'm really happy. This skirt will probably get a lot of use!