I’m so sad to say that my awesome thrifting pal, Terry, has passed away. She was a positive force in life, even as she passed. I’m so blessed that we were able to make this video together. We had such a fun day. It’s hard to believe she’s gone. Rest in peace, Terry.
I truly enjoy your approach to viewers as the friend next door. Your tips and approach to modifications are logical and concise. Thank you for sharing your alteration expertise.
You are the BEST teacher! Thank you for encouraging us to hang in there with the gusset section…it WAS easier to understand toward the end. (A video on adding gussets alone might be a great idea.) I loved everything about this video. So many helpful tips! Thanks Catherine!!
my hubby of 55 years died last year and one granddaughter was especially close to him... I have a green top like you used from his AF years I think I will fix for her like you did!
So sorry for the loss of your friend Terry, she seemed to be such a lovely happy lady. My condolences and a prayer for her family, and for you too, thank you for help.
I love the upcycling you bring! I always look at the possibilities of a garment and never assume that the thing is the thing but what can it be. You always do it so well and give great tips. Thanks!
OMG this is where I live! I have been following your men's shirt tutorial! How random. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, she seems like she was a great thrifting buddy
Love what you did with the black lace. Totally different look! The changes to the upper sleeve is perfect. The lower edge is much better. All three are great. Taking the red belt off was such an improvement! Liked sewing down the darts too.
Hi Catherine, I love your channel. You were at one of my favourite thrift stores in Comox. I live on the island in Campbell River . I love to sew and I volunteer for a program for people with special needs who also love to sew. For myself I hardly ever buy new clothes, I thrift and remake clothes all the time. I also sew for friends, recently a friend gave me some vintage tablecloths, so I made a top for her out of one of the table cloths. I copied the pattern for her from another top that she had. Watching you gave me the courage and confidence to do it. Thank you so much. Keep on sewing.😊
I really should start an award for Super Sweet Comment of the Week!! You’d be this week’s winner! Your kind words, your passion for sewing and everything you do for your community are all very inspiring. Thank you so much.
The cream lace tank at 3 minutes is so beautiful. I have one and have worn it with so many things. I have a lot of different color tanks, and this goes over them so nicely.
Love your videos. You are my go to person for upcycle inspiration. Thank you for interacting & speaking to your watchers in a normal manner. I went thrift shopping specifically for linen items this week & came home with a gorgeous 100% linen jacket that only needs cuffs removed, sleeves shortened, & cuffs reattached. Two pairs of very nice linen pants, one of which needs no adjustments & a coordinating top that is perfect. Linen is soo expensive but I love it. Again thank for the inspiration❣️🪡🧵
Great video, I'm always on the look out for upcycling in charity shops. Sometimes buy an item just for the buttons. I'm looking for cheap cushion covers at the moment to make sturdy tote bags for my art materials
I loved the change on the red top. The sleeve cap is so much neater. Thank you for having your hair up. It let's me see the neckline area so much better. I love your long hair, but not when I'm trying to see the areas to restyle. You look adorable in both styles. Keep restyling and blessings to you.
I’m in Victoria and love seeing you Thrifting in Comox. I’m on the same wave length, always trying to figure out a transition that makes the garment perfect for me. Thanks for sharing your talent. ❤
Darn you, Catherine! I'm a quilter who sewed many garments in my past life and pretty much quilt exclusively these days. Now I'm going to go to the thrift store and see what I can find to play with and give new life to just because I want to see what I can do. It's ALL your fault. I've been binge watching you as I suffer through a binge of sciatica and you've earned a new subscriber. I'm still not sure how you landed on my home page so we'll call it serendipity. Thanks a lot, I think. 😂
🤣 I’m so happy to have you (reluctantly) on board! I hope your sciatica eases up so you can go thrifting. I sometimes get sciatica too and it’s miserable. For me, yoga helps a lot as does a foam roller. I wish you well!!
Wow I loved the red top , really suits you, the adjustments to that were fun. The black lace, oh transformed !! Ive made some lace choli tops for bellydance, yes it is very forgiving, I loved your tip on the less bulky seams, thats a clever idea. Thank you 🥰
So glad you showed how to alter the arm of the lace top. I have big shoulders and arms and can rarely find a button up shirt that fits me. Maybe you can do another video on that?
I’m a master gusseter! I usually find enough fabric in the garment itself yo use. Most often I take from the length because I seem to prefer wearing my tops tucked into pants and skirts, but I’ve also made use of pockets or pocket linings, sleeve fullness or length, pleats and gathers, or the inside of a yoke. You can replace most of these with other fabrics and fusables -if need be- and even when a pattern ends up being sidewways it is hardly ever noticeable. So gratifying!
@@CatherineSews Oh, hey! I don't know if it interests you or not, but I just uploaded a Japanese lesson on the other channel, eh? I figure there's a chance you might be interested, because you have Japanese family. =)
@@CatherineSews Thanks! Because it's my OTHER channel, I don't really care what happens to it...but then again, I'm quite curious to see if it attracts any viewers at all. lol
Great video as always! We don't have anything comparable in the UK. If you have any advice on converting a top with batwing sleeves to normal sleeves that would be much appreciated X
They all turned out great! I can't wait until I can go thrifting. Right now I have a patio cushion recovering job for my neighbor that has been on hold while I recover from surgery...so as soon as I get that done I'm heading to the thrift stores so I can find some items for my vacation next summer! I want to find an entire purple wardrobe for my trip. lol! It is so nice that one of our thrift stores arranges everything by color. 😁
The way you did black lace top is what I need to do with all my tops, I'm very short and all tops, in order to fit my shoulders have that wide gap under arm, and sleeves are always too long, and the gusset, well I am glad I learned that part. Thanks!!!
I will have to rewatch the lace one again! lol. I was trying to make a sleeve bigger a while back (in the same manner as yours) and could not figure it out and ended donating the garment. Thanks for your expertise! I think I know what I was doing wrong.....I was sewing down the edge of the gusset, not following the sleeve seam
Oh, yes, that’s an important thing to note! I know the lace is hard to see in the video, but hopefully my little drawings help. So glad if you feel like you understand it better now!
That was sewing magic, that the enlarged lace sleeve still fit into the decreased armhole!! Love the neckline on that top. So pretty. With the red top, I wondered if I would have top stitched the placket closed to make it definitely not gape, and also make it easy to sew on the (now) fake buttons. Then I thought, you probably didn't want to see the top stitching. I also think that a flat button would lie down better. On the gingham top, I think that waist seam was meant to create a little (very little) peplum effect, for short waisted people? I love your upcycling videos and you are so brave, cutting into them! Inspiring!!
Thanks for doing this one! The whole gusset to improve that arm was so helpful. And taking out those tags, duh! Is there a way to make a sleeve longer with some kind of trim?
So, I found a pattern that looks similar to that black and red shirt with the funny little horizontal tab in the middle. I think it was a fashion trend from the high street that was in style briefly. The pattern is Simplicity R10184. I don't have the pattern so I don't know when it was released, but perhaps this pattern was also coming off the trend. 🤷 Just happened to run across it in my constant pattern search. ☺️😊
Great fun to watch and learn. I might benefit from more deliberate slower😂 demo of putting in underarm gusset. Also still trying to figure how you so quickly cut the new sleeve shape:) anyway thanks for all you do! I too love thrift stores. Enjoying your videos.
Will you please do a video on how to make a top or top of a dress higher and smaller in the top back? I have small shoulders and a hump on bottom of neck. Around bust I am large. Many shirts are too low in back and unflattering. I’m sure many women have this issue. Hope this makes sense. Thanks for your videos!
I would like to try to make a top on the bias. However, there seems to be a right way of laying out the pattern on the fabric - besides just laying the pieces on the diagonal. Something about not laying them out in parallel? Could you do a video on that? Most videos on the subject does not cover that aspect and those that does not give really clear explanations.
Hmmmm, that is a great idea for a video! Bias is such a wonderful, mysterious tool for designers. So, I’m in! It might take a while for me to get to it, but I’ll put it at the top of my To Do list! Thanks for the suggestion!
These were awesome upcycles!! I have learned so much from your videos. Is there anyway you could do one? Were you show how to make a Neckline smaller by adjusting the shoulders? Thank you so much.
Thanks so much! If you adjust the neckline through the shoulders, then you have to adjust the armholes and sleeves too, so that wouldn’t be my preferred method. Have you seen the video I did on making necklines smaller? There are a few easier ways there.
It was so funny when u were poking out ur hands of the lace., at the last outfit. Meanwhile I don't seem a difference in the volume. And I really wanna follow u! Pls fix it! Tia
@@CatherineSews Wow. I had no idea you were close by. Yah internet. I have recommended you on multiple channels. Someone once asked, who do you follow and a few ppl knew about you. When you cut and remodel sweaters, that is so educational...
Can you show us how to install Chucky snaps into twill/denim? I want to make a waist band for a skirt that is adjustable. Lots of snaps all the way around.
Hi Bonnie, what the heck are Chucky snaps? Lol, so intriguing! I just Googled it and can't find anything! I need to know! I'm just editing a video where I install bachelor buttons, so hopefully that helps.
I’m so sad to say that my awesome thrifting pal, Terry, has passed away. She was a positive force in life, even as she passed. I’m so blessed that we were able to make this video together. We had such a fun day. It’s hard to believe she’s gone. Rest in peace, Terry.
Condolences on the loss of your friend.
@@siusaidhchaimbeul5499 thank you. She was a very special lady.
So sorry for your loss. She seemed really full of life. Glad you had a fun day together before she moved on…
Tous mes condoléances 😭
Im so sorry 😢@@siusaidhchaimbeul5499
I truly enjoy your approach to viewers as the friend next door. Your tips and approach to modifications are logical and concise. Thank you for sharing your alteration expertise.
You are the BEST teacher! Thank you for encouraging us to hang in there with the gusset section…it WAS easier to understand toward the end. (A video on adding gussets alone might be a great idea.) I loved everything about this video. So many helpful tips! Thanks Catherine!!
Ohh sorry about your friend you are always so gracious calm and informative. Thanks for sharing 👍🧵🌺💃🏽
The black lace blouse with a long black skirt would be so elegant.
What fun! I alway learn something from each of your videos. Thanks ❤
my hubby of 55 years died last year and one granddaughter was especially close to him... I have a green top like you used from his AF years I think I will fix for her like you did!
So sorry for the loss of your friend Terry, she seemed to be such a lovely happy lady.
My condolences and a prayer for her family, and for you too, thank you for help.
I love the upcycling you bring! I always look at the possibilities of a garment and never assume that the thing is the thing but what can it be. You always do it so well and give great tips. Thanks!
OMG this is where I live! I have been following your men's shirt tutorial! How random. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, she seems like she was a great thrifting buddy
The black lace refit is perfection!
Love what you did with the black lace. Totally different look! The changes to the upper sleeve is perfect. The lower edge is much better. All three are great. Taking the red belt off was such an improvement! Liked sewing down the darts too.
Hi Catherine,
I love your channel. You were at one of my favourite thrift stores in Comox. I live on the island in Campbell River . I love to sew and I volunteer for a program for people with special needs who also love to sew. For myself I hardly ever buy new clothes, I thrift and remake clothes all the time. I also sew for friends, recently a friend gave me some vintage tablecloths, so I made a top for her out of one of the table cloths. I copied the pattern for her from another top that she had. Watching you gave me the courage and confidence to do it. Thank you so much. Keep on sewing.😊
I really should start an award for Super Sweet Comment of the Week!! You’d be this week’s winner! Your kind words, your passion for sewing and everything you do for your community are all very inspiring. Thank you so much.
Watching y'all shop together was like watching my mom and grandmother shop together. It was adorable!
Nice projects. Love all three blouses.
You’re so talented… just a joy to watch and see what you create.
Beautiful! I can't pick a favourite this time. They are all gorgeous. Your videos always make me want to jump up and start sewing 😊
The cream lace tank at 3 minutes is so beautiful. I have one and have worn it with so many things. I have a lot of different color tanks, and this goes over them so nicely.
It's a red letter day when you upload a video Catherine!
I realllly love the red top!
Oh, thanks! Me too!
Love your videos. You are my go to person for upcycle inspiration. Thank you for interacting & speaking to your watchers in a normal manner.
I went thrift shopping specifically for linen items this week & came home with a gorgeous 100% linen jacket that only needs cuffs removed, sleeves shortened, & cuffs reattached. Two pairs of very nice linen pants, one of which needs no adjustments & a coordinating top that is perfect. Linen is soo expensive but I love it. Again thank for the inspiration❣️🪡🧵
Sweet to have women friends who share an interest with you. Thanks for sharing your projects.
Those projects were great! I loved the gusset idea.
so sad, sorry. enjoy watching you, I wish I could be in one of your classes, lucky students
Great video, I'm always on the look out for upcycling in charity shops. Sometimes buy an item just for the buttons. I'm looking for cheap cushion covers at the moment to make sturdy tote bags for my art materials
Always fun to watch your videos!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoy them!
Beautiful. Giving me great ideas❤
Yay! That was my hope for this video!
I loved the change on the red top. The sleeve cap is so much neater. Thank you for having your hair up. It let's me see the neckline area so much better. I love your long hair, but not when I'm trying to see the areas to restyle. You look adorable in both styles. Keep restyling and blessings to you.
Thank you so much!
You did a very good job fixing all those blouses love it ❤
The lace one came out so pretty.
Excellent makeover, love what you have done with all 3 tops. X x x
I’m in Victoria and love seeing you Thrifting in Comox. I’m on the same wave length, always trying to figure out a transition that makes the garment perfect for me. Thanks for sharing your talent. ❤
Like the changes made to the red top.
Great show Catherine. I especially love seeing my cute sister Terry!💕
Darn you, Catherine! I'm a quilter who sewed many garments in my past life and pretty much quilt exclusively these days. Now I'm going to go to the thrift store and see what I can find to play with and give new life to just because I want to see what I can do. It's ALL your fault. I've been binge watching you as I suffer through a binge of sciatica and you've earned a new subscriber. I'm still not sure how you landed on my home page so we'll call it serendipity. Thanks a lot, I think. 😂
🤣 I’m so happy to have you (reluctantly) on board! I hope your sciatica eases up so you can go thrifting. I sometimes get sciatica too and it’s miserable. For me, yoga helps a lot as does a foam roller. I wish you well!!
I love that store. Hi Terry.
Beautiful!! Love all of them!
Wow I loved the red top , really suits you, the adjustments to that were fun. The black lace, oh transformed !! Ive made some lace choli tops for bellydance, yes it is very forgiving, I loved your tip on the less bulky seams, thats a clever idea. Thank you 🥰
I would love to see the lace top with a skin toned top inside. The lace is so beautiful I’d love to be able to see it all. Great Job! 🥰
So glad you showed how to alter the arm of the lace top. I have big shoulders and arms and can rarely find a button up shirt that fits me. Maybe you can do another video on that?
You are so clever at up-cycling!
I’m a master gusseter! I usually find enough fabric in the garment itself yo use. Most often I take from the length because I seem to prefer wearing my tops tucked into pants and skirts, but I’ve also made use of pockets or pocket linings, sleeve fullness or length, pleats and gathers, or the inside of a yoke. You can replace most of these with other fabrics and fusables -if need be- and even when a pattern ends up being sidewways it is hardly ever noticeable. So gratifying!
I love to shop at that thrift store, maybe I'll see you there sometime. Keep up the good work, love your channel.
Definitely come up and say hi if you ever see me in the thrift store! 😍
Loved all 3 makeovers, but the lace is spectacular! Thanks for sharing with us x xxx
Could you do a tutorial on how to know what to do and how to make sure your cutting and remaking a new sleeve that will fit into your redone garment ?
Black lace now fits well.
Comox! Wooooooot!!
Comox is such a nice town! I had such a great time!
@@CatherineSews Oh, hey! I don't know if it interests you or not, but I just uploaded a Japanese lesson on the other channel, eh? I figure there's a chance you might be interested, because you have Japanese family. =)
@@Maplecook oh, cool! I’ll check it out!
@@CatherineSews Thanks! Because it's my OTHER channel, I don't really care what happens to it...but then again, I'm quite curious to see if it attracts any viewers at all. lol
@@Maplecook I haven't looked at your other channel in so long, I forgot what it's called!
Amazing transformations Catherine. The black top is gorgeous. 😊
Right!? The black top is fit for a Queen! 😍
@@CatherineSews😂
You are amazing and gifted! Great video😊
Catherine, you never fail to impress me. Love all your videos!
Great job! I love these videos.
Wow! Three wins! I love the red & black ones! Those colors look great on you as well! The lace one is beautiful! Nice find!
Love the Black Lace Top! You certainly have Patience!! I just cut those tags as close to the seam as I can, and color them with a Marker to match. 😂
That’s actually really smart! 😂😂
You did a beautiful job on all three. Not sure I know which one I like the best.
I just love to watch and learn how you perfectly handle refitting garments to make them exactly right for your body! Awesome work!
Love this SO much! Terry is one of my favourite people!
Three for three!
Great video as always! We don't have anything comparable in the UK. If you have any advice on converting a top with batwing sleeves to normal sleeves that would be much appreciated X
Thank you, Catherine. Watching your videos have given me the confidence to try fitting my own wardrobe. This one in particular.
They all turned out great! I can't wait until I can go thrifting. Right now I have a patio cushion recovering job for my neighbor that has been on hold while I recover from surgery...so as soon as I get that done I'm heading to the thrift stores so I can find some items for my vacation next summer! I want to find an entire purple wardrobe for my trip. lol! It is so nice that one of our thrift stores arranges everything by color. 😁
So cute! Choosing just one colour for a travel wardrobe is a great idea!
The way you did black lace top is what I need to do with all my tops, I'm very short and all tops, in order to fit my shoulders have that wide gap under arm, and sleeves are always too long, and the gusset, well I am glad I learned that part. Thanks!!!
Beautiful work! I expect this of a good Canadiana girl 🦆 from B.C.
Absolutely love your videos. Thank you for sharing your projects with us. God bless.
Love them all but that black lace is gorgeous. You look lovely in each one :)
I will have to rewatch the lace one again! lol. I was trying to make a sleeve bigger a while back (in the same manner as yours) and could not figure it out and ended donating the garment. Thanks for your expertise! I think I know what I was doing wrong.....I was sewing down the edge of the gusset, not following the sleeve seam
Oh, yes, that’s an important thing to note! I know the lace is hard to see in the video, but hopefully my little drawings help. So glad if you feel like you understand it better now!
Great video! love watching here in Vancouver! While I am 100% sewing machine challenged I enjoyed the video! I hope you make more of them!
Your videos are amazing
Oooh, I wonder what the lace top under the red top would look like! Then you could let the top hang open a bit to see the scalloped lace neckline!
Oh, that is such a good idea! I’ll try that!
These are great! Thanks for sharing.
Oh, and Terry sure seems neat 😊
@@sarahferrell5458 isn’t she fun!? We had a great time!
That was sewing magic, that the enlarged lace sleeve still fit into the decreased armhole!! Love the neckline on that top. So pretty. With the red top, I wondered if I would have top stitched the placket closed to make it definitely not gape, and also make it easy to sew on the (now) fake buttons. Then I thought, you probably didn't want to see the top stitching. I also think that a flat button would lie down better.
On the gingham top, I think that waist seam was meant to create a little (very little) peplum effect, for short waisted people?
I love your upcycling videos and you are so brave, cutting into them! Inspiring!!
I love shopping at 2nd hand shops too 🥰love all your finds and make overs🥰love your style ❤❤❤
Very informative as always. All the refashions are great. You look awesome in red!
I luv your thrifting and the ideas you have with everthing
I believe this funny little thing is for hold the scarf or kind of belt (this top is look like Japanese, or Korean )
Great video! You are always so inspiring.
Thanks for doing this one! The whole gusset to improve that arm was so helpful. And taking out those tags, duh! Is there a way to make a sleeve longer with some kind of trim?
Txs for GR8 vids. You are so talented. Headed to my closet for ideas ☺️
Wonderful to hear!
These upcycles came out great!!
I love the red top on you. Plus, the black lace is very nice on you.
So, I found a pattern that looks similar to that black and red shirt with the funny little horizontal tab in the middle. I think it was a fashion trend from the high street that was in style briefly. The pattern is Simplicity R10184. I don't have the pattern so I don't know when it was released, but perhaps this pattern was also coming off the trend. 🤷 Just happened to run across it in my constant pattern search. ☺️😊
Great fun to watch and learn. I might benefit from more deliberate slower😂 demo of putting in underarm gusset. Also still trying to figure how you so quickly cut the new sleeve shape:) anyway thanks for all you do! I too love thrift stores. Enjoying your videos.
I know that lace gusset was hard to see. I hope my little drawings helped a bit?
Will you please do a video on how to make a top or top of a dress higher and smaller in the top back? I have small shoulders and a hump on bottom of neck. Around bust I am large. Many shirts are too low in back and unflattering. I’m sure many women have this issue. Hope this makes sense. Thanks for your videos!
Very ambitious projects. I like the red one but probably would have shortened it a bit. The black lace is stunning!
I always thought the loops were for tucking around your bra to keep the top in place 😮
Lingerie carriers are much smaller and they snap in place. Maybe I’ll do a short video on them!
I would like to try to make a top on the bias. However, there seems to be a right way of laying out the pattern on the fabric - besides just laying the pieces on the diagonal. Something about not laying them out in parallel? Could you do a video on that? Most videos on the subject does not cover that aspect and those that does not give really clear explanations.
Hmmmm, that is a great idea for a video! Bias is such a wonderful, mysterious tool for designers. So, I’m in! It might take a while for me to get to it, but I’ll put it at the top of my To Do list! Thanks for the suggestion!
@@CatherineSews Thanks. Your explanations are always clear.
Красиво получилось.😊❤
You look so summere 😊
These were awesome upcycles!! I have learned so much from your videos. Is there anyway you could do one? Were you show how to make a Neckline smaller by adjusting the shoulders? Thank you so much.
Thanks so much! If you adjust the neckline through the shoulders, then you have to adjust the armholes and sleeves too, so that wouldn’t be my preferred method. Have you seen the video I did on making necklines smaller? There are a few easier ways there.
It was so funny when u were poking out ur hands of the lace., at the last outfit. Meanwhile I don't seem a difference in the volume. And I really wanna follow u! Pls fix it! Tia
Oh no, really!? I went through it with headphones on and it seemed like the volume was fine! I’ll try to get a new mic for next time.
Like it sleevles
Cathrine! I always love the projects you teach us. But I am confused. Do you live on Vancouver Island? I'm in Duncan. We are almost neighbours.
I live in the Lower Mainland, but I come to Duncan every summer! There’s great thrifting there!
@@CatherineSews Wow. I had no idea you were close by. Yah internet. I have recommended you on multiple channels. Someone once asked, who do you follow and a few ppl knew about you. When you cut and remodel sweaters, that is so educational...
@@dianeroome972 thanks so much, Diane! I really appreciate the feedback and the support!
Hello creative upcycle lady😂❤🎉
I loved the red piece. Looks so asian 👍😎🐈⬛🐕🦺
Can you show us how to install Chucky snaps into twill/denim? I want to make a waist band for a skirt that is adjustable. Lots of snaps all the way around.
Hi Bonnie, what the heck are Chucky snaps? Lol, so intriguing! I just Googled it and can't find anything! I need to know! I'm just editing a video where I install bachelor buttons, so hopefully that helps.
👍🏼👍🏼
So sorry about your friend 😢
Thank you so much. She was a special lady.
If you were sewing the front closed at the buttons anyway, you could have used the original buttons, no?
Catherine, do you live in Comox? I live in Duncan.
No, I’m in the Lower Mainland. But I visited Comox and I also just visited Duncan! There are great thrift stores in Duncan!
Absolute genius putting slits in the sides to make pocket access easier, it’s almost too obvious 🤦🏻♀️
Haha, right!? I actually wish I had made them even longer, but that's a job for another day! Thanks so much for watching and leaving a sweet comment.
I thought you meant to wear the shirt under the lace.