Next are currently running a competition among bloggers to customise a Denim Shirt so I thought I would share my entry.
After looking on Kirsty's blog (fashionforlunch.net) I was pretty inspired to create my own interpretation of her gorgeous DIY Patched Denim Jacket. To buy ready made these jackets end up crazy expensive so I think it's a great opportunity to really personalise something to your own taste and save some money in the process.
Initially my idea was to jump onto eBay to order some sew-on patches. I probably would have ordered some Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Johnny Cash and Guns'n'Roses style patches but it soon became apparent that all the ones I like would take a few weeks to arrive and I wouldn't have been able to customise it within the deadline. I jumped onto Pinterest and made a board full of customised denim inspiration that I liked.
I decided that I would work with what I had, and got the idea to reuse things I had been keeping for one reason or the other. It's not overly trendy, and it might not be perfectly executed (I'm no seamstress) but I decided to customise my denim shirt using bits and bobs from my daughters old clothing and baby bits that I had kept because I liked the pattern or the memory.
Because I'm pregnant and have an ever growing bump I decided to customise just the upper half of my shirt. This way I can easily tie it up for comfort, or style it with a belt above my bump to make it look a bit more flattering. I loved the really grungy biker style denim jackets that I pinned on Pinterest but studs and spikes just aren't toddler or baby friendly so I searched for different options.
When searching for inspiration I was really drawn to the patches. Since I couldn't buy any I decided to carefully cut two images from a pair of Indie's first jeans that I had kept (funnily enough they were actually from Next). I used fabric glue to add a denim backing and make it look a little more like a patch and then sewed them onto each arm. It pains me to say that both patches took two attempts, both times I sewed the patches right through both sides of the shirt meaning I couldn't fit my arms through the sleeves! Ah well, they say you learn from your mistakes.
I had a few of Indie's triangle bandana style bibs kept because I really loved the print of the fabric so I decided to cut one in half and sew it on either side. I really like the way it turned out. I think when the bottom of the shirt is tied up it looks quite like a cowgirl jacket because of this print.
I then unpicked the stitching from the pocket of Indie's jeans and used it to cover one of the pockets on the denim shirt. I've got a photo of her first rolling over wearing these jeans somewhere so it's a great memory for me to remember. I also replaced the original button with the button from her jeans, waste not want not!
I wanted to leave the back pretty plain so I just added some elasticated lace along the seam of the shoulder. I think it looks simple but nice.
Something I did really love the idea of was bleaching denim using stencils to create a pattern. I found a photo on Pinterest here and was all ready to give it a go but unfortunately because of my nausea and sickness that I'm having with baby number two, the smell of bleach was just too much for me to handle.
Lastly I cut the waistband off a pair of Indie's teeny tiny trousers and sewed the multicoloured band on the other pocket.
I'm quite happy with my final result and it's something that I can keep to remember Indie's teeny tiny clothes.
Maybe I can add some more teeny tiny clothes in the future when baby number two is born.
For more entries visit the Next Bloggers Network.
Hi! your shirt looks really cool and your baby bump is adorable!!
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