Garb from unusual sources?

[Christine Jones]

     So does anyone here have stories of turning mundane items into garb?  I figured I would start by telling the story of the "capelette"
      I was cruising a Hobby Lobby about 3 or 4 years ago when a pretty swatch of tapestry fabric caught my eye in the Christmas section.  It was a Tree Skirt, and was gorgeous.  It was made from brown tapestry and velveteen, it had "dags" with brown tassles, it was lined, and it had buttons.  I stood there thinking how pretty it was and wishing I celebrated Xmas.  Then it hit me- if it hadnt have been sitting in a Christmas aisle, I would have thought it was a cape straight from Moresca.  So, I tried it on.  It went to about my elbows, and was very warm.  It was normally $100 but was half off that week.  So, I took it home and waited for my guy to make fun of it.  He thought it was great and would have never guessed it was a tree skirt.  So, I reinforced the buttons, and I now take it to cold faires as well as Pennsic to wear on the colder evenings.  I have been accosted over and over again, "OMG!  Where did you get that GREAT cape?"  I now wonder how many people ran to their local Hobby lobby and grabbed one up after I told them.  They had them in brown and sometimes they also had olive green.   
Chris

[Adriana Rose]

I get stuff that I use for garb from the Thrift stores all the time! I have a crochet poncho that I use as an over skirt. I hate wearing ponchos so hence the use as a skirt..

[sealion]

I never would have thought of a tree skirt cape! I'll have to look at that 90% off stuuf with a fresh eye now. :giggle:

[Dinobabe]

Well, let's see?

Table cloth into cape
Strapless dress into hooded cape
Bed spread into breeches
Funcky oversized sweater into tunic
Canvas into, well, anything
Earrings into pleat broaches
Shoelaces into bodice cord
Deck shoes into noble slippers
I could go on!

I love finding the unusual and using it for my own ren needs!

[mieljolie]

A cape from a tree skirt sounds like a very lovely idea.  I know I've seen many tree skirts that were gorgeous these past few seasons.  Wish you'd have posted this earlier.    Great idea.  I'd love to see a pic.

I treasure the idea of reusing otherwise wasted things.  That's why I made my can tab bodices and other articles.  I used mainly recycled fabric and remnants.  We found pretty much all of our other garb at thrift stores, as well.  Still amazes me what we find in those places.  Especially with a little imagination. 

[Dinobabe]

Our local Hancock's has a remnant section that is all upholstery.  My general rule for garb fabric searches is that I am only allowed to buy from that section (unless I need plain cotton).  It is amazing the finds and prices.  You may end up picking a fabric design that would have never otherwise caught your eye!  My middle class outfit (avatar) cost me about $50 total to make; the cost of the upholstery fabric alone (regular price) was about $160!  The outfit I am starting this weekend will be almost all remnants, including parts of a tapestry curtain my grandma bought at a thrift store.  I can't wait!

[Var Greyshadow]

My first garb was an Amazon like on Xena.  The top was a knitted halter top with various browns and tans in a zig-zag pattern.  I added suede and chain maille shoulder caps with leather straps to keep them from slipping.  I got told several times that the top looked like chain maille from a distance.  The skirt was also just a mundane miniskirt to begin with.  To that, I added several large sections of suede skins.  Cool outift and not very expensive.

My other mundane object, while not really garb, is my flag pole.  I wanted a pole to fly my Gondor battle flag on, but I wanted it to break down to fit in the car.  I found an 8-foot wood drapery pole at Hobby Lobby and attached the flag to that.  It's very cheap wood, and the screw hole where the pieces join got very loose very quickly.  Got a short section of metal pipe and glued it to the bottom half of the pole.  Then, I wrapped it with leather.  Instant support and instant handle!

[Miranda]

I once built a brown suede bodice from a skirt I found in a thrift store.  It was a lot cheaper than buying a hide from Tandy Leather.

[Auryn]

this is a great thread.
we should keep it going cause its a great source of ideas.
Now its gonna take me forever to leave the store when i got to ross

[DragonWing]

I made my other halfs garb out of bed sheets. I already had the contrasting fabric for the inside of the over sleeves

[Sitara]

The latest thing I've made was a gypsy belt out of an old pair of pants, an unraveled sweater, beads and shells from a broken necklace as well as extra chainmail rings.

This is the only photo I have of it.



Pssst...That is Muffin next to me.

[LadyShadow]

I've used thrift stores before when buying faux fur for lining.  Plus for making various small items for garb.

[Athena]

I made an old diamond shaped choker with faux bezel set stones into a brooch. I removed the cord, attached a pearl to the bale, flipped it upside down and glued on a pin back .

I've worn scrub bottoms and palazzo pants for pirate garb, used quilting fabric to make a turban, drapery cord and tassels for a gypsy belt.

[Lady L]

I made our antlers out of Christmas ornaments.
I bought some Christmas ornaments in 08 that I will be making into brooches.
I used a hummingbird feeder for the orb on top of a branch, for a walking stick.
I took apart upholstery loops to make vines for applique.
I took apart a broken belt to make into a neckpiece. I covered deck shoes with leather to make elf shoes. 

[Tammy]

For my Faery outfit I used Christmas ornaments to decorate it...a little bird from Garden Ridge, became my little buddy (sitting on top of my shoulder), and a small green wreath had little flowers added to it and made into a bracelet.