Looking Back at What I Made in 2024

Clothing Edition

Vintage Clothing Remake: Asymmetrical Jumper Skirt

I once remade a dress into a tucked skirt, but I realized the waist looked way too low (I have a wavy body type).
I remade it further into a jumper skirt.

In this photo, the skirt feels a bit too frilly for a middle-aged person, but because it has a nice drape, it actually hangs straight, so it doesn't bother me (or so I'd like to think).

Tapered Pants (4th pair in total)

I made tapered pants using super cheap fabric I bought in Nippori over 10 years ago.
I've already made three pairs using the same pattern, so this is the fourth.

It's a dry fabric that feels like it has zero moisture absorption, but it had enough stiffness, so it worked out well. It doesn't wrinkle even after washing.
I used these a lot, a whole lot, during the summer.

Tenugui Hem Pettipants ①

Summer pettipants using 100-yen shop tenugui (hand towels) for the hems.

Even with such a flashy pattern, it's okay for a middle-aged person if it's placed at the hem.
And since it's a tenugui, it's breezy and cool.
I think it's a masterpiece, like a 'show-off summer pettipants'.

Sheet Remake: Steteco (Relax Pants)

I bought a sheet at Shimamura, and although it was getting worn out, it felt like a waste to throw away, and the bear pattern was cute, so I turned it into steteco for home use.

It felt a bit clingy on the skin, so it was a poor choice of fabric for steteco (even though it was polyester, I underestimated it, thinking it was a sheet so it would be fine for moisture absorption).

Also, I was worried about the hem touching the floor in the bathroom (well, it's my home bathroom, so I guess it's fine).

It was a bit of a failure.

Tenugui Hem Pettipants ②

I placed elephant-patterned fabric at the hem. Since I matched the colors overall, I don't think it looks too out of place.

Since it's made of tenugui (Japanese hand towel) fabric, it's breathable and perfect for summer.

Camisole dress remade from a Daiso curtain

I bought a 500-yen curtain from Daiso in a hurry when I first moved in.
It felt like a waste to just throw it away, so I used it as fabric.

Since it's polyester and has zero moisture absorption, I decided to make it into a camisole dress, as it wouldn't be touching my skin directly.
Given the texture of the fabric, I thought it might look too childish, so I made the bib lower.

That said, I'm middle-aged, so I thought the star pattern might be a bit much, but I figured if I paired it with pants in a similar color, it might just pass (well, maybe it's pushing it... but I'll wear it anyway since it would be a waste not to).

White shirt remake: Overskirt

It might not even be worth calling a remake, but I added tucks to a white shirt that had become permanently yellowed and turned it into an overskirt.

At an age where I'm concerned about sagging around my hips, this is my strategy to hide them while creating a 'shirt-wrapped' look.
However, with oversized silhouettes being trendy lately, I don't get much of a chance to wear it.

Used clothing remake: Asymmetrical design pants

I took apart a cache-coeur dress I had made previously and repurposed the material for tapered pants.
I added some fabric scraps to finish it with an asymmetrical design.

I was worried that the asymmetry might look too chaotic, but since it's a dark color, it doesn't stand out too much (or so I think).

I made them a bit loose, so I'm wearing them in the winter with leggings underneath.

Accessories

Smartphone case

During the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfecting my phone was a hassle, so I made a case that could cover the entire screen. It turned out to be surprisingly convenient.
The first one wore out, so this is the second version with some improvements.

All materials were sourced from Daiso (faux leather scraps, soft case, adhesive), so it cost about 330 yen in total.
Even though the case covers the entire screen, I can still use it for code payments at the register.
However, the case gets a bit stiff in the winter due to the cold, making it harder to operate.

White sacoche

I made this in the summer because I wanted a mini bag that could just hold my wallet and smartphone.

It's a bit difficult to use, so it hardly ever gets used😥
I'm thinking of threading a cord through the eyelets and using it like a flat bag.

Arrangement: Turning a party bag into a shoulder bag

A party bag I used when I was invited to a wedding.
I listed it on Mercari, but it didn't sell, so I decided to arrange it for everyday use.

I removed the ribbon and pearl handle that gave it that party look and replaced them with a handmade shoulder strap (and sometimes added a bear motif).

It toned down the party vibe and became something I could use every day, but my problem is that the clasp pops open if I put anything heavy in it.

Summary

Jumper skirts/dresses: 2
Tapered pants: 2
Petti-pants: 2
Steteco (loungewear pants): 1
Other accessories: 4
That's how it went.

My personal hits were the patchwork jumper skirt and the petti-pants made from tenugui towels.

Before, even when I made my own clothes, they looked so obviously "homemade" that I couldn't wear them, so I'm happy that I've finally reached a point where I can wear them for everyday use.

That said, I still can't do professional-level sewing, and the existence of Ranko Tsuda's book on "amateur sewing" for your own size has been a huge help.

Making things in my own size makes them so very comfortable to wear, so I don't think I'll feel like buying ready-made tapered pants ever again.

Things for 2025

★ I want to increase the time I spend making things even more (though I have a ton of other things I want to do, so it's hard to prioritize).

★ Commercializing handmade accessories -> I want to do my best on minne.

↓ I'm going through a lot of trial and error, so please take a look if you'd like.

I've introduced the work process for each piece mentioned in this article in more detail on my Hatena Blog, so if you'd like to know more, please go here↓.