Monday, August 10, 2015

Up Your Pendletons

Most of the time when I find a Pendleton shirt, it ends up in my husband’s closet.

Pendletons in the closet

Which is where I assumed this one was destined when I found it a couple of weeks ago at a yard sale. Paid a buck for it, which is a good price for any wool shirt, let alone a Pendleton.

Pendleton frontPendleton back

This one turned out to have had something of a hard life.

Holes on the Pendleton

But no matter. I don’t mind mending, and I wanted to participate in The Refashioners 2015, in which sewists are challenged to refashion a man’s shirt. I washed the Pendleton (I don’t dry clean, no matter what the tag says!), rolled up my sleeves, and went to work.

Warranted to be a Pendleton

The first step was to delve into my refashioning stash. I was originally going to use the turtleneck and cuffs from this heavy merino wool sweater.

Merino Too warm.

But I was afraid it would just too darned warm. (Of course the fact that I’m constructing this in August for pity’s sake might have influenced my thinking.) After a bit of a rummage, I settled on this kitten-soft cashmere sweater that my friend Judy gave me when she did a closet cleanout.

Cashmere sweaterCashmere

Then I found another Pendleton hidden in a box – a similar plaid in a smaller size.

Vintage Pendleton cutter

The differences between these older shirts and the newer ones were interesting. No ‘dry clean only’ tag on the old one – the tag gave full washing instructions - and they were more generous in the use of fabric. For instance, 3” turnbacks for the front facings instead of a strip of taffeta.

Vintage facingModern facing

Had a great time putting things together. I inserted a bias pleat in the back, cut from the back of the second shirt. I removed the front buttons and used part of a vintage sleeve to hinge the front together. Removed the original collar and cuffs and added cashmere ones. Mrs. Wilberforce helped with that part, kindly holding down the shirt while I hand-stitched the cuffs.

Mrs. Wilberforce helps me sew

She made sure to get the maximum amount of pale kitty fur on the dark wool. She’s nice that way.

Mrs. W

And voila, we now have a Pendleton pullover!

Upcycled Pendleton frontUpcycled Pendleton back

It’s very comfortable. And very warm. (Especially in August!)

Upcycled label

This is not my first Pendleton upcycle however. And I don’t think it’s the cutest. That would have to be the vintage Pendleton that I made over for Zoe.

Vintage Pendleton dog coatZoe goes plaidA Pendleton helps you roll over

This one involved quite a bit of pinning and saying, “Zoe! Stand! Wait!” She was very patient as I figured things out.

Besides the back and collar, we were able to utilize the original buttons and buttonholes.

Original buttons & buttonholes

Like mine, hers includes cashmere for the lining – what was left of a sweater that she chewed the sleeves off of. And the chest piece is decorated with a vintage button from my stash.

Vintage heart button

I realized recently that Zoe has quite a creative streak in her. I’ve always thought she was chewing up cloth napkins for the hell of it

Zoe's handiwork

but finally I see that she has been trying to do her own upcycling.

Refashion by Zoe

Guess this would have to be called a pupcycle, right?

Zoe's pupcycle

Rummaging through my stash of cloth and sweaters, I came across a couple more vintage Pendleton shirts that I’d forgotten were there. And some more sweaters from Judy.

I foresee a warm and cozy winter ahead!

Me & Zoe in our Pendletons

12 comments:

  1. Great job on the upcycling and making me (and, no doubt, others) laugh!

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    1. Thanks! I'm starting to look forward to fall now. Especially since it's supposed to get up to 100 again today - not the norm here!

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  2. Replies
    1. Thanks! Zoe wasn't quite sure why I was picking her up, but she played along.

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  3. Nice top! Now I know what to do with the sweaters I'll be getting rid of when I get around to cleaning out my winter clothes. Oh, and by knowing what to do I don't mean doing any actual sewing, God forbid, I mean giving them to you. :-)

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  4. Good for you for finding an actual Made in the USA Pendleton shirt. We were in their store and most everything said "made in China" we left.

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    1. Wow, I had no idea Pendletons had gone off shore. Oh well, I can't afford new ones no matter where they were made. It's vintage for me - thank heavens they're almost impossible to wear out!

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  5. Both projects are brilliant! Sure to win notice in the contest. Which one will you enter? Or both??

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  6. Love that pupcycler's dog jacket!

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  7. Hey Lady! I really want to include your make in a Refashioners round up but the images here are too small for me to use :( Do you have the original full size images and if so can you email me with them??? Please! kitschycoo(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk

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I really love your comments. Thanks for coming along on my thrifty adventures!

 
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