Sew an Art Dress and Make a Statement!

Wearing your art on your sleeve is so much fun! Nowadays, people have opinions on all manner of things. They always have however I find that today people feel more free to share those opinions even if they go against the grain. In the past, it wasn’t polite to talk money or politics and today anything goes! You can’t go a few minutes without someone voicing their political views. Every conversation is a kind of battle field, where your views can make or break your relationships.

I bought some secondhand fabric off Etsy last year, and in the bundle of random pieces I got an army fabric. I was wondering what good use could come of it! I support the army wholeheartedly, and I know it is a path for a lot of people. And at the same time I love peace. I love dreaming of a world where wars don’t need to be fought.

This dress came about from that idea! I had thrifted a crop top that said “Good Viber Paris”, so that needed covered up to make my statement. Truthfully I bought the top to upcycle, and then last week the stars aligned and I got to sewing!

Detail from the “Coexist Upcycled Dress” by Kathryn Sturges

My new Brother sewing machine has a basic lettering font! And I can’t wait to embroider more art clothes and projects in the future with it!

Sew a Patchwork Dress

Last night I sewed for three hours, and it felt like the best three hours of my entire life! I was struggling since January with a new sewing machine that didn’t work. However last weekend my husband brought me to JoAnn’s and we picked up a Brother! The machine is so easy to use. I set it up and got to sewing right away with it.

This dress took about four to five half hour sewing sessions. I've still had a stack of cotton squares on my sewing table, so I just grabbed some and whipped them into a dress. Super simple and the end result is gorgeous! I added lace to the bottom hem. I’m looking forward to wearing this dress when I go to the park or on my next day trip.

Here are a few tips for sewing a basic patchwork dress.

1. Try cutting off the top you are upcycling a few inches under the armpit area. That raises the start of the skirting to the top of the bust area, which gives the dress a super cute vintage feel. Hello 1960’s!

2. I used six squares horizontally, and then estimated how long I wanted the dress to be. When I was sewing, I stretched the top as I sewed so that the top of the skirting would have a slight gathered effect, and wound up needing to add more squares to complete the row. If this happens for you, just stop three to four inches before the end of the seam, add in more squares and then finish sewing.

3. Sew the vertical seam on the skirting last. This way you can add more squares if needed. When you get to the end of the seam, leave about an inch opening. Next, sew the vertical seam down the side of the patchwork squares. Trim the edge of that seam and finish the edge with a zig zag stitch. Then go back and finish attaching the skirting to the upcycled top.

Spring is right around the corner! Whip up a patchwork dress to wear on the Equinox!

Upcycling as a Form of Rebellion

Society will tell you what looks good and what looks bad! People will try to tell you to lose weight or do whatever it takes to reach that “good looking” status. Lately I’ve been sweating it, because after I went to the hospital I had to go on oxygen for a month. And I put on some weight!

What I love the most about upcycled clothes is that they are a big middle finger. They are a middle finger to pop culture, fashion magazines, and anyone who has ever shunned me for how I look. They are also a big “f-you” to anyone who tries to tell me how I “should” dress myself. I don’t see people in the media that look like me very often. And when I do, they are type cast to be either a loser or so desperate that they cannot create a life. Upcycling clothes and rocking my makes gives me the courage to play bigger in my life! And nobody can take that power away from me…not pop culture or naysayers hating on me for how I look..

Part of the reason I upcycle is pure rebellion. I live in Iowa, where people do not express themselves very often with the clothes they wear. If you aren’t wearing a solid or striped shirt with khaki’s or jeans….you don’t fit in. Especially in cornbread white culture, it is not ok to stick out in any way. The status quo is to blend in and not be too colorful!

Back of upcycled dress by Kat Sturges

Upcycling is also a form of rebellion because it is an alternative to the waste economy. Why throw something away when you can make it even more fabulous? Why buy into the rhetoric that you always have to buy something new just to fit in?

Why do you upcycle? What is it about wearing your own makes that keeps you coming back for more? Upcycling has a hold on me, big time! There is something so exciting when you wear something you took the time to make for yourself. It is an act of taking some of your power back from the fashion industry. Because you can create a look that is true to you, not some cookie cutter rendition of what a million other people are wearing at any given time.

Let's Talk Pockets...

I bought this flannel of Etsy a few years back. And I swear, the pocket makes the flannel just SING! Recently I got some cotton squares off of Amazon because I wanted to experiment and see what I could do with them. And lo and behold, I started adding big pockets to EVERYTHING! LOL! I keep the quilt squares on my sewing table now, and anytime I come across something that could just use some pockets, I add some.

KItten Cardigan by Kathryn Sturges

The front of these pockets is made of fabric from a vintage sheet, and the pockets are lined with cotton squares.

My husband would probably divorce me if I added these pockets onto everything that I want to add them to. Seriously though, I wear a lot of pants that don’t have pockets. So having giant pockets on things, or extra pockets, is just the way to go. I dress more for comfort today, and I love artsy craftsy clothes. So these pockets will be a mainstay for my upcycles going forward.

I’ve even been adding big pockets to some art portfolios that I’m covering! Precut quilt squares are so versatile, and I bet if you had a stack by your sewing machine you could come up with all kinds of uses for them too!

Art Video: Body Positive Lovers

I’ve been experimenting with making some more art videos for Instagram! I did this video yesterday and have decided to only share it here on the blog. This painting is for all the women who think they can’t be loved because of how they look. I have to tell you, I have always crushed on guys with big noses! LOL! I’m not sure why that is. If there is something you don’t like about the way you look, can you take a moment to just appreciate that your face and body are pure miracles! Nobody on Earth looks exactly like you do. We are each like snowflakes, no two of us are exactly alike.

I have an identical twin sister. When we were younger we looked similar, but she wore glasses. Today we barely even look like we are related. I gained weight and she is thin. She wears glasses still and has long hair, and my hair is bob length. Sometimes I wish I looked more like her. But just for today, I’m appreciating what a miracle it is just to be me!

So without further ado, here is the art video I made! Love on yourself this month! Accentuate the qualities you love and rock it!