Sometimes, I know just what I want and either can't find it, or when I do find it...it's just way too expensive. This happened last Saturday. We were playing with the band at a country club and we were supposed to wear black. I wanted a snazzy jacket to wear over my dress. But, I didn't want anything heavy or hot. Well, "hot", but in a fashion sense..he he. I also was hoping for beads.
I went to the thrift store and bought a stretchy and very soft (I LOVE soft clothes!) top. It was only a few dollars, so if my project was a bust...I wouldn't care. I also picked up some beads at Walmart.
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSa02vDJQI/AAAAAAAACGg/rEe0DBEyZq8/s320/09-07-31+011.jpg)
My next step was to lay out all of the things that I thought "might" work in the project.
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSa0tuiJcI/AAAAAAAACGY/FecHYGSmqpA/s320/09-07-31+015.jpg)
I tried imagining how they would look together. I decided on the beads with the crazy threads, second one up from the bottom. What would you have chosen?
![](//1.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSa0YwlPWI/AAAAAAAACGQ/0p36QzC0uBk/s320/09-07-31+016.jpg)
Now it's time to find the middle.
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSa0S6jsaI/AAAAAAAACGI/7Fi9j9E5Jdk/s320/09-07-31+017.jpg)
And cut it open.
![](//4.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSaqqMPGII/AAAAAAAACGA/pPI7C0-d-JQ/s320/09-07-31+018.jpg)
I tried it on and found the length that I wanted and marked that.
![](//3.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSaqcAX4vI/AAAAAAAACF4/VOmZ2UI7nPY/s320/09-07-31+020.jpg)
The sleeves were a little tight. First I removed the hem. That loosened them up a little. Then I stretched the fabric as I attached the trim. After that, they weren't tight at all.
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSaqEIzd3I/AAAAAAAACFw/VU5yOz_l9us/s320/09-07-31+021.jpg)
Next, I turned under both sides of the front and sewed that down. Then, I took the rest of the trim and attached it to the hem.
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSapiqdq7I/AAAAAAAACFo/oocZ1_ccKdk/s320/09-07-31+022.jpg)
I had this frog in my "stash", and I thought it was perfect!
![](//2.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSapEhLz_I/AAAAAAAACFg/Jjqq5LADeYs/s320/09-07-31+025.jpg)
I love the result. I wore it happily AND it was pretty chilly in the club, so I actually needed it after all! I wish I had a picture of me wearing it with my dress. Oh well, next time.
.
I went to the thrift store and bought a stretchy and very soft (I LOVE soft clothes!) top. It was only a few dollars, so if my project was a bust...I wouldn't care. I also picked up some beads at Walmart.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSa02vDJQI/AAAAAAAACGg/rEe0DBEyZq8/s320/09-07-31+011.jpg)
My next step was to lay out all of the things that I thought "might" work in the project.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSa0tuiJcI/AAAAAAAACGY/FecHYGSmqpA/s320/09-07-31+015.jpg)
I tried imagining how they would look together. I decided on the beads with the crazy threads, second one up from the bottom. What would you have chosen?
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSa0YwlPWI/AAAAAAAACGQ/0p36QzC0uBk/s320/09-07-31+016.jpg)
Now it's time to find the middle.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSa0S6jsaI/AAAAAAAACGI/7Fi9j9E5Jdk/s320/09-07-31+017.jpg)
And cut it open.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSaqqMPGII/AAAAAAAACGA/pPI7C0-d-JQ/s320/09-07-31+018.jpg)
I tried it on and found the length that I wanted and marked that.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSaqcAX4vI/AAAAAAAACF4/VOmZ2UI7nPY/s320/09-07-31+020.jpg)
The sleeves were a little tight. First I removed the hem. That loosened them up a little. Then I stretched the fabric as I attached the trim. After that, they weren't tight at all.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSaqEIzd3I/AAAAAAAACFw/VU5yOz_l9us/s320/09-07-31+021.jpg)
Next, I turned under both sides of the front and sewed that down. Then, I took the rest of the trim and attached it to the hem.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSapiqdq7I/AAAAAAAACFo/oocZ1_ccKdk/s320/09-07-31+022.jpg)
I had this frog in my "stash", and I thought it was perfect!
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CYeCJhdfXyM/SnSapEhLz_I/AAAAAAAACFg/Jjqq5LADeYs/s320/09-07-31+025.jpg)
I love the result. I wore it happily AND it was pretty chilly in the club, so I actually needed it after all! I wish I had a picture of me wearing it with my dress. Oh well, next time.
.