Category: Thrifting Fun

DIY Style Fun: Adding Kantha Fabric to a Denim Jacket

I’d previously mentioned that I was on a bit of a denim jacket kick. I love to wear them as a more casual topper with work dresses and skirts, and also as the normal lightweight jacket option for commuting. When I was working on a previous embroidered jacket project (you can find it here), I came across a photo of a denim jacket with scraps of fabric integrated into it’s design… and that image lived in my head for awhile.

One day while out-and-about thrifting, I found a super soft denim jacket with a fun interior fabric for just $15.

It reminded me of my inspiration image, so I scooped it up and continued thinking about what I wanted to do to personalize it. Well, I had purchased a Kantha quilt in May 2021 and suddenly had the thought of how great Katha fabric would look on the back of the jacket!

There was no way I was cutting apart my beautiful quilt, so I started checking Poshmark for Kantha fabric options. I ended up finding a couple Kantha vintage scarves and bought them for about $30 total.

Each scarf had different fabrics involved in the design, so I played with them for awhile to determine the perfect combo for my jacket.

Once I decided on a final design, I pinned the fabric strips to the jacket and used the sewing machine to sew each strip down around the boarder. Then, I went in by hand with white thread and followed along with the existing Kantha stitching to better secure the fabric.

Last, I picked a couple elements to trace the stitching with embroidery thread – the flower and a small heart.

Here’s the finished project:

I’m so happy with how it all turned out and it’s a super fun addition to my denim jacket collection!

February 2022 Thrift Haul

Wow, February blew by! Part of it was that we were on vacation for a week, so there was a flurry of activity leading up to our vacation and then more busyness when we returned home. I did have the chance to stop by some thrift stores and consignment stores with my friend earlier in the month, which is where I found these three scores!

Pilcro and the Letterpress denim jacket, $25

Yes, it’s ANOTHER denim jacket. But I keep making craft projects out of them, so when I see a well-fitting jacket in a great denim wash I feel the need to add it to my collection. I picked this one up at a consignment store and the brand is from Anthropologie. I hopped over to their website and an almost identical Pilcro and the Letterpress denim jacket is currently selling for $148.

As of now, I’m undecided on whether I will embellish the jacket in any way. I do have an idea about a subtle embroidery thread rainbow… but for now I’m leaving it be while I let the thought marinate in my brain.

Eileen Fisher green sweater, $25

I love my Eileen Fisher sweaters, so when I saw this one in this incredible mossy green color I snapped it up. It’s a bit oversized – as Eileen Fisher typically tends to be – so when I wore it to work I gave it a little front-tuck to give it some shape.

It also looks pretty cute as a tunic-like top, so I may do that next time. I own nothing else in this color green, but I really like it!

Athleta Women’s Purana wrap, $17

Source: Athleta.com

Here is the stock photo from Athleta because when you try to photograph it in person it looks like a big blob of fabric. I found the Purana wrap at a different consignment store and it was a size XL… so it’s A LOT of fabric.

However, it’s this incredibly super soft sweatshirt-like material and I’ve been wearing it non-stop as a topper with my pajamas before bed and also with my joggers on my telework days. When it’s open, it looks like an open cardigan. But then there are these hidden little magnets in the fabric that you use to make it wrap in the front. Also, THUMB HOLES!

They are still selling this style in a bunch of different colors on the Athleta website for $98, so I’m very happy with my $17 version.

January 2022 Thrift Haul

Ugh. That is how I feel about winter and winter weather. Just UGH. There has been too much cold and snow and ice and freezing rain already and I’m ready for sunshine. With that being said, I did have some wonderful thrifting finds on this gray and icky month… so let’s take a look!

Beaded denim jacket, $10

I’ve been on a bit of a denim jacket kick lately and this one is the one that started me off. I love the neutral bronze colored beading and embroidery. It adds a little bit of pizzaz to an otherwise very classic looking denim jacket. It’s a little tricky to wear one as a topper right now, since I have to bundle up in a heavy coat, so you’ll probably start seeing this one in the spring when the weather warms up a bit.

Handmade blankets, $4, $6 and $3

It’s clear that I have a weakness for the donated homemade blankets. Someone put so much love and work into these blankets, only for them to be donated to the thrift store. This month I collected three beautiful blankets and I don’t regret it even a bit. These three were a total of $13 for a bushel full of love!

Jack wanted to do some thrifting as well, so we went on a visit together and absolutely scored in the games section!

Snap Circuits Skill Builder, $3.50, Bloxels, $4 and Laser Maze, $2

I pulled the first box off the shelf and Jack immediately got excited because they play with Snap Circuits at his before/aftercare program. We opened the box and were pleasantly surprised that it was fully intact with all the pieces. I looked it up, and this same set is currently being sold at Target for $30. Jack has already spent HOURS creating different projects with this set, so I’m thrilled that we picked it up for such a steal.

Jack loves a good STEM game, so we picked up the Bloxels and Laser Maze games as well. They both had all their pieces – yay! – and for a total of $6 for the both of them, they were totally worth it. These probably won’t keep Jack’s attention as long as the Snap Circuits, but I’m happy with re-donating them once they lose their luster.

Dominoes set, $3

Jack plays Dominoes at his Mimi’s house and has been wanting a set of his own. He found this set at the thrift store while I was searching through the books. It was missing one domino, but he ended up finding that sitting on a random shelf. So we ended up with a full set of very nicely made Dominoes for just $3!

3 Harry Potter movies, Aladdin and Lion King, 97 cents each

We’ve been re-watching the Harry Potter series since our trip to Universal Studios is coming up, so I’ve been on the hunt for the DVDs. We had the first and second movies already, so I was very happy to collect the next three in the series for less than a dollar each. I also found Aladdin and Lion King, and I couldn’t leave them behind. I’m still searching for the last 3 Harry Potter movies, so finger’s crossed that they turn up!