Save Your Jammies From Being Ruined By DIY – Vintage Sewing Cabinet Makeover!
What do you get when you’ve got a passion for DIY…….no proper “paint” or work clothes…a drawer full of paint-splattered jammies, and ugly furniture like this to make over?
Well–you end up with a drawer full of clothes that look something like this:
This, my friends, is how you’ll find me on a Saturday morning: with ugly, ruined clothes in which I not only sleep, but also in which I do my projects and yard work!!
Last month I was rooting through my drawers trying to find decent jammies and I couldn’t find a thing that wasn’t speckled with paint, caulk, or stains. (I even had a pair of–GASP!-maternity leggings from nearly 4 years ago! I know……that’s crazy! What in the world am I thinking??)
The problem is four-fold (is that a word??): 1) I don’t have proper attire to DIY, and 2) I’ve ruined all my jammies because of it, 3) I look like a bum to the neighbors when I’m DIY’ing in the driveway, and 4) I don’t have any cute jammies for lounging around the house with my family because they’re all stained.
I knew I couldn’t be the only one suffering from this problem, so I posted awhile ago asking you guys if you’re guilty of DIY’ing in your jammies, too. And you know what?? You are!!
Duluth Trading Company to the Rescue!
I decided that I would get some proper work gear this month (along with some pretty jammies)! I had a chance to try some Duluth Trading Company work clothes last year and absolutely loved them and their company (can you say BALLROOM jeans? Ha! That always makes me laugh!). So I decided to order some of my favorite things from their website (see my wish list for a complete list of what I ordered). I spend a lot of time on projects, and decided that I would treat myself to some of the best I could afford.
Most of my projects are done outdoors in the driveway and garage, so it’s really not ideal to DIY in jammies, anyhow. Plus, with spring here and summer coming, I wanted shirts, like this Armchillo® cooling shirt to not overheat in the sun.
So this weekend I was working on my Ugly April project: a vintage sewing machine with a beat-up cabinet which may or may not be as old. But IT.WAS.UGLY.
BEFORE
It took some sanding and a couple coats of paint, and some gold rub n’ buff (and lots of leaning over!), but it was worth it!
AFTER!
BEFORE
AFTER!
The knobs came from this vintage buffet I made over last year.
See This Post in Action — Watch the Video!
See the transformation of the sewing cabinet and how my new work gear held up!
Believe it or not, it was a pretty easy project to complete, despite its condition. I did some sanding on the top, and painted it French Linen (Annie Sloan chalk paint), but it did take a bunch of stooping and squatting while working on it. I was stoked at how stretchy my new work gear was! And the best part: I didn’t moon anyone!! 🙂 The shirt was shaped nicely, yet long, and I could get low without worrying that someone walking by was getting a peep show or that I was inappropriately dressed (or ruining more jammies or street clothes, which I have also worked in).
And I was inspired by the gold in the vintage Singer machine. So I decided to use gold rub n’ buff on the edge. Here’s what it looked like WITHOUT it. Pretty plain, huh?
BEFORE
But the gold just sets it off nicely, I think.
AFTER!
The cord is frayed on the sewing machine so I’ll have to see about getting it fixed. Then, I’m not sure what I’ll do with this piece! For now, it’s sitting in my cluttered garage. Surprised??
I checked the serial number on it here, and it looks like the machine is from 1935! I am doubtful the cabinet came from that time, but I don’t know…?
BEFORE
AFTER!
While outside working on the sewing cabinet, I tested out one of my other Duluth Trading Company shirt, the Armchillo® Long Sleeved button down shirt. It’s surprisingly light weight and kept me cool (and it has sun protection built into it!) and wicked away sweat.
Oh, and get this–it even has a built-in microfiber glass shirttail shammy on the hem, so when your safety glasses or eye classes need cleaning (sawdust, anyone???), you’ve got one right there stitched on the hem of your shirt. Seriously, who was the genius that designed THAT feature??! Thank you!!
I might just have to save this one to wear out-and-about, it’s that pretty :). My favorite color!
And my faaaaavvorite pants: the DuluthFlex Dry on the Fly Convertible pants! OH MY! How could I have lived without these?! Those deep pockets for TOOLS……the stretch (even has a stretchy waist!), and they’re long enough for my 5’10” frame. I’m seriously considering getting a second pair for just casual wear when I’m out-and-about. That’s how good they look and feel!
Overall, it was a pretty productive weekend! I had just gotten back from South Carolina this past weekend (did you hear about my exciting news??). And then to have completed this ugly project, and also make over my own ugly work gear and jammies, I’m feeling pretty great about now! 🙂
Meet My New Jammies
Well, you just met my new work gear. Now meet my new jammies. Yes, I am be vegetarian, but cute piglets with glasses don’t count. 😉
And although these are cutesy, I feel amazing in them! Finally, paint-free clothing! WOO HOO!
Worktime!
Playtime!
My boys had fun rolling around with me this morning. And I didn’t have to feel all gross in my bed. LOL
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I have ruined lots of lounge wear while doing DIY projects. I don’t know why I don’t stop and change clothes.
Another gorgeous makeover Serena!
When I saw “paint on your jammies” I laughed out loud because I am sooo guilty of this. I wake up, I craft, I cook, I paint, I go to sleep. LOL
Because of that, I would have to get the WOMEN’S DULUTHFLEX DRY ON THE FLY CONVERTIBLE PANTS {if I won}. These pants have great features and a nice assortment of colors. Yay for a stretchy waist too 😉
Crud Clothes! You know the ones, the jeans or sweats that you ruined by painting, mowing, cleaning or whatever in them. Oh and my favorite, the nice sweatshirt you splashed bleach on or scrubbed the sink out with comet! I have the same sewing cabinet that I found while junking and sanded it down and ……well let’s say I know how to finish it now. I enjoy your blog, keep it coming! And remember, “Never to old to dumpster dive!”
Most of my inspiration comes at night, so my jammies are my work clothes. I have ruined every top I own I would love the cooling shirt.
Serena,
LOVE THIS! That looks absolutely amazing! And I totally love the Rub n’ Buff around the edges, definitely gives it the extra “touch” I have definitely ruined clothes by DIYing and other work around the house. Paint, glue, caulk, etc etc. With my budget being what it is right now, don’t have the money to buy any “good” clothes for it. But, that’s ok, I’ll just keep on it 🙂 Eventually, I will just be “forced” to have to get some HAHA 🙂 Totally love the cabinet, what did you use on the sewing machine itself? It looks all shiny and pretty again!
Oh forgot to say what I would get from Duluth if I won. LOL 🙂 I think I would get the Dry on the Fly pants or the Armachillo cooling shirt. Both of these would be awesome for my DIY’ing projects, so I don’t have to wear my sleep pants all the time. Definitly would be nice not to have the “butt cleavage” as you put it while bending over!
I DIY and paint all the time in my jammies cause you never know when the inspiration might hit 🙂
I am from Georgia and I do all my diys in my PJs because I want to be comfortable that way I can focus on the project a lot better! I am big on sanding and one time I sanding in jeans ate lunch right quick and felt bloated! Took me longer than expect and since that day I don’t wear anything uncomfortable ! If I won I would buy accessories pieces!
It’s too hot here in FL for jammies..but we won’t go into that 😉 Not too long ago I was looking for something casual to wear out to meet friends. Every single thing I pulled out had paint on it, even some of my favorite tops. I love Duluth top and also wear them for sailing because they are long in the back and I don’t have to worry about bending over. I’d love some summer ones!
Ok first… AHHHHHMAZING job! And as far as ruining my jammies – um yeah I’ve got a nice little story to share on that one. I dropped my dining bench on my toe and had to go to the ER (9 stitches!!). Guess what I was wearing? My caulking/painting pants (ie my yoga pants that I have destroyed). The hubs informed me I needed to buy some work pants. He loves his Duluth pants but I would have never thought about them for myself. Thank you so much for writing this because I will be buying a few pairs soon!
I have definitely ruined a lot of clothes with paint. Sadly, most of my clothes are the types of clothes you can sleep in, so my painting clothes are just the ones that didn’t fit me too well so I wasn’t sad if they got ruined. I actually like the Visor Headband. This would be great to keep my hair in check and the sun out of my eyes.