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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LOL Well, at least I am glad I am not the only one who has paint spotted PJ’s and sweats and yoga pants. And I am guilty of seeing something to touch-up and thinking I can do that without getting paint, stain, mud, etc on my clothes and then get started and lose the focus on my clothes while trying to fix something and next thing I know, I have something on my decent clothes….again!! So they go in my “work” clothes pile which has gotten quite large. Or they become my clean-up rags. Meanwhile my pile of decent clothing keeps dwindling. Would love to get some real work clothes from Duluth
I really didn’t think you could make that sewing cabinet look good but you did! It just looks beautiful now. I have actually worn some of my Jammies working on projects until I they just disintegrate! At least you have all your undies on in the photos……….sometimes I don’t wear a bra so I won’t mess it up! TMI? 🙂 There are so many things I would love from Duluth but those Buck Naked women’s underwear (again with the underwear – what’s wrong with me) is something I would LOVE to have!
I have paint on just about everything thing I own lol not just the jammies and so does my 14 year old daughter who is right into the paint with me! I think I shop more for things I can wear to paint in than I do for going out and looking nice but I see that I am not alone either.
I’d love to try those cooling shirts, the hot flashes are starting to make an appearance now and a shirt like that would keep me from being naked (or close to it) in the driveway when I’m working!
Love the cabinet, that touch of gold made the piece!!
Glad to know I’m not the only one that has ruined jammies while DYI’ing…is that a word ?! All my sweats have speckles and bigger speckles somewhere on them !! I love the Duluth pants with the deep pockets and the Armchillo shirt….always wiping my glasses on whatever is handy !! would love to have the same outfit you have on in your video.
By the way, the cabinet looks awesome !!!! Cannot believe how nice the sewing machine cleaned up !! Keep the videos coming…you inspire me !!
I thought I was terrible for wearing my PJs for doing crafting, artwork, DIY work, need I say more? lol All of my PJs are ruined and I just told my husband that I was going to have to get some new ones because I’m sharing a room with a friend at a retreat next month and I don’t want to be embarrassed with what I wear to bed. lol I would love some Duluth wicking shirts and also the convertible pants, wow that would make life easier wouldn’t it and then I wouldn’t have to mess up my Jammies anymore. Would love to win this.
Heheh, I see we “shop” clothes at the same store.
After destroying all my sweatpants, I moved on to my hubby’s closet and now he owns several pairs of jeans with grass, paint and stains.
It’s fashion!
This is the first time I watched your videos. You do a very good job with them. 🙂
I haven’t done a lot of DIY but this weekend I did recover a bench seat. (It’s posted on my socially awkward but that’s a ok blog) I was wearing a pair of pants and a t shirt. Neither was ruined because no paint was involved. I would probably do more if I did have decent clothes to work in. I would buy one of those cooling shirts
Yup, I DIY in my jammies, sweat pants, too tight clothes…just about everything. Once at Lowe’s with my husband I noticed how happy and smiling everyone was. What I didn’t realize until later in the day is that I was wearing a pair of sweat pants and they had a perfect hand print on my backside. Oops! I would get the Long sleeve shirt with the sun protection. I have Lupus and am sun sensitive so that would work to several advantages. I didn’t think to look at Duluth for that even though my husband buys their long shirts.
Love the sewing machine.I paint in old teeshirts and a pair of pants that are so comfortable they belonged to a lounge wear set.Never meant for them to become my paint pants.but,I walked to close to a freshly painted wall an didn’t notice the paint until it had dried.now they are the only paint pants I use.will post a photo on Facebook.
I have on occasion DIY”d in my jammies but quite honestly I do a lot of my DIY in my work clothes. Yup the ones I wear to work. They’re the rattiest clothes I own. I work in a shop where I get bondo, adhesives, and metal and fiberglass shavings on me all the time. So if I get anything on my work clothes doing a DIY no one will know the difference. Now that’s a silver lining.
Love your posts.