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Save Your Jammies From Being Ruined By DIY – Vintage Sewing Cabinet Makeover!

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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?

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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!!

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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??)

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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.

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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

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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!

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BEFORE

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AFTER!

The knobs came from this vintage buffet  I made over last year.

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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).

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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?

 

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BEFORE

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But the gold just sets it off nicely, I think.

AFTER!

 

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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

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AFTER!

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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.

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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!!

Eyeglass shammy on the Duluth shirt

 

I might just have to save this one to wear out-and-about, it’s that pretty :). My favorite color!

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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!

 

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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!

Pretty new jammies

 

Worktime!

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Playtime!

Playing with the kids

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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80 Comments

  1. Not jammies. Black jeans. They are so worn and paint spattered it’s unbelievable. One pair has started to wear out at the inner thigh place. I have – believe it or not – used the off color iron on patches (you know the ones you get in a pack that don’t seem to match anything). And the knees are wearing out on the other pair. More iron on patches. As far as Duluth Trading Company, I just found them not too long ago. I used to buy Lands End shirts but they are getting shorter and shorter and so are the sleeves. I bought one shirt from Duluth as a test. The sleeve ends at the top of the elbow and the length of the shirt is great. It is the most comfortable shirt I own. I would love a couple of more.

  2. You made the old sewing machine look great! I, too, am 5’10” so I am impressed with your new Duluth pants! Its hard to find pants long enough and deep pockets would be wonderful. I ruined a good pair of jeans when i was crawling on the floor using bleach and soda and a toothbrush to clean grout. It worked but it also did a number on my jeans!

  3. Roxanne Burnie says:

    Love the Singer machine and cabinet! I had one a very long time ago my mother gave me when she bought a new machine. I used it until it died and then, because I was young and foolish, I tossed it when I bought a newer portable machine. I am still killing myself now. I have paint on several items of clothing. Did not know that Duluth had work clothing for women. I am going to check it out and at the very least buy some work shirts. I’m constantly ruining my clothes because I’m too impatient to get started on something and don’t want to waste time looking for paint clothes. It’s a curse! Thanks for the info. I love seeing your redone items. Keep up the great work!

  4. Oops! Got carried away and forgot to say what I would order. The long sleeved Armachillo shirt looks great (my favorite color, too), so I would probably start there. We have a fleece jacket from Duluth which we ordered for our son when he was a HS freshman (it fit the uniform policy). He is now 24, the jacket has been passed to my husband and it still looks good enough to wear in public!

  5. Well, another great redo! Usually, I DIY in yoga pants and a tee (plus a sweatshirt if the weather is cool). Then again, I do pretty much everything in yoga pants and a tee……even yoga and weight-lifting. The sewing machine cabinet is great. I inherited one from my MIL and now I know what to do with it. Maybe a different color so it can go in my soon to come first grandchild’s room! If I won the Duluth Trading prize, there is no telling what I would buy. Have ordered from them before because their products are great and the descriptions given are hilarious. One year several guys in my life got “Anti Monkey Butt” powder. Don’t know if they still carry it, but will be checking out their site as soon as I post this.

  6. I love that cooling t-shirt and the pants. Those look so comfy and I love the cooling part because when I get that burst of inspiration and my mind us kicked in high gear, I get hot. And my blood pressure probably is a hot mess adding to my “hot” flashes. Lol I always work in sleep pants. ALWAYS. I guarantee I don’t have one pair that doesn’t have paint on them but those clothes look so comfy. That’s what I need when I’m working on a project, comfort:)

  7. I sleep in something I can get the paper, walk the dog out, water plants, etc. in without shocking the neighbors. I have some disposable smocks to use for DIY. (If I remember!). As for Duluth Trading Co., I never bought anything from them that wasn’t perfect. For active clothes, they can’t be beat.

  8. I grew up on a farm so it has been drilled into my head that you had “barn clothes” and good clothes. But I have done some crafting in my jammies. Not much happened to the clothes but the carpet got “glittered” a few times. I have also walked the dog a couple times while in jammies. For painting and other chores I have a pair of old sweatpants, several old shirts/tees and even an old sweater. I’ve also stolen some old shirts that my hubby has, ummm, outgrown. The neighbors would probably be glad to see me in some new clothes.

  9. Jennifer C says:

    I am pretty bad about wearing my jammies while cleaning the house and doing yard work. It can be kind of embarrassing when the neighbors see me. I like the Duluthflex Dry on the Fly Convertible Pants.

  10. This looks so good, girlie. Yet another score for you! loving those piggies! Too cute!

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