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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. Debra Viola says:

    Beautiful job as usual and you look adorable in anything you are wearing. 🙂

  2. Nice job!! Love that you kept the vintage sewing machine with it. Those Singer 15-91s are very nice machines. It’ll last your life time for sure!

  3. That is the original cabinet. I have the same one with the machine. Mine was my grandmothers. She use to make many outfits for herself and my mom back in the day. 🙂

    1. And yes I have many pairs of yoga pants that are covered in paint and have never been used for yoga.

  4. I have remodeled our old stucco victorian from attic to basement, usually wearing nothing but a t-shirt, underwear, and my old hiking shoes! Hey it gets humid and HOT here in the Mississippi Valley near St. Louis, lol. (My ‘shop’ with all the power tools is on a second story screened porch so I’m pretty good about NOT flashing the neighborhood.)
    I’ve ruined mine and hubby’s tees to the point where he has taken to hiding his less tattered favorites. And I’ve been guilty of putting a few nails through the wash in the pockets of my old housecoat (chilly mornings).
    All that being said, my t-shirts are my nightshirts as well. Pretty sexy, dontcha think?Who wouldn’t want to cuddle up to wood stain, paint, glue and a few rips?
    So yes, I would dearly love some proper work clothes and some pretty pjs from Duluth Trading. My husband would like it even more, lol!

    1. I forgot to add…your Singer machine looks like a heavy duty model that was manufactured in England, a model 202. These are great machines for handling upholstery or denim. There are attachments available that can make it do things like zigzag and buttonholes, etc. They’re a bit of a rarity ~ check them out on eBay!

  5. Jenn Moore says:

    Love Duluth Trading Co.! I got a pair of pjs from my mom for Christmas. So now I have at least one pair of PJs without paint on them. I’d love some good DIY work clothes – I feel so frumpy in sweats!

  6. Yes, guilty… my jammies are paint stained! Would love to try Duluth Co. clothes.

  7. DEBRA THOMPSON says:

    My jammies are so far safe. it’s my regular clothes that have all the paint stains!

  8. I don’t have Jammies. I have unjammies as my kids call them because there is nothing “Jammin’ ” about them. I love them so much though because they are paint and walnut stained from special projects that bring back so many DIY memories. I always seem to involve the entire family in my projects. 😉

  9. I have a plan for an ugly sewing table now, thanks! I love going to our local thrift stores and buying mens XL tshirts. They are longgggg and comfy and not only do I sleep in them, I also DIY in them. I’m blessed to be a stay at home mom, so some days I am in my art studio doing my thing and then, before my youngest gets home from the bus, I throw some clothes on and look like I at least was productive. I am very productive, but love being home in my big tshirts. Sometimes, I don’t even notice how much character they have on them from all of my DIYing. I see silly commercials for Duluth Trading Company all of the time. It’s nice to know they have longer pants because I have the same “tall” problem as you. But a shirt with eye glass cleaning sewn right in, OMG I NEED that! I would want one in every color. Thanks for sharing all that you do and don’t ruin your new pjs!!!

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