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Home DIY refashion tutorial upcycling Chinese New Year Refashion - Kebaya

Chinese New Year Refashion - Kebaya

38 comments
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Chinese New Year is the time when we all wear new clothes. This year I decided to reconstruct a crochet cardigan which my mother passed down to me a few years ago.  I wanted to make it a little more colourful plus the crochet was much too lovely to cut up! So, I took inspiration from the traditional Malay blouse known as the kebaya.

File:Kebaya 1.jpg
Picture: Jamieson Teo


Here's the before:



I cut flowers out of scrap batik material and used fabric defrayer (you can buy this at Spotlight) on the edges. Alternatively, you can iron on interfacing to the fabric before cutting it up, but make sure the interfacing is very light.





Arrange the flowers on to garment.

Sew into garment!
 I refrained from using sewing machine this time round - didn't want to ruin the crochet!




This is my first kebaya and I like it a lot - wore it to a party and a friend loved it though she didn't know it was an upcycled garment!  This project can be done in one day. :-)  Happy crafting!

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38 comments

  1. UnknownWednesday, February 13, 2013

    Really pretty! How ingenious!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Terriea KwongWednesday, February 13, 2013

    Very pretty on lace. Love the way you do the upcycle. Now that a design with "2 generations" - good keeper.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AgyTuesday, February 26, 2013

      Thanks, Terrie. So sweet of you. I will definitely be keeping this cardigan.

      Delete
  3. Mum in the MakingWednesday, February 13, 2013

    That's one amazing cardi & it looks great! Brilliant idea to jazz it up using batik!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AgyTuesday, February 26, 2013

      Thank you, MamaJ! The batik definitely makes it more colourful :-)

      Delete
  4. FarThursday, February 14, 2013

    That is great Agy! Hope u and family having a great new year :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownThursday, February 14, 2013

    This is really, really beautiful! I would pay a pretty penny for this in the store. Awesome job!

    ReplyDelete
  6. LOSTRETROMELBOURNEThursday, February 14, 2013

    This looks stunning Agy. It looks very expensive and designer. Well done on a brilliant fresh look.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AgyTuesday, February 26, 2013

      Thanks, Mezzy. The colours of the flowers definitely give it more umph!

      Delete
  7. Michele NgMonday, February 18, 2013

    Nice work Agy! Happy new year! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AgyTuesday, February 26, 2013

      So sweet of you, Michele. Happy new year to you too!

      Delete
  8. Charity Shop Chic (Sally)Saturday, February 23, 2013

    It's very pretty! The flowers are beautiful. What a lovely idea :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. JanelleSunday, February 24, 2013

    The crocheted cardigan is really pretty before the embellishment, but I totally love the finished product!

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownThursday, February 28, 2013

    Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  11. ChristineFriday, March 01, 2013

    It was cute before and wow, it is gorgeous now!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Adorned From AboveFriday, March 01, 2013

    This is beautiful. I love what you did. I have a link party called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop and would love to have you share this and any other posts with everyone. It runs from Tuesday night through midnight Sunday. Here is the link to the party.
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2013/02/wednesdays-adorned-from-above-blog-hop_26.html
    Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AgyMonday, March 04, 2013

      Thanks, Debi & Charly! Will pop by and link up!

      Delete
  13. Ana Love CraftFriday, March 01, 2013

    Fabulous work! Love it!! Would love to have you visit me sometime. Have a fabulous week!
    Hugs from Portugal,

    Ana Love Craft
    www.lovecraft2012.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AgyMonday, March 04, 2013

      THank you Ana! Love the crafts on your blog

      Delete
  14. Garden ChefSaturday, March 02, 2013

    This is a real beauty!

    ReplyDelete
  15. JudiSaturday, March 02, 2013

    I've a friend with cancer for whom I'd love to make the original cardigan. Do you have a pattern for this?

    I hope you don't mind - I've copied the picture of the cardigan and the closeup of the motifs into a word document and will try to figure out how to make them just in case you don't have a pattern.

    I thought I'd try to make flowers to be pinned or tacked on so she can use it to dress any outfit up or down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AgyMonday, March 04, 2013

      Hi Judi, so sorry to hear about your friend. I checked with my mum and unfortunately she doesn't have the pattern anymore, but I think you'd probably be able to find a similar pattern on-line. Hope your friend gets better and she's fortunate to have a good friend like you!

      Delete
  16. Pam @Threading My WayThursday, April 04, 2013

    An awesome refashion, Agy!!! You've added colour, without taking away from the delicate crocheting. Well done!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Jerry and KaySunday, April 07, 2013

    So very beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousSunday, January 05, 2014

    Beautiful creation! The Kebaya shown here is Nyonya Kebaya, not Malay kebaya. Malay kebaya are different and less vibrant and old Malay kebaya don't have embroidery. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AgySunday, January 05, 2014

      Thank you for explaining the difference between the two styles ;-)

      Delete
  19. Xoxo GrandmaTuesday, January 07, 2014

    So soft, feminine and beautiful with the pop of color you added!
    http://xoxograndma.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  20. Brooke of Passport CoutureWednesday, January 27, 2016

    Beautiful! Loved your inspiration behind this final creation.

    ReplyDelete
  21. ElizabethFriday, February 15, 2019

    I love kebayas. They are so elegant. This is a great idea!

    ReplyDelete

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