Karen Lukacs a textile design studio » In the Press

Belle Armoire article on Thrift Store Transformation

Karen — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:20:04 +0000

”Old garments and accesssories metamorphize into new creations…”

A thrift store find, this baby blue crew neck sweater, was transformed into a Chanel-style jacket. “Coco” was published in the January/February 2008 issue of Belle Armoire magazine.

article in Belle Armoire on "Coco"

The sweater was steeked up the front and the lace panels were added to make a wider bodice. This cotton lace yardage was crocheted by my grandmother many, many moons ago. She trimmed most all of her home items with hand crocheted lace. Stained from age, the lace, once removed from the worn draperies, was thrown into a dye bath. The dye took in this mottled blue /green colorway. Until this project, the perfect application, it had been in my own stored goodies.

Sweater sleeves were cut to a three-quarter length. With the remaining lace, cuffs and a standup collar were added. There remained a couple of little pieces of lace, which were just right to fashion mock pockets.

And now, for the finishing. Silk dupioni lining and a bit of bling. The sparkles came from an old, acrylic sweater…a thrift store find. The sweater would never be worn again, but the beads still had life in them. Each bead was hand sewn onto the jacket, in a free form design, both front and back.

“Coco” also hung in the show, Karen Lukacs: Transformations, at the Art Institute of Tucson, first quarter, 2009.

Altered Couture article

Karen — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:55:11 +0000

Featured in the premiere issue of Altered Couture magazine is this felted and appliqued wool coat. The original jacket was riddled with moth holes and too large. After a few rounds in the washer and dryer, it fit but still too many holes. Circular rounds of felted wool sweaters were free-form appliqued over the garment’s holes. Gradually, the process morphed into this design. Collar, lapels and buttons were removed. Side seams now have slits to help balance the skewing of the fabric (off grain cut of the original designer label.) Sleeves were cut to sit at bracelet length. The final finishing is a textured microsuede trim applied all around. Photo of the coat after the felting process and before the transformation.

Quite a difference. The challenge in altering thrift store clothing is to make it not look like a recycled piece.

Congratulations to Connections for Women

Karen — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:09:35 +0000

My thanks again to Genny Esterline and Gerry Hogan at Connections for Women (www.connections for women.com). In March 2009 they wrote a lovely article about me and what I do with recycled goods. You can find From Rags to Stitches here at www.connectionsforwomen.com/article_details.php?article_id=735

Another mention appeared in Old Sweaters Needn’t Die – They Can Come Back As “Re-Made” in America. Thanks so much ladies.

Connections for Women is about sharing stories. “Stories of triumph, despair, success, failure…tell them all, share them with this community. It’s our goal, dream, intent, to make Connections for Women a community resource for you, great women waiting to tell a story, waiting to connect.” – Gerry Hogan, one of the founding publishers of Connections for Women.

Congratulations as you head into Year Three.