creative chaos

thrifting my way through the tariffs

Kerra Sun — Fri, 09 May 2025 18:31:15 GMT

Unless you live under a rock (or don’t live in the US), you know about the tariffs. It’s all everyone can talk about and it’s not surprising when they’re going to affect everything in ways we can’t fully imagine yet. With the costs of everything going up, I’ve struggled to make decisions or develop my business. However there’s one thing that won’t be affected by tariffs and that’s thrifted goods.

Capitalism may be actively ruining our lives but it’s nothing a little thrifting can’t fix. Because nothing says eff you to an oppressive system like only shopping for secondhand goods. So I’ve pivoted my attention to thrifting and making things for myself by building thrift wishlists and finding all of the items in my closet that I want to improve upon. All of these plans are scratching the itch I have for new things in this new season and I figured it would be helpful to share some of these plans in case it brings you some inspiration. I have a number of complicated projects in the works, but there are some super simple thrift flip options at the end that anyone can do if you’re less creatively inclined. If you have a closet, you’ll be able to do these flips!

Patchwork T-Shirt

I’ve seen these graphic upcycled patch shirts all over social media and I want to try my hand at making one. It’s the perfect way to use up fabric scraps as well as give a boring, old graphic tee new life. I have plans to make a Baltimore Oriole themed one so I can have my own unique merch to cheer on my home team this season. Plus I have plenty of black tees I can update and the perfect orange fabric from an ill-fitting pair of pants that could use new life. The best part of those project is that you don’t even need a sewing machine to complete it. Just a needle and some thread to hand-stitch on the patches. The only limit is your imagination!

Embroidered Shorts

For this project, I was inspired by a specific product. When I saw these linen shorts in a fun sun print, I immediately fell in love. They’re even super affordable and I ALMOST pulled the trigger on buying them. However, they’re made from synthetic materials which is against my current buying rules and are ultimately fast fashion at the end of the day. So instead of making an impulse decision, I paused a moment and realized that I can make my own version! I even have the most perfect pair of thrifted Madewell shorts that I can add my own embroidered suns onto. Now, I’m no expert at embroidery. But I have no doubt that a little time spent watching some videos and I can figure out how to make my own version of these shorts. I can almost guarantee they’ll mean more to me in the long run too! Just imagine how much whimsy a little patch of embroidery could bring to your clothing. A well placed hand-stitched moment could be exactly what a lackluster piece in your wardrobe is needing.

Screen-printed T-Shirt & Pants

For this project, I have a pair of thrifted light pink pants that have a few spots on them so I haven’t worn them yet. But Instead of getting rid of the pants, I’ve decided there has to be something I can do to cover up the spots with something cute. I considered clothing dye, but I thought it might just make the spot darker as well. So I landed on using screen-printing or lino printing to add a fun handcrafted pattern to my pants to cover up any blemishes. I even found the perfect inspiration image of some cute orange pants on my wardrobe Pinterest board and I’m looking forward to making my own version. I also plan on making a graphic t-shirt to match because I’ve been loving the farmers market theme recently in graphic tees and I need my own version of it!

Now I have a lot of access to creative supplies that make all of the above thrift flips more possible for me. Not to mention my graphic design degree comes in handy for making custom designs. But there are far more easy ways to update your wardrobe that anyone can do and they’re probably where I’ll be starting to get my momentum going!

Changing Colors with Dye

If given a few minutes to think about it, I bet you can think of a few items in your closet that you would wear more if they were a different color. This is one of the easiest changes you can make and I have a large pile of clothing that are waiting for exactly this. I’m not someone who often wears light clothing but they make the perfect palette for a color change and I’ve purchased a few bottles of fabric dye in my favorite colors to get me one step closer. Or you can even go a step further and try some botanical dyes for a more eco-friendly option. I’m always amazed by the beautiful colors that can come from plants and flowers.

For example, I have a black and white stripe shirt that is basically an optical illusion with the large contrast in the stripes (it legitimately hurts to look at it) and I’m hoping some dye will help soften the effect. I also have a pair of light pink pants that are a little too light pink and I want to shift them a touch darker so I’ll reach for them more often. The best part of using dye for your updates is the change can be as impactful as you want, as long as the clothing becomes a more versatile piece in your closet by the end.

Changing Silhouette with Scissors

This is definitely the easiest thrift flip you can perform in your closet. All you need is a pair of scissors and some imagination to give new life to your clothing. I have no doubt there’s something in your closet that would be way more versatile for you with a shorter length or trimmed sleeves. Not to mention the fact that your clothing should fit your body instead of you having to change yourself. So adding some slits on the side and cutting off the hem of a sleeve to have it fitting you way more comfortably is a very worthwhile change to make. If you’re unsure where to start, try finding a shirt in your closet you love the fit of and try to replicate elements of the fit in another shirt you never reach for.

I personally have a pair of distressed jeans I’m going to turn into shorts and I guarantee you it will take me 5 minutes total to have a brand new item in my closet that will get way more wear than the jeans did originally. I also have the desire to crop a number of my graphic t-shirts. It’s taken me a long time to realize that the super long unisex fit of graphic tees is not very flattering for me and I’d like some more cropped options to wear with high-waisted bottoms. So I’m going to sort through my shirts and try to create some more options so I have a better variety of fits in my graphic tee selection.

I’m excited to keep looking for ways to bring some new life to my outfits without spending a ton of money and hopefully some of my thrift flip plans can inspire you to get a little creative with your own wardrobe! These tariffs feel unavoidable but there are small ways that we can rebel against them while getting creative and making something new. These days, I wear my creativity like an armor against this controversial regime and I invite you to join me in the resistance with your own small acts of creativity!

Which project are you most interested in trying with your closet? Let me know! Hope you all have the very best weekend 💖

all of the size adjustable sewing patterns you need to know about

Kerra Sun — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 19:37:12 GMT

So my content has really taken a turn into the sewing universe. Currently, learning to sew has taken up so much of my creative brain and my mind is constantly swirling with ideas of things I can make myself. I’m also musing on all of the ways my designs can fit into this universe as well so I promise there will be more content to come in that world. Every new interest I have feeds into my creative process and I’m hoping to create a symbiotic universe where each creative hobby I have informs and feeds the other ones and all adds up to a wonderfully creative life. More to come on that soon 😍

But one thing I’ve been obsessively researching is adjustable clothing. I have this habit of making everything I do as practical as possible. It may be a character flaw if I spend enough time analyzing this habit of mine. But on the other hand, it results in projects that are versatile and wildly practical that seamlessly combine with my wardrobe.

Now, I know every woman will relate to my frustration with ill fitting clothing. Being able to make clothing that perfectly fits my body is one of the major upsides of learning to sew. But another frustration I have is how my body shifts from day to day and can result in some of my wardrobe being unwearable to me any given day. Knowing that I have this frustration, I fully dove into the adjustable clothing rabbit hole and have discovered so many beautiful patterns that have elements that loosen or tighten or can be changed along with your fluctuating body. I have a feeling that I’m not alone in this frustration so I decided creating a collection of these adjustable sewing patterns would be a worthwhile effort. Read on to learn about all of my incredible new discoveries!

Magic Pants by Ann Tilley Handmade

These were one of the first adjustable sewing patterns I came in contact with (from a Carly B video - love her!) and I’m OBSESSED with the idea of a pair of smart trousers with an adjustable waistband. Ann has taken the one part of my pants that annoys me the most and made it adjustable and stretchy to increase the comfort by a million. Love that. This pattern is at the top of my wishlist and I can’t wait to make my own version one day.

Daisy Frock by Lydia Naomi

This pattern is adjustable in another way that really appeals to me and has it at the tippy top of my wishlist. So much so I’ll probably be buying it and making it in the next few months. But this dress is a classic milkmaid style with adjustable ties at the bust line and waist line. As a girlie with a bigger bust, I love the adjustable nature so I can tailor the fit to my bust. Plus the ties combined with the elastic on the top half will allow the dress to shift and adjust to my body throughout the day. However another element I love so very much is how Lydia has built in permanent access to the elastic channels so you can switch out the elastic if it stops fitting or loses it’s stretch. This allows the dress to be a part of my life for longer because there’s no built in obsolescence (looking at you fast fashion 😒).

More clothing should be doing this. There’s no reason for our clothing to fall apart and stop being useful to us. By creating this built in access, Lydia is making her pattern more valuable and I can’t wait to have my future Daisy Frock in my life for a long, long time.

Daisy Frock by Lydia Naomi

Palazzo Pants by Sasha Starlight

These fun wide leg pants are supremely adjustable with a tie waistband. The flowy design is super forgiving and makes for a ton of room in the waist that can be cinched together to fit your body. This also lets them adjust with you throughout the day easily. I especially love that you can make the ribbon ties at the back a statement or allow it to blend in with your fabric and length choices. Sasha also has another pattern with adjustments (her dungarees linked later in this post), so I imagine there will be more adjustable goodness to come from her. Definitely a creator to follow!

Palazzo Pants by Sasha Stardust

Frida Skirt by Schultz Apparel

First of all - this skirt pattern is free. So already we’re off to a wonderful start. But this design is based on historical skirt designs and is well known in the sewing community. It has a two layered waistband where the under waist is adjustable and the second is tied overtop. I love the ability to cater the sizing to your body and ensure you have a good fit no matter the circumstance. I’ve also seen a version that has a corset style lace up portion in the front for an even more adjustable fit. I can imagine this skirt in all sorts of lengths, fullness and fabric types which makes it super versatile and lovely.

Freya Skirt by Schultz Apparel

Other Honorable Mentions

The Bélem Pants - These pants are on my wishlist as a possible dupe for Lucy & Yak’s Cole Jeans. I love the elastic waistband that helps the pants have some flex with your body through the day. But ultimately the adjustable element doesn’t allow huge shifts in size, so it’s on this secondary list. It also comes in a shorts version which I love as well.

Meriam Trousers by Cashmerette - This plus size / curvy brand has a lot of amazing patterns and I recently discovered this trouser pattern with an adjustable waist. It has a piece of hidden elastic so the trousers still look super smart and I think this would be an amazing option for someone who wants adjustable clothing thats work appropriate.

The Willow Dress - This dress has ties at the waist that allow you to cinch it in a little bit. It looks super flattering but the adjustable isn’t large enough to warrant it’s own section in my opinion.

The Tulip Dress - This dress has a lace up side that allows you to adjust the fit to your rib cage. I LOVE the long ties that hang down but I know I won’t love the exposed sides on myself unless I wear something underneath. This girl can’t get away from wearing a bra unfortunately.

The Deja Vu Dress - This dress has a waist tie that allows you to take the silhouette from more oversized to as fitted as your fancy. It’s super fun and flirty and needed to be on this list as a fun option!

Dungarees by Sasha Starlight - These dungarees are ADORABLE and have ties at the waist and leg opening to help you adjust the fit from loose and baggy to more fitted. The level of adjustment is low but they’re super cute and I needed you to know about them.

I have no doubt that I’ve barely scratched the surface of the large universe of sewing patterns for adjustable clothing and that’s THRILLING to me. There’s so much goodness out there and I can’t wait to discover more. If you know of some good patterns, please share! I’d love to discover some new favorites to add to my sewing wishlist, especially ones with a good peer review!

If you’ve made it this far, I’m so happy you’re here to share in all this creative chaos. As always, I hope you all have the most amazing weekends! We’re headed to the farm (my in-laws house) in Virginia for FIL birthday celebrations and it promises to be a fun and relaxing time. Happy Friday my friends 💖

manifesting with music

Kerra Sun — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:27:52 GMT

Recently I’ve had a few bad days with negative inner talk that feels very out of character for me. In the past, I would have been overwhelmed with how to make it stop and probably spiraled a bit. But after a lot of work (mostly in therapy - another shout out to Maggie), I’ve started to develop better strategies for identifying these moments of overwhelm…

struggling with the moral implications of all my decisions

Kerra Sun — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:58:58 GMT

One thing you’ll learn really quickly about me is that I’m an overthinker. I can talk myself out of nearly every with just a little thought and justification. Hence why I haven’t made all of the progress I’ve wanted in my business ideas. I’m a pro of talking myself out of anything.

Knowing this about myself has resulted in a lot of progress in catching m…

my sewing plans for spring and summer

Kerra Sun — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 15:33:35 GMT

One large element of my creative expression has always been my wardrobe. However I’ve never had it very dialed in like I want. I have a tendency to go towards the path of least resistance and reach for the most practical outfit for my current circumstances. When I worked at a large capacity warehouse, that included a lot of clothing that I could easily …

in that blank slate phase of life

Kerra Sun — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 03:27:46 GMT

In my last therapy session, there was a phrase that stuck in my head and helped create a container for everything I’ve been feeling lately. My therapist described my current situation as a “blank slate phase” and it felt like the perfect summary for everything I’ve been feeling lately (shoutout to Maggie!). In the past month, I quit my part time job to …

the latest addition to my creative chaos

Kerra Sun — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 20:55:30 GMT

I must admit, I’ve fully fallen down the “sewing my entire wardrobe” rabbit hole and I’m fully stuck down here. There are so many amazing patterns and so much amazing fabric out there in the world and I’ve become completely enamored with the thought of all that I can create. There’s something to living my whole life and constantly having ill fitting clo…

2025 Bingo

Kerra Sun — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:57:59 GMT

I love the New Year for all of the new energy it brings into my life and the opportunity for a fresh slate. Not to mention this girl loves a good New Years Resolution. But this year, I decided to change up how I make my goals. There’s something completely unintuitive about choosing what you’re going to do for the full year in the middle of the winter, w…

dream wardrobe diaries

Kerra Sun — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:07:57 GMT

One big goal I’ve had for a while now is to develop a more dialed in wardrobe. Each and every day I reach for a graphic tee and some sweatpants for another version of the most uninspired outfit ever. Now a lot of that has to do with working from home. I’ve succumbed to the idea that I have no one to impress anymore except my pets and they really don’t c…

seasonal observations: winter edition ❄️

Kerra Sun — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:01:15 GMT

One of the most interesting features of art licensing is how you’re perpetually designing outside of the season you’re currently experiencing. It’s a little disorienting as a designer to not be fully seeping in the seasonal vibes when you’re designing a seasonal design collection. So I thought a series of collecting my seasonal observances would be help…

a love letter to valentines day

Kerra Sun — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 16:10:22 GMT

I think Valentine’s Day might be one of my favorite holidays. And not even because of any plans I’ve ever made with my long term partner. No, it wasn’t until Valentine’s Day evolved into having Galentine’s Day the day before that I fell in love with the holiday. This addition completely redefined the holiday in my mind. It went from being a day to feel …

a visit to the torpedo factory art center

Kerra Sun — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:07:37 GMT

A few weekends ago, my family and I went to the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA to celebrate my mom's birthday. She's the reason I'm an artist, so it was the obvious choice for all of us to head to VA to check out this awesome space. I went into it with zero expectations or understanding of what the space was but was very quickly blown away…

what I’m drawing nowadays: january

Kerra Sun — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:00:37 GMT

One thing you’ll hear me talk about a lot is my current pursuit of art licensing. If you don’t know anything about art licensing, it’s essentially the act of creating art to be rented out to companies who are looking for artwork to put on their new product lines. Companies like Target, Anthropologie, Home Goods, TJ Maxx and all of the best places for cu…

my new hobby: feeling things

Kerra Sun — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 15:02:11 GMT

I know I’m not alone in saying that the past five years have been a lot. It’s hard to imagine that only four years ago we were in the middle of a global pandemic that put all of our lives on pause. I’ve grown a lot since 2020 and one big realization I’ve made is just how shut down I’ve been.

It’s not very fun to look back on your life and realize that yo…

daily page 002

Kerra Sun — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 18:44:56 GMT

I found myself hesitating to draw anything today because I’m waiting on a screen protector for my new iPad that makes the screen texture more like paper. Then I realized the ridiculousness in my hesitation and pulled out my tried and true love — crayola markers.

They were the original monoline pen in my life and I spent loads of time writing the same wor…

daily page 001

Kerra Sun — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 17:54:16 GMT

Recently I’ve started my mornings with a playlist full of songs that uplift my spirit and get me in the right headspace to create the life I want to live. They feel like manifesting in song form and so far I think they’ve helped me accomplish some pretty big things (yes, Defying Gravity is the first song on that list).

Yesterday I put in my notice at my …

the chaotic TikTok ban of 2025

Kerra Sun — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 20:38:24 GMT

I’m feeling gaslit by my government.

So I wanted to write down what I’ve seen happen so far. As a record of sorts. Something to point back on when those same governmental officials try to change the narrative. Something to make me feel less crazy when the story doesn’t add up later.

Now I may be a right brain thinking artist who doesn’t have a super stron…