Mary Peterson

Upcycled Maxi, T-shirt & Micro Crochet

September 17, 2026 By Mary Peterson 4 Comments

I have been looking for a long, flowing, tiered maxi skirt for a while, but I didn’t like the prices or the prints. Enter this maxi dress. It wasn’t my size, but it had potential for a quick and easy upcycle.

The skirt just needed to be relieved of its bodice and paired with a decorated white T-shirt to create a coordinated outfit. Following is the tutorial for both.

Stay tuned until the end to see a preview of one of my new hobbies: Micro Crochet . I have been working on mastering it all summer and only recently have I been able to make wearable pieces. Before the end of the year, I will make a post detailing my journey with this new hobby and ways to incorporated it into the refashion process.

Before

After

Tutorial

**I used my trusty Gingher Scissors to remove the bodice. (I rarely unpick if I can cut)**
I leveled out the top tier at 9″ and overlocked the edges. I pinned and sewed 1″ inch to the
inside for the elastic waist

Gingher Scissors Link-I highly recommend these scissors. They are razor sharp and will last a lifetime. I have two pairs and they have been with me since college. Like all good scissors they need periodic sharpening. But they can and do last forever.

**Topstitch the waistband and add 3/4″ elastic**

**I grabbed a basic T from the closet. I chopped off the curve and made a 1″ hem across the bottom. A 1″ hem adds more weight and doesn’t roll.**

**I found the perfect piece of lace in my collection to add some interest to the basic V-neck**.

**The result was much more up to date and interesting**.

**MICRO CROCHET EARRINGS!**
I made these with a teeny tiny crochet hook and sewing thread. Stay tuned for more on this evolving skill.

Want to know more about micro crochet? Here is a link to the book I purchased: Micro Crochet

So everyone, what do you think of this latest remake? Talk to me! What is everyone working on and what would you like to see me do next? I am starting to get in the groove my new retired life and gradually picking up the pace on my posting. My closet full of things ready to transform!

Happy Refashioning!

Rose Sweatshirt

August 30, 2026 By Mary Peterson 2 Comments

This piece is another one one that was ready last summer before all of my, “Interruptions.”

Have you every found a perfectly brand new piece in the thrift shop but hated what was on the front? This was just such a piece. A soft, beautiful, brand new sweatshirt with lovely stripe trim, but let’s get serious… I don’t want to advertise “Brooklyn.”

Before

After

Tutorial

**Cut roses from a scrap of upholstery fabric and place them in position with iron on adhesive**

Heatbond Lite fabric adhesive-I recommend this brand of adhesive. You iron it on the back of the piece to adhere then peel it off. You can then place your pieces and iron on. The photo above already has the pieces cut to fit and are now ready to iron on.

**Machine zig zag around all raw edges, then add blanket stitch embroidery around all outside edges**

What do you all think about this upgrade? I am certainly glad I saved it from the thrift shop! Can’t wait to hear your comments.

Happy Refashioning everyone!

Button Down Mural Shirt

July 27, 2026 By Mary Peterson 18 Comments

Hello Everyone!

I actually started this post in June of 2025. Before I could post, I took a fall and fractured my left shoulder. Between physical recovery, and dealing with the most challenging year of my teaching career, everything came to a grinding halt.

Fast forward to June 2026. I am now retired and starting to envision my new creative life. Thanks to all who have contacted me. It made me see that I still have something to offer and teach others. I still have a Poshmark closet, but it has been on hold as well. It will open up again as pieces make their way to me.

Let’s get started! I call this one the “Mural Shirt” because it looks like these models are wearing a mural across their backs. I saved photos and came back to them when I found the two thrift finds that follow:

Inspiration Photos

**Loved the blue stripes paired with the print**

My Thrift Finds

The blue stripes were great and it appeared brand new

This silk dress immediately and made my inspiration pictures make sense

My Design

**Front- I cut off the last two button holes to make the blouse cropped with two small side slits**.

**Back- the matched seam for the back panel created a complete mural. I opted to keep a more fitted version than the oversized inspiration shirt shown** **above**.

Tutorial

**I had to** **cut the back and front of the dress in two panels to make them into one panel that matched exactly** **with optimal picture placement. This required careful pinning and hand sewing before using the machine**. **The back panel of the stripe shirt was the pattern used to put it back together**.

**I took the thick stripes out of the middle of the sleeve and inserted the flowers from the sleeves of the silk dress**. **I combined them to** **make a fuller short sleeve**.

**I cut off the bottom 2 button holes and made a wider hem. Notice how I did not tuck under the placket section in order to reduce bulk**.

I would love to hear what you think. Any questions?? I have more offerings planned soon, but let’s get the conversations started.

Lace Sleeved T-Shirt

September 22, 2024 By Mary Peterson 12 Comments

Hello Everyone!

The summer has raced by and I am not sure where all my time went. Before it ended I did manage to finish another project to share inspired by this trend from the luxury brand Johnny Was.

Inspiration Photo

Before

I found a cotton blouse with the same type of lace and salvaged the sleeves and a few panels from a too short thrift shop top

After

I added those pieces to a brand new basic cotton v-neck and I think it works just fine to give me the sam type of feeling as the inspiration picture.

Fitting the sleeve and the side panels was more of a chore than I bargained for but I think it was worth the time and effort. As always what do you think? I love to hear from you!

Happy Refashioning!

Sleeveless Lace Trim Blouse

August 3, 2024 By Mary Peterson 6 Comments

I found this beautiful men’s chambray western sometime during the covid lockdowns and made a women’s blouse out of it. For some reason I never posted it so now I am getting to it…

Before

**It had beautiful pearl snap buttons and western details**

After

**What a difference no sleeves and some lace make!**

Tutorial

**First I cut off the sleeves, took in the sides and fit the armhole for a gusset**

**I finished the gussets, added lace trim and topstitched with embroidery floss**

**I did the same thing with the collar**

There you have it! Another save from the thrift stores. Let me know what you think! I love to hear from you all.