Blouses

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.

Silk Dress to a “T” Throwback Thursday

July 11, 2024 By Mary Peterson 4 Comments

Hi Everyone,

As I continue to make new content to share, I have another “Throwback Thursday.” This one is from way back when I started my blog. This dress was 100% silk and If I remember correctly it was made by Chloe? As you can see it was way too small for my size 8 dress form, but Luckily I was only interested in the huge skirt and sleeves.

BEFORE

AFTER

**Finished and ready to wear. It is still a mainstay of my wardrobe.** **P.S this picture is 10 years old. Yes! I have been doing this blog for that long!**

Tutorial

**First I removed the skirt from the bodice and used a trusted T-shirt pattern to cut the body**.

2014-03-23 09.44.26 — **After that I used the best part of the sleeves to cut the new sleeves**

.

2014-03-29 10.48.57 — **I attached matching gray bias tape to the edges of the neck, and sleeves.**

2014-03-26 12.13.18 — **Turn over the bias tape and stitch in the ditch.**

2014-03-23 11.13.47 — **I took some of the left over border scraps and made my own decorative tape to put over the shoulder seam.**

**Matching side seams is key to a plush and expensive looking garment**.

Well, if you are looking at this for the first time or the second, I would love to know what you think. Talk to me…

Happy Refashioning!!!

Blouse Refashion / Too Fem to Just Right

June 19, 2024 By Mary Peterson 8 Comments

Hi Everyone,

I am going to start with an easy upcycle. I saw this $6 top and it looked brand new. I walked by it for a while and wondered why someone would abandon a well made blouse like this. Well, to be honest I would have abandoned it too. It was just way too frilly and not very comfortable, but the difference between the person who left it behind and myself is that I have skills to change things.

Before

**The double ruffle on the sleeve and the cuff was way too much**

After

Tutorial

**Cut off those long sleeves leaving 1/2″ seam allowance**

**Overlock** **The edges of the seam allowance**

**Turn under and stitch down 1/4″ to form the armhole**

I know it is a simple fix but very effective! This will be a great addition to my summer wardrobe. Please tell me what you think and let me know what you are working on this summer. Can’t wait to hear from you…