Blouses

“Throwback Thursday” Lace Top

June 13, 2024 By Mary Peterson 4 Comments

Hello Everyone!

It is finally summer vacation and a great opportunity for me to catch up with you! I am busy working on new material to share, but until then I am going to start by starting a new tradition. So welcome to “Throwback Thursday!”

These are posts I made before I changed my website to a new host. I have learned so much since then, but I think we can all learn from some of my old projects as I try to improve on the original post.

I will start with the before and after and then give you my inspiration pic and how I pulled off the transformation:

Before

Please excuse the lighting and the padding. I had no idea how to take pictures at all back then. This beauty was only $6

After

**I am a big lace fan and when I saw this picture. I wanted it BADLY! But NOT for $100. When I saw my $6 “Before” I knew I could make it happen for a lot less.**

First I took off the sleeves . My plan was to cut a new sleeve from the bottom of the current sleeve. The bottom was in a bell shape and perfect for the extra room I wanted over the bicep. I simply used the top of the existing sleeve as a pattern and cut it from the bottom where the edges are already perfectly finished. The top of the original sleeve will now become the new side panels. Just watch…

.

**Here you see both of the sleeves cut from the bottom of the original sleeve**

**Here is what they looked like pinned and ready to sew**

.

**Once sewn in you can now see the secret of how I achieved the flounce in the sleeve. I simply left the gap you see here.**

.

**Here are the new side panels. What was once the sleeve cap will now be the finished lace edge of the new side panels.**

**I had to go in and cut out part of the old side panels to release the garment for the extra room.**

**Here are the new side panels pinned in and ready to rock. The old sleeve cap is now at the hem.**

It is still one of my favorite pieces. I wear it with a cami of course and often pair it under a chambray shirt or under one of my jean jackets. I take great care by washing by hand and drying flat. Hope it will be a mainstay for years to come

I would love to hear your feedback. I have more to come this summer. Can’t wait to hear from you!

Happy Refashioning…

Sleeveless Chambray Lace Top

October 9, 2022 By Mary Peterson 16 Comments

Hello Everyone!

This photograph was the inspiration for my latest creation. I cut the picture from a favorite fashion magazine and it has been handled a bit as you can tell by the crimps. This blouse cost well over $100 and I wanted it, but not THAT badly! Finally though, the right materials popped into my life via an estate sale and a bit antique lace.

**INSPIRATION PHOTO**
The blouse was beautiful, but the price tag was way too much!

**MY VERSION**
I know it isn’t exact, but I think I got the same type of feeling with the style. There were obstacles with the amount of fabric and lace at my disposal.

I found the fabric and the lace used for the arms and neck at an estate sale. In hindsight, the chambray is not as vintage looking as the one in the inspiration picture, but it will get better with washing and time. The lace I used traveled from my mother’s sewing cabinet into mine over 35 years ago when I moved to California. She had saved it and didn’t remember from where, but allowed me to have it. It is still in perfect condition and many decades old. I am glad I waited for just the right project to put it to use.

**Close up of the gorgeous antique lace**

This was the vintage pattern which I purchased from the same estate sale as the fabric. I chose version B and added the pleats in between the lace. It was not possible to make as many pleats as the original because there was not quite enough fabric.

I was determined to get this project done with recycled and thrifted materials. The only thing I purchased for it was the thread. This was one of the most satisfying things I have finished in a long time. As always, I would love to hear your comments about it and hear what you are sewing as well. Until then, take care and happy refashioning!

Boro Stitched Plaid Shirt

February 8, 2021 By Mary Peterson 16 Comments

The shirt below just screamed at me when I walked up to the rack. It was beautifully stonewashed, weathered, and a perfect backdrop to incorporate boro style stitching. To my great sadness it was a size small, but that has never stopped me before. I Just used some coordinating fabric to open up the sleeves and the sides and added details with boro style stitching. Keep scrolling to see how I did it!

**It fits now but you have to see what I did to the sides. Keep scrolling because showing the sides would have been an awkward pose!**

**I decided to add a lightweight denim panel to open up the sides. You can also see the lighter colored denim panel I put down the center of the sleeve to make that wider as well**.

**The stitching begins!** **I planned on mimicking the plaid design of the original fabric**.

I used
overlock on the sleeve panel and stitched it in so there wouldn’t be any scratchy seams inside of the sleeves.

**Finished** **Side View** **with stitch pattern complete**

Now it fits, it’s comfortable, and I can see this being a staple in my fall winter wardrobe for years. If it wears out anywhere I can just apply my decorative repair stitching! What do you think my upcycle /refashion friends? Talk to me!!!

Happy Refashioning!

Upcycled Kimono

June 14, 2020 By Mary Peterson 12 Comments

Hello Everyone!

Summer is here and don’t we all need some fresh new looks to liven things up a bit? I saw this men’s shirt staring at me through the window of a local Goodwill. Someone had abandoned the lovely thing on the t-shirt rack and I could see it from the parking lot. I rushed in and it was mine for a grand total of $5. It was the perfect piece to freshen up the wardrobe a bit. Summer is a great time to use an oversized men’s shirt to create a a beautiful kimono style cover up top.

**The outfit possibilities are endless with this piece. It could be worn over a dress, shorts, or pants!**

**Before: A huge men’s shirt in a gorgeous rayon fabric!**

Tutorial:

It was a beautiful textured rayon as you can see by this close-up picture.

**Step 1 was to remove the collar and placket**. **After that I took in about 1″ to slim down the sleeves and slim down the body a bit. (The shirt was huge)**

**I used a yellow ribbon to face the neckline and cotton twill tape to add weight and color to the lapel line**

**The last step was to make a little pleat in the back using the original buttons from the placket**

Well, that’s it for my latest project. Let me know what you think. I am always here to answer your questions!

‘Til next time…

Blouse with Stitched Collar

March 28, 2020 By Mary Peterson 16 Comments

Hello Everyone!

I hope this post finds you all well and healthy. To be honest, I feel a bit frivolous posting right now, but I think it is helpful and therapeutic to keep busy and creative during these stressful times. Below you can see the end result of one of my latest projects. It is not an extreme overhaul, but the small changes I made created a huge difference! Keep scrolling to see the details.

AFTER

**This finished blouse now has some added features that take it from just so-so** **to noticeable!** **Keep scrolling to see how it started and how I changed it.**

BEFORE

**The blouse had a a beautiful floral print with chambray accents but was limp and lifeless.**

**I started by adding a blue pinstripe trim to the collar edge salvaged from another blouse in my stash.**

**Once I machine stitched the trim I began to do the boro style stitching.**

**The stripe fabric continues all of the way under the collar to give the collar much more structure and style than it had before.**

**I used the same technique on the button side of the placket and added the pinstripe trim next to the buttons and the underside of the placket.**

**I also changed the placket to the pinstripe fabric. I was so glad I did not donate the pinstripe blouse that gave up it’s life to fix this floral beauty!**

**I also added the trim to the cuff edge. I am still debating on adding boro style stitching to the cuffs. What do you think?**

**Done! and looking not so “Ordinary” if I say so myself!!!**

**I can’t wait to hear what you think! Let me know if you think adding matching boro style stitching on the cuffs would be too much. I value your opinions.**

I hope everyone is well and remaining safe. Happy refashioning and good health to all!

Much love,