Blouses

Chambray Shirt with Applique and Boro Stitching

January 19, 2020 By Mary Peterson 4 Comments

Happy New Year Refashion Friends!

It was a busy Holiday Season, but I am back at my refashion quest saving the fashion world one garment at a time! HaHa! Let’s get started on my latest “Rescue.”

Before:

**This fabric of this shirt was in great shape but it was missing buttons**

**This ugly print shirt had some beautiful parts to it but it would require some surgery to get them out!**

I decided to take a break from denim jackets and try my hand at boro stitching and applique on a chambray blouse. The chambray blouse on the left was only $3.50! It was in beautiful shape except for the need to alter the size and the buttons were broken, missing, and not to mention ugly. Speaking of “Ugly,” the blouse on the right had been in my stash for a while. The print was hideous but contained beautiful sections that just needed liberating from their awful surroundings.

After:

I used a blanket stitch around the edges of the top two appliques, then did a variety of boro style stitching throughout.

I played around with many different pieces cut from the “Ugly” blouse and finally chose these spots to place them. First I used iron on adhesive backing and secured the appliques in the desired spots. Then I used a cream colored pearl cotton embroidery thread for all of the stitching.

**I prepared the appliques with iron on and peel off adhesive**

The top right and left sleeve details covered up the awful evidence of those button tabs that so many long sleeve shirts have to hoist up your sleeve. (I can’t stand them and I almost always cut off the fabric tab and remove the button)

What are you refashioning for the New Year? I would love to hear your comments on my project and hear about what everyone is working on these days.

Happy Refashioning!!!

Love ya!

Tie Front Sleeveless Blouse

August 17, 2019 By Mary Peterson 12 Comments

**My newest project in my busy corner of the world**!

Hello Refashion Friends!

I have been hard at work in my studio making refashions happen! Getting used to my new site has been challenging but I am learning new things every day. Make sure you put your email in the subscribe area of the sidebar to receive automatic updates every time I post.

Please note: This website contains affiliate links. An affiliate link means that I may earn advertising/referral fees if you make a purchase on my link, with no cost to you. It just keeps my little blog afloat! Thank you!

I know you are dying to see how this latest project started so let’s get going… The tutorial is a long one but it is worth it!

Before

**I picked this men’s shirt up for about $3.50.**

This chambray stripe shirt was in like new condition. It appeared to have been never or rarely worn. I love anything chambray or blue jean friendly so it had to be mine. The goal was to make it more feminine and work appropriate for those initial days of school in the sweltering Southern California heat.

After

**I’m ready for work in the little number!**

Tutorial

Step 1-Cutting

**Cutting the blouse using a well fitting pattern**.

**Here you can see a close up of the little triangle of fabric you need from the sleeve to keep the armhole complete. (Don’t worry, I will show you how to cover that up later.**

The first step was to open the side seams all the way up through the sleeves and exactly line up the front and the back on the centers as shown. Then I laid my pattern on top with the shoulder seams pinned together. In the picture you see the sleeves already cut off, but I didn’t cut them off until my pattern was set. This is because you might need some of the fabric from the sleeves to make a complete armhole with your pattern. This is because men’s shirts have armholes that are way too big. I cut it this way to get the armhole spot on but at this time I do not cut the side seams or length.

Step 2:Pockets and darts

The next step was to remove the pockets and sew the darts. You can see this was tough to do but I had plans to make my own pockets from the sleeves.

Step-3-Side seams and gussets

First I sewed the side seam and and you can see what that looks like before I cover it up with a custom made gusset. the picture on the right is gusset shape before I duplicate it for the other side.

Making a gusset is not an easy task but I think it finishes projects much better than leaving the seams of the old armholes showing. I’m planning on getting a Youtube site going and promise to show you the process from start to finish once I get it rolling.

**This is how it looks after the gusset is sewn in and the armhole is finished and topstitched.**

Step 4-Armhole finishing

**Then** **I pinned and basted the lace to the seamline**.

**Next, I pinned on the bias tape and sewed them both down at once.**

Step 5-Bottom hems

Step 6-Front ties

**This is the finished tie ready to be attached. You can see how the bottom of the tie threads through the loop to hold it in place.**

It took some time, but the end result was very satisfying. Questions? Comments? Opinions? I can’t wait to hear them all.

Talk to me!!!

Happy Refashioning,

Make it New With Dye!

August 11, 2019 By Mary Peterson 6 Comments

Have you ever had a favorite white blouse that was a go to piece? You love this blouse. It is a staple in your wardrobe, and even after a few years it looks great. The only inevitable exception to this scenario is yellowing under the armpits. Ugh! It has happened to us all.

Then you try all of the Pinterest tricks to get rid of these stains, and at least in my case, none of them work! I had 2 pieces like this in my wardrobe and I couldn’t bear to part with them. Apart from the stains, they were still in beautiful shape. I saved these pieces with good old fashioned Rit dye. The instructions are easy, quick and will give your garments new life!

Blouse #1 Before

**Here is the much loved blouse Before the dye makeover!**

Blouse #1 After

Blouse #2 Before

**Here is the other much loved white linen blouse.**

Blouse #2 After

That is it for this go around! Talk to me about your experiences with dye. What do you think? I am excited to hear your thoughts.

Remember to subscribe or re-subscribe to my site if you want automatic updates of new posts. My site is starting over with a new look and list!

Much love and happy refashioning!

Sleeveless Summer Shirt Refashion

July 22, 2019 By Mary Peterson 12 Comments

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Now that summer school is over and I have cleaned and organized my life, it is time to get down to some serious sewing and get some new projects out to you.

To that end, here is my latest refashion.

AFTER:

Here you can see the original pieces before I combined them into the finished project. The white shirt was a piece I purchased for $2.99 on sale at Old Navy. The dress was a thrift shop find on half price day for $3.50. It was a size 4 and in new condition (I have never been a size 4).

BEFORE:

TUTORIAL:

The first step was to take apart the white top. I planned to use the yoke in the refashion and use the other pieces as a pattern for the dress fabric.

After that I cut the bodice off of the dress and prepared it to be cut by the white pattern pieces.

Here you see the yoke pinned in place to be sewn. The dress fabric came up a little short for the front panel so I had to create a shoulder yoke from the scraps of the hem.

I sewed bias tape around the armoles to make a clean and sturdy finish.

At this point it was a matter of sewing everything down and top stitching.

Well there you have it. I hope you can take a little time away from the pool to let me know what you
think 🙂

Can’t wait to hear your comments!!!.

‘Til next time…

Happy Refashioning!!!

Mary

Refashioned Again-Part 2

July 14, 2019 By Mary Peterson 8 Comments

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to the second part of a series: Refashioned again Part 2!

Sometimes with this hobby you just know when you have gone too far. On the other hand, sometimes you don’t push yourself far enough. Then let’s face it, sometimes the finished project is just not right!

My Chambray Shirt with a Twist from 2015 is a case where it was just not right. How did I know? I was never totally comfortable with the end project, and even more telling is that every time I wore it, no one ever noticed it. That, I must say is highly unusual. People tend to notice my work-and I like it when they do! So, this one went back into the re-do pile until recently!

BEFORE:

Here was the original finished version. It was so cute in the front but so so in the back.

Originally I added that clumsy and overused triangle across the the back that screams: “I NEED MORE ROOM!”

In order to make it look more like this shirt was meant to be, I added a black panel across the back like you see here. Even after that, I still felt it needed something more…

FINAL VERSION

To take it a step further I added a stripe across the back like you see here and finally I felt like it was “Just Right” to quote Goldilocks. Now I get compliments almost every time I wear it!

Well there you have it! I would love to know what you think of the new version! Talk to me… I am finally on summer vacation and ready to sew and share!

Happy Refashioning and love to you all!
Mary
AKA as Thrifty Chic