Taking It In, Part VI: Pin-Tuck It

The time has come to end this series... at least until I have more over-sized shirts to refashion and more ideas on different ways to do so. So without further adieu, I give you the grand finale - pin-tucks!

As I may have mentioned before, I loves me some orange. But not when it comes in the form of a big, shapeless shirt.

With the blouse right-side-out, I starting pinching and pinning little pin-tucks down the center back. I didn't want the fabric to bulge weirdly at the top of the back, so I decided to sort of stagger my tucks at the top for a more gradual transition. The outer two run the entire length, from the bottom hem almost all the way up to the shoulder seams. The next two in from those stop a little lower, maybe a couple inches from the shoulder/collar seam, and extend to the bottom hem. And the inner two tucks are even shorter, going from bottom hem to four or five inches below the collar. I did the same on either side of the button band in the front - three on each side, getting taller as they go out.

With the body fitting better, it was time to tackle the sleeves. I shortened them, like several of the other shirts I've redone recently, by cutting a chunk out and salvaging the cuffs. I added four pin-tucks to each sleeve, this time with the inner two being longer. Then I reattached the cuff.

After a quick ironing to get the pin-tucks laying the right ways, I was all set for autumn! Not only do the pin-tucks give it a bit of a tuxedo look, but vertical lines are slimming, no?

And that concludes my button-up alterations for now. Thanks for playing!

Of course, there will be more crafty goodness just around the corner...