Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Bonus Peplum

As a supplement to this week's Refashion Runway Peplum challenge (have you voted yet?), I present to you this perfectly-presentable-yet-blah-and-boring tweed pencil skirt.

Tweed Peplum Top

If I recall correctly, I originally got it last autumn's clothes swap, and I was so excited to have some professional attire that actually fit. Fast forward a year and about 20 pounds later, and it no longer fits quite right. It's a bit baggie and rides a bit too low on my hips, making it unflattering and potato-sack-esque.

Tweed Peplum Top

I decided to turn this ho-hum skirt into a cute top. I began with dis-assembly, measuring, and sketching, including a doodle of how I needed to arrange the pieces to make the most of a significantly smaller fabric supply than the "before" of the peplum dess.

Tweed Peplum Top
Tweed Peplum Top

With all the planning done, I cut out my main body pieces - front and back of both outer and lining fabric.

Tweed Peplum Top

Next came the waist darts - two per panel.

Tweed Peplum Top
Tweed Peplum Top

And just when you thought I was finished with darts, I added more darts! One of each side of the inner and outer fronts, to accommodate the twins.

Tweed Peplum Top

Then I sewed one side seam, lining to lining and tweed to tweed.

Tweed Peplum Top

On the other side, I re-installed my salvaged zipper, sandwiching it between the outer and inner fabrics.

Tweed Peplum TopTweed Peplum Top

Then it was time to attach the tweed and lining to one another along the armhole and collar edges, making sure the right sides of each fabric were facing each other.

Tweed Peplum Top

Notice that slit at the top of the back? That's where the zipper originally was, and I planned to maintain the slit so as to be able to fit my ginormous noggin through the neck hole. I'll just finished it off with a button and loop at the top. So I salvaged a little rectangle from my minuscule scrap pile and pressed the edges inward.

Tweed Peplum TopTweed Peplum Top

I folded it in half and stitched down the length of it.

Tweed Peplum Top

Then I pinned my new loop in between the tweed and lining.

Tweed Peplum Top
Tweed Peplum Top

Then I snipped the inside curves and cut wedges out of the outer corners in preparation to flip the whole thing inside out.

Tweed Peplum Top

I pressed all the way around.

Tweed Peplum Top

Then came the shoulder seams. I folded the edges of the front shoulder inward and inserted the back shoulder into that. Then I top-stitched across.

Tweed Peplum Top

I top-stitched all the way around my arm and neck edges for a nice, clean finish.

Tweed Peplum Top

With the top finished, I turned my attention to the bottom edge. I attached the inner and outer pieces of the original waistband to the bottom of my new shirt. This means the laundering tag was reattached as well, making my inner crazyperson go "squee!"

Tweed Peplum Top

Once that was sewn, I pressed my waistband downward.

Tweed Peplum Top

Now it's time some peplum action. This piece was originally the bottom hem of my pencil skirt, the ends being where the back slit was.

Tweed Peplum Top

I gave it three pleats with my iron - one on each side and one at the center back.

Tweed Peplum Top

Then I stitched it to the inner layer of the waistband.

Tweed Peplum Top

Finally, I pinned the outer layer of the waistband to it and top-stitched around to secure it in place.

Tweed Peplum Top

I even top-stitch the edges of the pleats, just a bit, to keep them pleated.

Tweed Peplum Top

Then I put it on and did a little dance in my front yard.

Tweed Peplum Top

I called it The Peppy Peplum Dance.

Tweed Peplum Top

Ask me sometime. Maybe I'll show you the steps.

Tweed Peplum Top

Check out that zipper!

Tweed Peplum Top

And the wee little button!

Tweed Peplum Top


Tweed Peplum Top Before & After

16 comments:

  1. I really like your new Peppy Peplum Dance!
    Good idea and great job!
    Sara

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  2. So clever! Love the front detail on the peplum as well!

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    1. Thanks, Juliet! I'm drawn much more to the pleated and/or flap style peplum than to the gathered ruffly kind.

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  3. This is the CUTEST peplum I have seen! Great job!

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  4. AWEsome!!! - once again it is your attention to construction details and pressing that give it the professional edge!!! And your Eye- it is the creative genius!!

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    1. Thanks, Linda! Funny how my iron lives in my sewing room rather than my laundry room. :)

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  5. gorgeous ! extra !! I'll want do the same !

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  6. That looks like a lot of work. *impressed*

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    1. Not nearly as much work as the denim peplum dress I did last week. Sheesh!

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  7. I agree, it looks like a lot of work, but how worth it! I love the little pleats.

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    1. Thanks, Jenny! I'll take pleats over ruffles any day!

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  8. I can't believe you made a top out of a dress! I am so impressed. You are so good at details and thinking of the final look! The tweed is great!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Heather! I've learned so much (mostly through trial and error!) over the last few weeks. This sewing competition has really challenged me to push my limits.

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