Sunday, May 18, 2014

Sunday Sew-Day: Butterfly Kisses Tank

At last autumn's clothes swap, I thought I'd found a really cute top here - light and breezy, cute print, great fit...

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top RemakeButterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake

But then I noticed I was not the first refashionista to lay hands on this piece. Unfortunately, the first seemed to have been a bit scissor-happy. My guess is the tank top originally had some sort of embellishment - maybe some little butterflies or flowers or some such - and the previous owner apparently didn't take to them. The shirt was left with lots of little fabric nubbins and one large hole.

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake

But I brought it home anyway, thinking, if I didn't, it would likely end up in the garbage. It wasn't until this spring's clothes swap that I stumbled upon a plan for this salvage operation in the form of this top. I love the lace accents, but the transparency of the body and the too-tight collar weren't my cup of tea.

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top RemakeButterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake

And so the surgery began. I used my seam ripper to carefully remove the remaining fabric nubbins. There were a couple small holes left, but nothing too catastrophic.

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake

Then I cut away the lace yoke.

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake

I seam-ripped the armhole and collar bindings from the butterfly tank, and cut away the damaged yoke.

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake

I used the butterfly yoke as a pattern to trim the lace yoke to shape. Getting rid of that inner crescent will open up the collar a decent bit and make room for my giant head.

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake

I folded up the scalloped lace edging and pinned and stitched the yoke to its new body.

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake

Then the scalloped edge was folded back down and sewn again, thus encasing the raw edge of the butterfly fabric.

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake

Lastly, I re-stitched the armhole and collar bindings.

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake

Now I have a not-so-holey tank top, as well as some leftover lace to add to my refashion pile for a future project.

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top RemakeButterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake

It has just the right amount of femininity for my taste.

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top RemakeButterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake

I see myself getting a lot of use out of my new top this summer.

Butterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake



Butterfly Kisses Tank Top Remake - Before & After

12 comments:

  1. Nifty Idea! I not only enjoy being surprised by your "vision" in recreating a piece or pieces, but I really enjoy seeing each step as you describe the process. After "watching" your work for some months, I did refashion a deep turtleneck top into a scoop neck and was pleased with the result. So please carry on, Carissa!

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    1. That's fantastic! I'd love to see before and after pics if you have them. I could even feature your project as a guest refashion, if you're interested!

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  2. Hi Carissa! What a vision! Well done! Not only you keeped the butterfly top, but you improved it with a feminine touch!
    Kisses from Portugal!

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    1. Thanks, Helena! I'm quite happy with the outcome too!

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  3. Nice! I get so many good ideas here :)

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    1. Awesome! I love to hear I've inspired someone!

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  4. I love this refashion. It takes that butterfly top from ok to stunning!

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  5. Wow.... this is one of my favorite refashions I've seen you do! Great attention to detail.

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    1. Thanks! It's one of my favorites too! It's gotten a LOT of use.

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