I picked up this blouse at Buffalo Exchange recently, at the same time as last week's thrift score. It was also $4 on the clearance rack.
As disturbing as I find clowns to be, I was strangely drawn to this print with its creepy clowns, juggling ballerinas, unicycling jesters, and prancing ponies.
Originally, I planned to just remove the sleeves and call it a day, but Fate, knowing that simple sleeve removal makes for boring blog fodder, decided to throw me a curve ball. When I got the blouse home, washed it, and hung it up to dry, I noticed a couple stains.
Since I knew the sleeves had to go, off they went!
Then I grabbed a scrap of cream-colored lace salvaged from an old bra. My plan was to create lace cutouts one the yoke and removed the stained portion, but once I cut off the sleeves and realized how easily the fabric frays, I decided to keep the stained fabric underneath - it's not like you'll notice the stains through the lace anyway. I pinned the lace panels in place along the shoulder, collar, buttonband, and armhole.
Then I trimmed the excess lace, folded under the top and bottom edges (as seen on the right-hand side), and sewed them down as close to the folds as possible.
I used my trusty seam ripper to undo the collar stitching.
Then I stuck the lace in there and re-stitched the collar, as well as stitching down the scalloped edge of the lace near the buttonband.
To finish it off, I did a basic two-fold hem on the armholes.
And voila - no more sleeves!
No more stains!
I've styled it with a black pencil skirt (refashioned) and wide black belt (thrifted), as well as my Calvin Klein nude and black wedges (DSW clearance).
Hey, look! A remote!
Perhaps I should have paired my new clown shirt with my clown skirt from a few months ago?
Hi Carissa!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the pattern! So cute! Great refashion, with the lace! And now you have a good outfit for job, that is not too serious! Great outfit!
Kisses from Portugal!
Thanks, Helena! That's one of the things I love about it as well - that it looks nice and professional, until you get up close. :)
DeleteP.S.:
ReplyDeleteerrata: for work (ando not for job)...
Hey, your English is much better than my Portuguese!
DeleteMorning, Carissa -------- The lace detailing is perfect to give this blouse that "perk" to be noticed. Your work is so fine that it appears that you could have opened the shoulder seam and slipped in the lace panel. It is not only about the "eye" for fashion, but more about the technique that makes presentation a true success !
ReplyDeleteThank you! I guess my OCD comes in handy sometimes!
DeleteAnother winner! Great way to hide flaws. I need to figure out something similar for small holes in the back of some T-shirts. Our cat went through a stage of jumping on our (vertical, not bending over) backs. He didn't put his claws in us, just in our shirts. It might be a lost cause, but I'll do some more thinking.
ReplyDeleteI've seen a lot of Anthropologie knock-off tutorials on Pinterest - like this one. I'm not sure about mixing the stripes and floral, but maybe a solid colored tee with a print back would be cute.
DeleteOh, yes, another good idea - thank you! This is opening up the possibilities.
DeleteI've been having dreams about clowns since 2014 I believe! Since they play such a big role in my life, I think it's time to sew this :-)
ReplyDelete