Monday, July 28, 2014

Summery Floral Blouse

While working on this weekend's refashion project, I suddenly had a vision of what I wanted for a different refashion. So as soon as I finished the first, I jumped right into the second without even pausing to take pics of the first one. I got so caught up sewing that I just kept going almost until bedtime last night. Anyway, since I was so excited about this one, I'm going to show it to you first, and the original weekend project can be posted later.

This flowered, polyester skirt set me back a whole $1.50, and as you can see, I'm sucking some major gut to squeeze into it.

Floral Blouse - Before

Since this print is just so sweet cute and sweet, I thought a little blouse with a Peter Pan collar would be just the thing. I folded the skirt with the side seams together, and laid my go-to tank top pattern along the back seam fold. I decided not to cut the back quite so low as my template, so as to cover my tattoos for work. Then I did the same with my front template along the front center fold.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

A couple bust darts were added to the front panel.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

I tried something a little different on the side and shoulder seams to encase the raw edges. I pinned them together with wrong sides facing and sewed about 1/4 inch from the edges.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

Then I flipped the shirt inside-out, pressed my seams flat, and stitched about 1/4 inch from the previous seam. I even attached the laundering tag to the side seam for future reference too.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

With my basic top mostly finished, it was time to tackle the collar. I laid a piece of brown paper bag (hooray, recycling!) underneath the top and traced the back neckline. Then I just drew a nice curve a few inches down for the bottom of my collar. I folded the paper in half side-to-side and trimmed it in places so it would be symmetric.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

I created one half of the front collar in much the same way.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

Then I traced out my collar pieces from my skirt remnants. I just used a permanent marker (and cut just inside the lines), but if you have a fabric marker, feel free. I cut four front pieces (two mirror image of the other two), and two back pieces.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

I attached each set of collar pieces to one another at the shoulder seams, right sides facing.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

With those seams pressed flat, I joined the two collars together, right sides facing.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

I left a little opening in the top of the back for turning it right-side-out. Then I cut little slits along the inner curves, and cut out little wedges around the outer curves. This will help the curved seams lay flat on the inside of the collar.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

Next I flipped it right-side-out and pressed it flat.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

I cut a long strip from my remnants to be my neck binding. I laid the collar in place, then placed the binding strips, right side down, on top of it.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

With that sewn together, I folded the binding over the edge and stitched it again.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

I repeated the process (except without the collar obviously) to finish off the armholes. Long strip sewn the armhole edge, right sides facing...

Floral Blouse - In Progress

...then folded over and sewn again.

Floral Blouse - In Progress

I gave my bindings a final press, and it was all set!

Floral Blouse - AfterFloral Blouse - AfterFloral Blouse - After

I feel so prim and proper in this blouse, it's just ridiculous.

Floral Blouse - AfterFloral Blouse - AfterFloral Blouse - After

Seriously. How sweet are those flowers?

Floral Blouse - AfterFloral Blouse - After


Floral Blouse - Before & After

17 comments:

  1. Awesome remodel - love your 'before' face though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, that's my holding-my-breath face!

      Delete
  2. What a nice top! Thanks so much for the tutorial on self-drafted collars! I plan to try this myself.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're very welcome! I'd love to see what you come up with.

      Delete
  3. What a Tutorial!!! The"French" seams create a beautiful inside to match the "public" side of this perfect blouse. Your sophisticated design of the neckline/collar brings a mental picture of Audrey Hepburn. Terrific work Carissa!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! A great refashion can be ruined by frayed seam unraveling in the wash, or stringy bits dangling down past your hem. Nobody likes that!

      Delete
  4. As a skirt, that fabric made me nauseous, but as a blouse it is too cute!!!!

    JJ
    www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed. I had to talk myself into buying it in the first place!

      Delete
  5. I LOVE how this turned out! Very inspiring.

    I'm actually working on a refashion right now and would like to do the arm holes like you did. How did you come up with those measurements?

    www.igetmycraftyfrommymama.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My go-to tank top pattern is the Sorbetto top, but I really just use that as a starting point. Once I have the side and shoulder seams sewn and am able to try it on, I usually do some tweaking - cut the armholes bigger, or add bust darts, or whatever I need to do to make it fit. Every piece is an adventure!

      Delete
  6. Love it! On the skirt I really didn't like the print, but as a top it is so pretty!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the great thing about refashioning - sometimes an awful fabric only needs a change of scenery to be fabulous again!

      Delete
  7. Nice! Thanks for the instructions. I love that you're careful but not excessively technical. Makes your directions easy to follow because my eyes aren't all glazed over :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey, I wouldn't know the technical terms anyway. I'm just a self-taught, experimental, trial-and-error seamstress - no formal education!

      Delete
  8. You transformed the fabric with that refashion. Great job! No zipper, though? Does it slip on easy? I want to make my own tank pattern, but I worry about getting in and out of it with no zipper if the fabric has no stretch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As long as the narrowest part of the waist is slightly larger than your bust, it'll slip on easily enough. But by all means, if you want to put in a zipper, have at it!

      Delete
  9. Thanks for sharing the information keep updating, looking forward to more post.
    Nice post ! I love its your site after reading ! thanks for sharing. Nice! Thanks for the instructions. I love that you're careful but not excessively technical words.
    Divorce Lawyers Ashburn VA
    child protective orders virginia

    ReplyDelete