A couple of months ago, Miss P invited me to be part of a refashioning challenge, along with nine other Sewists. She sent me the above charity shop find. That’s right – an oversized shirt in heavy purple velvet. Yeah, thanks, Miss P! I stuffed the offending item in my stash cupboard and ignored it for six weeks. Then, I dragged the shirt out and turned it into this…
You can read all the details over at Miss P’s fantastic blog, here!
The sleeve treatment is inspired and I just LURVE the brooch.
Love that photo for the fab remake and the colours – at last some sunshine! I think you should use that pic for your Who Am I button, because a) you look so glam, and b) it truly reflects your multi-disciplinary sewing skills.
It is a truly horrible shirt transformed into a very cute bolero that goes perfectly with Ella.
Very clever!
This is so cute! You have worked wonders on that shirt.
I really like it, well done as I too would have hidden that shirt from view! It’s also very much ‘your’ colour!
This looks great, I’ve never seen a velvet button up, weird! Purple looks so good on you.
Fabulous refashion – so clever!
Brilliant! Clever you!
Karen, you’ve done wonders here, I think the sleeves really make it. My mum went through a huge purple phase in the 1970s and even dyed her wedding dress – which she made herself – purple.
That is one fabulously creative refashion! What a great idea, to elasticate the sleeves. And it looks brilliant with your dress (and your dog!)
I have just made this little jacket, too (finished at the weekend, not yet blogged). It’s for my brother’s wedding on Saturday and I made it in navy silk dupion. You wouldn’t believe our jackets are from the same pattern!
Ooh, can’t wait to see it! Thanks for your kind words.
This is a wonderful refashion Karen, and the outfit is simply gorgeous on you! You look stunning.
I think you did a great job with that shirt, Karen – velvet is so hard to work with! Well done!
I love refashioning items. Its such fun. I like the sleeve details.
I love your shoes and the colour combination 🙂
Wow, you’ve turned an ugly shirt into the perfect finish for your outfit. It’s lovely.
Way to cool, love it. That is what sewing is all about
I hope you saved the scraps. Ella could use a matching bolero, come winter.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
That’s lovely, especially the sleeves.
Great refashion Karen! I keep getting the Bolero music in my head when I look at it though 🙂 (a) ‘cos of it you-know being a “Bolero”, and b) the purple colour – reminds me of the purple Torvill & Dean wore during their Olympic performance of Bolero too!)
I have that shirt. I think I also got it at a thrift store, too. And although I’ve worn it as is, it is HUGE. I love your refashion of it. Now I need to find mine.
Ah, I love this!! Great re-fashioning job. I mean, what does one do with a heavy purple velvet shirt?
Ok, I felt really bad for you when I saw the first shot, but you worked magic! Love what you came up with.
That looks so cute. Well done for making something lovely from something so awful. You are a terrific seamstress.
Love it. It’s amazing how with skill and imagination and foresight, something as uninspiring as an oversized purple blouse can become a very pretty and useful garment, that looks great on you by the way.
CUTE! What an inspired refashion! Great job, girl!
Super cute!
I love your refashion. I am a huge fan of outwear in velvet. Very Posh. I really like the (almost) monochromatic feel you have to your outfit with the purples playing off of each other. Also that green is a perfect compliment. Your yellow shoes are cute too.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CurvyTiffy?ref=seller_info_count
great idea! thank you for your inspiration.
warm regards
blanca