This is the first garment sewing I’ve done this year and it’s a refashion.
I bought the tiered full skirt at the thrift store several years ago. The fabric is a nice rayon that feels sueded, the pattern is paisley, and the color is called “very berry”.
I needed more non-pastel tops, and I thought this shade of red goes well with my coloring. I was excited about this skirt’s possibilities to transform into a top I would love. I would have to use my skills to perform the magic.
I wanted a top similar to the free Imby’s Flowy Top. My vision was a top that made use of the skirt’s pretty tie with beaded ends, a front slit at the neck, and generous sleeves past the elbows.
I cut a basic front and back from the middle of the skirt using my boxy top pattern as a guide. I cut rectangles for sleeves from the sides of the skirt. I sewed the sleeves in flat centering them on the shoulder seam, and then sewed the side seams. I made a slit for the front and used red bias tape for finishing. I was able to remove the entire long tie from the skirt by carefully cutting into part of the waistband. It wouldn’t pull out because of the beads at the ends. I sewed bias tape to the neckline and then sewed it to the inside of the top enclosing the tie as I sewed.
I wanted the sleeves to be loose and not elasticized. I later reduced the length and volume to my liking. I had to piece one of the sleeves to get the needed width at the shoulder. I finished all seams by serging.
I like the fit. I realized I couldn’t have a voluminous body, because the wide sleeves used a great deal of fabric. This was not intended as a summer top so the sleeves were a must! There is usually some improvising and compromising to make when sewing a refashion to make use of the limited fabric of the original garment.
I can wear the top with the neck tied or untied.
This boho-style top is one of my favorite refashions, and I couldn’t wait to wear it!
Stitch It Again 