Gingham Blouse Make-Over

Okay, so I am that obnoxious shopper who flips through the racks saying, "I can make that.  I can make that.  I made that last summer.  They want what for that?!  So making that when I get home."  But sometimes I have to take off my sewing hat and really crunch the numbers.

[Cost of fabric + notions + pattern + labor = how bad do I really want it] 

Most of the time, some (if not all) of my supplies are thrifted, but labor equals time, and that's a big factor to consider when I have sheep staring in the window of the sewing room, waiting to be fed.  So this is one project where I decided to buy off the rack and make it over.

Purchased ~ 100% cotton camp shirt, $7.60

* Funny side note: When I was growing, up my mother sewed a million shirts in this style and lived in them all summer.  I laugh nervously when I see how much I look like her in this photo!  Must remember to lay off the cheesecake...

Altered ~ Added front and back darts, shortened the sleeve, 

replaced the original buttons with pink

Embroidered ~ Added a monogram from my vintage iron-on transfers

Sorry for the washed out pic!

And now, without having spent hours cutting, sewing and fitting, I have a the perfect blouse to coordinate with my summer skirts.  This project was worth swallowing my 'seamstress pride' and buying off the rack.  And pieces like these haven't changed much over the decades.  If you have the eye, it's easy to spot blouses, cardigans and skirts that will blend into your vintage wardrobe with just a detail adjustment here or there.  And I'm really digging on that monogram so I may have to break out the embroidery hoop a bit more this season!

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