The easiest blouse I've ever made...

[dreamflower]

Many years ago (back in the late 1980s) I was for a couple of years, an Avon Lady. I finally gave it up because I began to spend more than I made. But one of the wonderful things I got from Avon was a gorgeous scarf--a silky headscarf with a floral motif and a unicorn in one corner. I've been an avid unicorn collector since the 70s, so of course I got it, and then realized there was no way to wear it in which the unicorn could be shown off--whatever way I folded and tied it, it just didn't work out. I was still pleased with just having it, so I folded it up and put it away. The other day, I had it out and unfolded it and looked at it, and had an epiphany. Besides being a scarf, it was also fabric and it wouldn't take much to turn it into a very nice blouse...

Pics behind the cut

Here's the front on my dress dummy. The unicorn shows up splendidly!



Of course, I needed fabric for the back, and I mentally went through my stash; I only needed a 30"x30" square after all, but nothing I had seemed quite the right texture and hand to go with the scarf--so I took a look at some of my other scarves, also put away, and found a beautiful turquoise print that had been a gift one Christmas. And not only was it the perfect size, but like the other scarf, it had a navy blue border.

So here is the back on my dress dummy:



I pin fitted it to see where the seams needed to be, and then decided to sew by hand, because I wanted the smallest possible seams. I used a backstitch just underneath the rolled hems of the scarves, then turned it, pressed and stitched again to make very tiny French seams (they are about 1/8" inch. I left about 3" open at the bottom of each side. I toyed with opening the center to create a little fold back collar at the neck opening, but decided against that. It took me about an hour to make.

Here I am wearing it this morning, just coming home from church!

Comments

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

Lovely! I love those kinds of epiphanies.

[dreamflower]

I know! I've had that scarf for years and never really thought of it as anything but a scarf, and then I held it up and...hey, I could make a top out of this!

[pearltook1]

That is adorable, Dreamflower! A lovely, lovely blouse. **applause** :-)

[dreamflower]

Thanks! It's comfortable too--though I do have to wear a camisole with it, because it's rather sheer!

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

oh that's a gorgeous blouse!! Good for you!

[dreamflower]

Thank you! It really turned out even better than I expected!

[shirebound]

It's wonderful!! What an inspiration you had there.

[dreamflower]

Thanks, dear! I can't understand why I wasn't inspired years ago--but it really just hit me!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

What a terrific way to re-purpose something that was languishing in a drawer. You look lovely in it.

[dreamflower]

Thanks! It's very cool and comfortable as well, though with it being kind of sheer I need a cami with it. (Thankfully I have one of those already.)

And it was languishing--now it's out where I can enjoy it!

[drummerwench.livejournal.com]

What a fab idea! And it worked out so well!
Hmmmm. *DW wonders if that solution could be applied to anything in her closet / drawers / cupboard*

[dreamflower]

It's very likely!

It's not the first time I've turned something into something else. At least twice I've converted denim shirts into vests.

But I think this was both the easiest and the prettiest such project!

[lily-the-hobbit.livejournal.com]

Wow, that looks gorgeous!

[dreamflower]

Well, I had such lovely items to work with: both scarves were so lovely as they were, just not very practical for my use! Now I will get a lot of enjoyment out of them!

[slightlytookish]

Wow, that's beautiful!

[dreamflower]

Thanks! It helped that both scarves were so beautiful to begin with, and that I was able to use them with very little alteration.

[wizard42745.livejournal.com]

How pretty! That is such a lovely blouse.

[dreamflower]

Thank you! I can't believe how easy it was!

[fidesquaerens.livejournal.com]

Love it! Very artsy and clever to do it so simply.

[dreamflower]

I really wanted to show off the beauty of the scarves, so keeping it simple made sense--that's why I decided against making the little "collar".

[piplover.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! I'm so in awe of people who can create things like that. It's lovely, and you wear it very nicely!

[dreamflower]

Thank you, sweetie! It wasn't hard to make at all. And thank you for the compliment as well.

[lilybaggins.livejournal.com]

That's really cute as all get out! You could market those.

[dreamflower]

Well, not really, since I've no idea how to get anymore scarves that look like that, LOL! (And actually, headscarves seem to have gone out of fashion anyway; I can't recall the last time I've seen one in a store!)

And it was so simple to make--I can't imagine anyone paying for something that can be whipped up so quickly.

But thanks for the compliment, dear--I am very pleased at how it came out!

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Wow! That really worked. It's gorgeous. How clever of you. Looks great on you also.

[dreamflower]

Thanks! I wish I had thought of it years ago!

And the scarves really are so gorgeous as they are--they really lent themselves to the project.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

It looks lovely!

[dreamflower]

Thank you, dear!

[ellynn-ithilwen.livejournal.com]

It's lovely! :)

[dreamflower]

Thank you! :D

Beautiful!

[fantasy-fan.livejournal.com]

Looking at it on the dress dummy, I wasn't sure how it was going to look as a blouse. But in the picture of you, it's gorgeous. Rather, you're gorgeous in it! The unicorn is displayed perfectly.

(I forgot to log in this morning. So if this also shows up as an anonymous comment, feel free to delete that one.)

Re: Beautiful!

[dreamflower]

Yeah, the pics on the dummy didn't come out that good. But it did look pretty good when wearing it. And yes, the unicorn shows up very well--which was the whole purpose in making it! I'm so glad I'll be able to enjoy that unicorn now!

(Happens to me all the time!)

[ramblin_rosie]

Beautiful and brilliant! I can understand your getting the scarf in the first place, because it is lovely, but this does seem like the perfect use for it. :) Looks great on you, and I'm sure it's nice and cool as well!

[dreamflower]

It really is very nice and comfortable and cool--the perfect thing for this time of year!

When I got the scarf, I just loved it! And then I found that even if I folded it so that the unicorn was uppermost, by the time I tied it, it was no longer visible--at best someone might think there was a horse on it. That was rather disappointing, but I still loved having it as part of my collection.

Now it's functional as well as beautiful!

[melaniesuzanne.livejournal.com]

How clever! You did a great job, and it looks so comfy and stylish.

[dreamflower]

It's very comfortable, soft and silky and light--perfect for summer!

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

That's beautiful. I love the way it shows off the unicorn.

[dreamflower]

Me too! I had always wanted some way to show that unicorn off, and now I've found the perfect way!

[pandemonium-213.livejournal.com]

What a great idea! And you look maaah-vuh-lous in the result, dahling!

[dreamflower]

Honestly, I don't know why it never occurred to me before to use the scarf in this way, but now that it did, I'm very pleased with the result.

And the fit is perfect, too!

[obeliamedusa.livejournal.com]

Cute blouse! Go, you. :)

[dreamflower]

*grin* Thanks!

[gentlehobbit.livejournal.com]

That's a beautiful blouse! You're so talented at this kind of thing, and how wonderful that the scarves' designs can be shown off properly.

[dreamflower]

Thank you! I do think the beauty of the scarves can be shown off it this way so well! I still wish I had thought of it long ago!

[mumstheword54.livejournal.com]

*gasp*

If that's not the coolest thing ever!

Hurray for you!!