Hey readers and refashioners! I’m so excited to be included again in this challenge. Last time I played along I got a matching button down top and shirt and others received clothing as well. This year I expected similar garments but Portia had something up her sleeve. Pillowcases! Two standard sateen pillowcases with subtle stripes.
At first I thought – well this’ll be easy. It’s basically just fabric. I can do whatever I want, but as I worked on it I realized that these pillowcases presented their own challenges. When I looked at these pillowcases I thought it was quite enough fabric for a project but I really had to be efficient with my fabric.
I knew immediately what I wanted to do. I decided to make a variation on the Grainline Scout Woven Tee and add a cross-over layered back.
First I dyed both pillowcases in my washing machine with iDye. They came out a nice shade of blue.
Next I worked on my pattern pieces. My front and sleeve pieces will remain the same I just need to adjust the back piece. I traced the back piece and created a full size piece.
Then I measured about 5″ in from the side seam, made a mark and drew in the stitching line.
After that I decided I wanted my overlapping pieces to connect at the armcye. The sleeve cap markings make an easy match point.
Now I connect the point at the hem to the armcye point using a french curve. This will be my stitching line.
From there I measured and drew new seam allowances.
After I cut off the excess from the pattern piece I folded the seam allowance under. At the top I noticed there’s a gap from the armscye edge and the seam allowance so I used a scrap piece of paper that I taped to the seam allowance and drew a connecting section.
Now I’m ready to cut. This new larger back piece justbarelyfit on one pillow case. I squeezed out as much room as I could.
For the sleeves there was just enough room down where the pillowcase opened to cut out a piece. I cut the second sleeve from the other pillowcase.
The other pillowcase was too narrow to fit a full size front piece so I cut the front with a center seam, making sure to match the side seam stripes. Unfortunately whoever sewed these pillowcases wasn’t so careful. I had to seam-rip and re-sew the front seam to match the stripes. Even so, I accidentally sewed the stripes off by one. Oops. But it’s nothing that normal people would notice. These stripes are made by alternating the weave, they’re not printed so they’re not very noticeable.
To assemble I sewed the bodice side seams then stitched the hem. You have to hem it before you attach the sleeves. I matched the back armcyes and basted the layers together.
The rest is easy. I just assembled everything following the normal pattern instructions.
The look is pretty cool and it’s a simple pattern alteration if you want to try it at home – so long as you have enough fabric. 😉
Thanks Portia so much for including me again! I loved receiving my package wondering what was going to be inside. I often refashion clothes in my own wardrobe but I tend to get overwhelmed going to thrift shops so having someone else do the dirty work for me and I just get to be creative is pretty fun. 😉
I am sooooo doing this! I’ve been pondering the Scout Woven Tee for a while but I think this has just sealed the deal for me! Who’d have thought you could turn 2 standard pillowcases into a cute, edgy top like this? I sent Joanne and Dixie a pair of pillowcases each; and as a result we have 2 very different takes from the same starting point. Interesting, no?!
Just the act of dyeing these pillowcases has transformed them and brought out the woven stripe, which is a great touch. I love garments where the “business” is all going on at the back and plain in front. It gives an unexpected twist 😉
Brilliant Dixie!!
You did a great job with this Dixie – I love the new colour!
Very pretty top, I agree this is a pattern I need in my wardrobe. Amazing transformation.
This is a brilliant scout alteration. I love the colour you dyed it also!
I love home completely different this refashion is from Joanne’s pillowcase refashion! Brilliant move to dye the fabric, it really shows off those woven stripes so well! I love it, the back is so flirty!
Ooooh, this is so cool Dixie and looks so easy to wear! I love it and will be trying it out for sure this summer! Thanks so much for the step-by-step!
Very pretty. Love how the dyeing changed the whole look of it.
Impressive!
You did such a great job with this, Dixie! It’s such a cool idea… The Scout is a jumping off point to go just about *anywhere* isn’t it?? 🙂
The front seam ended up adding interest to the front. Design feature, ta-da! :o)
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Oh what a lovely and super-wearable top! That’s some seriously clever fabric usage there. xxx
Loving this series! This top is fantastic!
This is amazing!! Absolutely LOVE that open back, so sexy and effortless.
I love the back of this! It adds so much to a otherwise simple shirt. And the blue color brings out the stripes so much more! Lovely! 🙂 Lisa