The Mash Up Blouse

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  Step 1

  Find yourself two shirts...

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  Step 2

  ...and start chopping! Neatly cut out one panel (either front or back) from your tee. As previously mentioned, I used the back of Mr. Polo.

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  Step 3

  Next you need to dissect the button up.

  Neatly lop off both arms. Save them!

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  Step 4

  Next cut off the collar.

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  Step 5

  And last, cut out the back panel.

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  Step 6

  Depending on the relative size of your shirts, now is the time to do a little trimming. To avoid having to re-hem the t-shirt's bottom, I lined up the side edges (see second picture) and trimmed the arm and neck holes to match.

  When reshaping the neckline, make sure it's large enough to get your head through! I tried mine on a couple times until the fit was perfect.

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  Step 7

  Line up edges and pin.

  Using a stretch stitch, sew the side seams.

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  Step 8

  Time to put the arms back in! With right sides together, nestle the sleeve in the armhole and pin. If you've never sewn a sleeve before, turn your garment right side out to double check that it's pinned correctly - it's easy to put in a sleeve inside out!

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  Step 9

  This is where you may hit a bump. What do you do if the sleeve no longer fits perfectly in the armhole? 'Cause chances are, it won't.

  If the sleeve is bigger than the armhole, make a small gather at cap of the sleeve (where it sits on the shoulder).

  If the armhole is bigger than the sleeve (more likely), remove the excess armhole by sewing at an angle from the side seam. In the following picture, you can see where I've eliminated about an inch of extra armhole.

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  Step 10

  Now it's time to add the cute neck detail (optional, but who would want to leave it off??).

  Remember the collar, cut off with loving care? Retrieve it.

  Cut off one corner into a visually pleasing triangle.

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  Step 11

  Center your nice triangle on the neckline.

  Edge stitch in place. Look, I didn't even bother to make it neat. That's how cool this shirt is.

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  Step 12

  You're almost done! All that's left is to bind the neck.

  Here's where you have options.
  Option 1: Go buy pre-made double fold bias tape.
  Option 2: Live on the wild side and make your own.

  If you choose the latter option, here's what you need to do.

  Remember those front panels that you put away with care?

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  Step 13

  Cut the longest 2" strip that you can.
  (Disclaimer: I realize that this is technically not bias tape because it's not cut on the bias...but it will do.)
  The strip of fabric should be long enough to go around the neckline of your shirt. If it's not, sew two strips together.

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  Step 14

  Press in half with a little starch.

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  Step 15

  Open and fold edges towards the center. Bring one side completely to the center, the other only halfway to the center. Press again.

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  Step 16

  Fold in half again and press.

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  Step 17

  Unfold the bias tape. Center one end on the back neckline and align with right sides together.

  The smaller-fold side should be touching the neckline. (Go ahead and fold the raw edge over.)

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  Step 18

  Keeping the edges aligned, stitch in the crease all the way around the neck.

  I didn't pin for this step. You'll need to keep adjusting the tape to line up on the edge, and pins are just an unnecessary bother.

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  Step 19

  Now you're going to fold the rest of the tape over to the wrong side (inside) of the shirt.

  (View from the inside, tape still flipped up)

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  Step 20

  (View from the inside, tape flipped down)

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  Step 21

  On the right side, sew 1/8" to 1/16 from the edge.

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  Step 22

  And you're done!

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