thin cotton skirt to blouse

This skirt keeps making an appearance while I am shifting fabrics and patterns around. So I decided it was time to refashion it. I think I picked it up somewhere at some charity shop because I love the colour and print.

You can see how much longer it is than I wear by comparing with a not-yet-hemmed-skirt-from-duvet refashion in progress next to it.

The waistband was very small. Here you can see after I chopped off the waistband how much fabric was gathered into it!

and the cutting mat has the inches side upwards!

So there was plenty fabric to do something with. The fabric is very, very lightweight cotton. I am not sure just how you could wear it for a skirt without wearing a lot under it for decency and without feeling like it would tear getting in and out of cars or catching on briars on a walk.

However, it would make a lovely blouse for a very hot day. And with a cami under it would do for regular just plain hot summer days.

So I used my basic blouse pattern and had plenty of fabric to cut out the blouse, extra button stands, cap sleeves and a mandarin collar.

Scraps left piled in the front.

I was going to use the button stand from the button down front of the skirt, but the spacing didn't work with the blouse layout. I wanted different buttons, since these were a random purple colour. So, I would have had to fuss with the existing buttonholes and trying to match size/thread etc to make the right number. It was easier to create buttonholes that go with the buttons I selected from my stash.

And here is the result:

With it buttoned right up, it looks rather Asian.

And with a few buttons on the top undone.

Wow does it ever feel nice on! It has that soft worn feel that cotton can get. And for once I think I got the fit spot on.
I shall have to remember what I did!


No it isn't summer, it isn't even warm anymore. But it will be a great blouse for next summer!
I have a few other things in the refashion pile that I hoped would make blouses. And a few from-scratch blouses already cut but needing sewn.
I will definitely get on to stitching blouses now with this result!