October 25, 2012

Men's button up to women's button up tutorial (or button up peplum top tutorial)

 Way back in the beginnings of this blog I gave myself a challenge to refashion something every single day for 30 days, and because of that I learned more creative ways to refashion, expanded my knowledge in alterations and sewing, and blogging. Well, for me that was quite enough to handle for 30 days being a beginner at blogging. What I regret is not doing tutorials of everything I created! So one by one I have been posting tutorials of the things I created per someone's request. This plaid shirt is one of the many! 
I found this plaid beauty in the DI pile up at my mother-in-laws, I'm pretty sure it was my father-in-laws...if he only knew what it looked like now.

Check out the before picture after the page break.
Supplies:
oversized button up top
sewing machine
thread
scissors
pins

Instructions:
1. Cut the oversized button up an inch or two below your natural waist. Take the top half and cut off the sleeves. Then try it on inside out, mark where it needs to be taken at the sides and sew the new side seams so it is nice and fitted. Cut the arm opening to hit a half inch from where your shoulder seam will be. Do the same with the sleeves, make sure the openings of the sleeve and the top half of the shirt are the same length. You may need to take a pocket off if there is one.
2. Take the bottom half and gather the cut end to be the size of your waist.
3. Re-attach the sleeves by turning the top half inside out and the sleeve right side out (right sides together) and pin the openings. 
4. This is what it will look like attached.
5. Attach the gathered bottom half and the top half right sides together. Make sure the middle button parts line up perfectly. 
6. Serge the raw edge to prevent fraying, you can use a zig zag stitch or what you prefer on a sewing machine instead.
7. Top stitch the finished inside edge to just above the gathered seam to make it look nice and finished. One thing I would have added was a button or hook & eye right where the seams meet up because it easily pops open.



59 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh this is so freakin cute! Probably one of my favorite refashions you've ever done.

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  3. Beautiful! I will definitely try this! :D

    www.buttonsandthreads.com/424

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  4. I really love this DIY!! and I love your blog!! thanks for the tutorial!

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  5. That is so cute! I totally need to do this. I love that with sewing you can use something free and create something totally chic and trendy only using your skills. It's awesome!! You inspire.

    Rachael

    www.slurfeefrenchie.blogspot.com

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  6. Amazing. Again!

    xo Emily
    www.bupster.blogspot.com

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  7. wonderful I must add this to my list things to - do :)
    thanks for sharing :)

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  8. every time i look at your blog i think "if only i knew how to work my sewing machine..." then i look at my sewing machine and go back to doing my homework. one day.

    K

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  9. Once again I'm totally floored by your refashion skills! Way to go Liz!

    Allie of meadow-rue.com

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  10. This is amazing! I'm very shocked, what you done! I want the same!

    Monika from Poland :)

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  11. This is really fantastic. I just found your blog through Pinterest and am super impressed! Can't wait to look around!

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  12. such a great idea. If I had more time I would totally try this!

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  13. I love it!!! I want one of my own now :)

    -Ash P
    http://distractedashley.blogspot.com

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  14. wwooww!! you're the best! gold hands! :)

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  15. Thank you so much! This is great.

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  16. I love this! Why does it have to be 30 degrees C here already? I would love to make one of these right now but there is no way I could wear it in this hot weather! Haha

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  17. I honestly was trying to do a project exactly like this on the weekend, and wasted two of my husband's dress shirts cause i kept messing it up. i need to find another shirt to try it out on cause i love how it looks!

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  18. I should expropriate any shirt from my bf!%)))

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  19. that shirt is very pretty! thanks for the tutorial!

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  20. LOVE this! I've meaning to do something like this with one of my bf's shirt. Now I have a great excuse to steal one from him ;)

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  21. To darn cute, I can't wait to try this with a GW find:) Great instructions too!

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  22. I'm so doing this! I just got a button-up I could use too!

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  23. Amazing! Definitely giving this a try!

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  24. That is absolutely FANTASTIC! Ooh, can I make time to sew that tomorrow? I have the man's shirt!

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  25. Beautiful! I love this idea. Can't wait to try it!

    Kaeli
    The Broadcloth

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  26. Well now that is just lovely! I'm totally trying this!!

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  27. This is lovely! I saved an old grey flannel check shirt of Mr Fabric Godmothers because I just knew that I would want to make something out of it one day. Now I know exactly what I will do with it. Thanks for the inspiration! x

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  28. Seriously, why aren't you a professional model already? lol - everything you do always looks amazing and straight from magazine pages! Love this shirt, that is totally my style! I may need to go for this one!!! Would rock it all Autumn long. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  29. your rock this look! for sure, i'm going to try this tutorial. I have to haunt an oversize polo shirt in my next thrift shopping.

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  30. I am impressed!I think this is one of the best recycling projects I have seen in a long time. You hit the mark right on with the peplum - so trendy. I am going to make one for my daughter.

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  31. Thanks for this tutorial! We started to learn with the sewing machine this month and your blog will be perfect for us!
    Take a look at our new blog!
    Kisses from Spain! <3

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  32. Lovely, simply lovely. Going to dig out a shirt this weekend.

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  33. I'm a serious blog-hopper and this is the best re-fashion I've seen on the Net. Great job and instructions. I hope I can do it for my granddaughter using her clothes as a guide.

    Thanks so much for sharing. It is so cute!

    Have a great weekend.

    Debbie

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  34. Love it! I really want a sewing machine!!!!

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  35. It's a really good idea for customisation!
    Look great on you :)
    And I really enjoy your blog!
    http://fairy-bulle.blogspot.fr/

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  36. Awesome idea. I have the perfect shirt begging for this makeover.

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  37. Hi Lizzie! I'm a new fan yours! Just wanted to say I LOVE your blog! You have sew many great ideas! I've made a few of your designs, and I always get compliments on them, so, a big THANK-YOU! I'm currently living in Tel Aviv, and the fabric selection here is absolutely fabulous! So much to choose from, with cheaper than prices than in the states for the same thing. I'm sure you would just go nuts! I know I have (much to my great husband's dismay! LOL!!).
    Any way...
    LOVE YOUR SITE!
    P.S. You are just absolutely gorgeous, and so talented! Your husband is a lucky man!

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  38. This is amazing.I can't believe the transformation! wow

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  39. I love this and think I want to try it....well, definitely want to try it. I think it would work great for me now (newly prego but not really looking prego yet, more like I have just gained weight around my middle, boo) but I was wondering if you think it would work to raise the point where the waist line falls and if it would look good with a 4-6 month pregnant belly? Since the natural waist line wouldn't work once the baby gets to the growth stage of 4-6 months. Just curious, any tips would be great! My husband better guard his favorite shirts because I am about to raid his closet!

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  40. So cute! I really want to try this!

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  41. You asked him to marry you?! It sounds like there's a great story there ... would love for you to share it some time! ;-)

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  42. this is totally cute - i've paid for tops that look like this! i don't know how to use a sewing machine, but i'm going to try to use one of my hubby's shirts and do it by hand. i don't think it'll look quite as polished, but i love wearing flannel shirts in the fall and this is a great way to re-purpose shirts that are lying around. http://www.bessiaglobal.com

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  43. I have been waiting for this tutorial! I have had the shirt for months now, just waiting for the day when this would show up on your blog. Thanks so much!

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  44. Wow, you're really genius, I think this is amazing. By the way, I love the color of clothes.cheap jerseys sale

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  45. I just made this shirt and it took me a very long time but I love it! Great tutorial. I had a hard time with the sleeves though. :\ THOSE were frustrating. Do you have any tips when sewing on sleeves? I could not get them to line up right.

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  46. Great Idea !!!
    I'm going to try it :-)
    Thank you !

    http://www.etsy.com/shop/shusha64

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  47. Could you give a bit more detail on the sleeves. I'm not sure I totally understand.
    My husband just gave me two of his Tommy Hilfiger shirts and there may be more coming. This is an awesome idea! So excited - cant wait to get started!

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  48. Love this!! I am going to do it this weekend. :) Did you have to take up any width in the sleeves when you did yours??? My husband just went through his closet and took out a bunch of long sleeve button ups to get rid of. He is much larger than me though so I was just wondering about taking up width and length in the sleeves. Any pointers? Thanks again!! Love your blog. :)

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  49. I love this so much! I am trying it out right now, and its going great! :) Thank you for posting this DIY

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  50. This is an AMAZING refashion. I don't think it'd work with my partner's button-ups because we're almost the same size. I'll have to be on the lookout next time I go thrift shopping though.... :D

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  51. You should make and sell these! I would totally buy this if you sold it.

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  52. This is such a cute idea I can't wait to find a shirt and make one. I love the colors in yours.

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