Yes, I’m still refashioning shirts, mostly for Repatched, the organisation helping people who are experiencing homelessness, but also for me.

Mine first. I was given a shirt, which was a women’s shirt, with long sleeves, shaping via darts and a curved bottom. When I first looked at it, I thought I’d refashion it for Repatched, but then I noticed the collar. The shirt is small blue and white checks, with matching collar, but when I began to remove the collar I noticed the undercollar, which was white with blue pick stitching. I was smitten, and that shirt was mine!

I unpicked the collar and turned it over and reattached it.

There were also vertical darts on the front and back, which I unpicked and pressed out. I made a little bow and sewed it to the pleat on the back, cut the sleeves just above the plackets, turned them into cuffed sleeves with the buttons removed from the cuffs, stitched on to provide some interest.

I have only managed to wear this a couple of times since I made it, but I do love it.

It goes well with my orange denim Stokx Square Pants, and is a perfect spring make.

It’s also perfect with my Fibremood Gizeh pants made from a white sheet.

I am really pleased with this very basic refashion, but decided to up my game a little for Repatched.

This shirt began life as a business shirt. I removed the collar and stand, cut the sleeves short and trimmed them with the leftover lace from my peacock blouse, and added a frill made from some of the cut off fabric. I found a lovely doily in my Mum’s stash and sewed it to the back, cutting out the centre fabric underneath. Another simple one, but I love that back.

Then I found a grey shirt languishing in the box in the Repatched sewing room. I took it home and had a play.

I cut off the sleeves, cut the neckline lower, and cropped the bottom.

I bound all the edges with some really interesting gingham bias binding, and gave it some shaping with darts.

I kept the pocket and decided to embroider it.

In spite of my best efforts, the embroidery is hard to see.

Here’s a closeup. I drew a cat and outlined it in white embroidery floss, adding a pink nose and red heart. I had a teeny, tiny piece of the bias left so I fashioned a bow and sewed it on. I’m very partial to this cat and may repeat it at some point.

I left the back plain, but I’m a bit sorry I did. I think zhuzhing up the back is going to become necessary for all new makes!

These are all makes for spring and my mind is turning to summer makes, but not until I get back from my holiday!