Tea Towel Shirt

comments (1) August 14th, 2009 in garment construction, fabric, embellishments, reader's closet

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swetokra, member

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I spent only $7.00 (for the towels), but never in 50 years of sewing have I spent more time on any garment. When the blouse was finished, there remained only a tiny handful of fabric crumbs from those 7 tea towels.

I used the very narrow drawn-thread 
work in the front band. I made a 
mistake here and cut buttonholes that 
are not stable.  From my “stash” 
of fabric and notions I found only 
enough 4-petal flower buttons for 
this shirt.

I spent only $7.00 (for the towels), but never in 50 years of sewing have I spent more time on any garment. When the blouse was finished, there remained only a tiny handful of fabric crumbs from those 7 tea towels.

Photo: Brian Lee /Jennifer Moore

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When I found 7 vintage linen tea towels at a benefit garage sale, I immediately 
saw “fabric” to make McCall’s M5433.  I considered how to use the attractive 
hemstitched/drawn-thread work borders as embellishment, and could hardly 
wait to start cutting.  My primary changes to the pattern were side slits 
decorations plus different front and back lengths, a creative response to the 
limited amount of fabric. 

The 2 towels with narrower borders became the sleeves.  I used the very narrow 
drawn-thread work in the front band. I made a mistake here and cut buttonholes 
that are not stable.  From my “stash” of fabric and notions I found only enough 
4-petal flower buttons for this shirt.

“Murphy’s law” for sewing declares, “There is never enough fabric to finish a garment”. I incorporated several patches in order to make enough fabric to cut various pattern pieces (notice the left back, left front band, collar not cut on fold, slit embellishments, etc). I searched every box in my substantial stash, finally finding a snow-blinding white, poly-fabric, linen-look remnant to finish the upper bodice. It is not linen but has a similar texture and could be tea dyed (notice the pink tinge).

I spent only $7.00 (for the towels), but never in 50 years of sewing have I spent more time on any garment. When the blouse was finished, there remained only a tiny handful of fabric crumbs from those 7 tea towels.

Pattern or design used: McCall’s M5433

posted in: garment construction, fabric, embellishments, reader's closet

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Comments (1)

sosewnem writes: swetokra,

Great job on your blouse! I would never have imagined making a blouse out of 7 linen towels. It fits you well and your strategy of using another piece of fabric to finish the blouse is one my grandmother used many years ago to make a dress. Wear it proudly!
Posted: 2:27 pm on August 15th

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