Refashion: Punjabi Top

I just finished up my second garment for the Wardrobe Refashion Project. After browsing here, I got the idea to make a woven fabric top with sweater sleeves. It actually worked. It fits well.

I chose not to model it because I spent most of the day installing pipe for in-ground irrigation for our yard (really). Maybe later, when I'm feeling a little less dirt and PVC adhesive coated.

UPDATE: see me wearing it here.

Click on image for a larger view. The embroidery and lace are really nice.

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The main components of this blouse were the top of a grayish purple Punjabi and a well-loved grayish brown silk sweater that had developed a few un-mendable holes. I was going to use the butter colored scarf to make pockets for the front, but I decided it was too much when I got to that point. I also ended up using wider lace than I had originally planned because it looked more proportional.
How I did it:
(click on images for much larger views).
Step One: Cut or rip off sleeves of woven top.






Step Two: Cut woven top to desired length.






Step Three: Carefully cut off the sleeves of the sweater at the seam.











Step Four: Pin in sweater sleeves to woven bodice. Trim arm hole or sleeve as necessary. Make sure that the seam at the bottom of the armhole and the underside of the sleeve match up exactly.




Step Five: Sew in sleeves.






Step Six: Try on what you have so far. Decide on how long you want the lower sweater band to be. Cut it.










Step Seven: Pin and sew on the sweater band to the bottom of the woven bodice (take pains to make sure the side seams of both sections line up...I had to do a little ripping and redoing...use lots of pins)



Step Eight: Try it on again and make sure you are happy with the fit.











Step Nine: Sew on the lace trim. Make sure you are stitching to the woven fabric rather than catching the sweater band.










Done! I still have the bottom half/sleeves of the Punjabi top. Any bright ideas?