DIY Peasant Top

Easily transform an old button up into the perfect peasant shirt!

Going to a fantasy style event soon and don't want to buy new? This DIY project is a really simple way to transform an old button-up shirt into a more renaissance era peasant top.

What You Need:

• Oversized Button-Up shirt - Any color works, but I went with green to fit my color scheme!

• Thin Elastic - Will make those puffy sleeves

• Scissors

• Sewing Machine

Step 1: De-buttoning

The first transformation is taking all the buttons down the front of the shirt. This will allow you to easily sew up that strip and create an slip-on top instead of a button-up.

Step 2: Pop the Collar

You will want to make sure the collar is still sticking out of the shirt by twisting the fabric a little at the bottom of the collar. As collars were still (semi) historically accurate, it gives the look a more chic peasant style

Saryn Swap: Cut off the collar for a more toned down look!

Step 3: Flouncy Sleeves

Now, you want to try on the shirt and not the extra fabric you have that hangs past your hips. Cut off the excess fabric and hem the bottom of your shirt. From there, make two cuts on either side of the shirt excess so you have two identical pieces of fabric. Also, cut the cuff off of the shirt as you will be making new ones from the excess fabric.

Next, you'll want to measure and cut two thin elastic pieces so they fit around your wrist. Using a zig zag stitch, sew them onto the wrist portion of the shirt (where you just cut the cuffs off).

Here is the trickiest part of the entire shirt (but, you got this!) You want to create pleats with the excess fabric for each side of the cuffs. As the extra fabric is larger that your wrist, this will create the flouncy look in the final product. You make the pleats by pinning the fabric in four equal parts around one part off the cuff and fold the fabric in on itself every quarter until there are an even amount of pleats everywhere. This should be completed on the inside part of the shirt so you don't see the sewing lines on the outside. Make sure you pin in every pleat!

Once it's pleated, use another zig zag stitch to sew it right onto the elastic and fabric. From there, repeat to the other side and your shirt is complete!

I hope you enjoy your newly transformed peasant/Renaissance style shirt and wear it out and about in your real or at a fancy style event!