I started knitting because I enjoy it, but also to make sweaters with long enough sleeves. It’s also the reason I started sewing (plus, I had the crazy idea that I would save money! Okay, that didn’t work!). I still sew from time to time, and I still buy clothes with sleeves that are too short. I can’t always do too much about that, but decided to try with a recent purchase.
I went to Amazing Threads a few weeks ago and Tina (darling, petite little Tina) was wearing a really cute shirt. She graciously let me read the tag but could not remember the exact store name, which was out of state. Enter “google.” I found Country Ewe, which sells the same line of shirts. Looking at the website, I doubt I would have bought one, but I had seen Tina’s and knew it was really nice. They are wonderful white cotton — I actually think they are made with flour sack fabric — with lace embellishments. I ordered a shirt just like Tina’s and was very pleased with it. It does not look as cute as it did on her, but it fit fine except for the sleeves. Cotton is very easy to sew, so I thought I could tackle an alteration.
If you know anything about whites or blacks, you know they are very hard to match. I found white cotton fabric that was actually pretty close, though I knew it would not have the same “crinkle” effect of the original. So I decided I needed camoflage. I bought white cotton lace to cover the sleeve extension.
Here are the steps:
Original Cuff
Cuff disembodied: too late to turn back now!!
Extension added — the basting thread marked the original cuff line and came in very handy
Lace sewn in place
Blouse back in one piece!!
Phew! I really liked the shirt before, and now I love it! It no longer has that skimpy feel. Yay! 
And Ode to Joy is dry:
It fits perfectly, too, so now I have two FOs in my corner, which have been few and far between lately! 🙂
And now for some fun facts about Minnesota — you know we take the State Fair seriously, but there’s something else that makes Minnesotans Minnesotans: hotdish! You may call it a casserole (?), but here a one-pan meal is called a ‘hotdish.’ And people take it VERY seriously. Cream of mushroom soup is a mainstay ingredient 99% of the time. They had a contest this weekend that has been going on for years and growing in popularity. Here is my favorite quote from the StarTribune:
When a 20-something waitress who finished as the runner-up to Vaughn in a previous cookoff muttered, “Next year, I’m going to take you down,” the 75-year-old Vaughn, a block club leader who has lived in Holland [a Minneapolis neighborhood] for 36 years, shot back, “Bring it on.”
Bring it on!! Woo Hoo! I may have to make Tator Tot Hotdish tonight!
Perfect results!
Comment by Cornflower — April 27, 2009 @ 10:31 am
Wow! That worked out great! I love how the sleeve turned out. It’s a beautiful shirt! Thanks for the inspiration. That’s a great idea! I have trouble with sleeves being too short too. Now…if I could only figure out how to make pants work that are too short. lol 🙂
Comment by Cheryl — April 27, 2009 @ 11:29 am
Great save on the shirt! It’s a great shirt — I can see why you wanted one. OtJoy is looking mighty fine, too.
Mmmm. Tater tot hot dish…
Comment by kmkat — April 27, 2009 @ 11:53 am
Brilliant!
Comment by Kay - From the Back Yard — April 27, 2009 @ 11:59 am
“Yay!” is right. They look fabulous. I think a vest is more useful, especially when one has a blouse with great sleeves.
Comment by Joanna Ryn — April 27, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
wow! your talents are not wasted on your blog-fan-base! You go girl!
Comment by Michelle — April 27, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
VERY satisfying blog today…. any hopes of a tater tot hotdish recipe?
Comment by Ursula — April 27, 2009 @ 5:04 pm
When I had my baby (almost a year ago! gasp) someone brought me Minnesota Hot Dish for dinner – swoon! It was so yummy.
Comment by Kim — April 27, 2009 @ 6:45 pm
I love-love-love your new blouse!
Comment by JillsKnit — April 27, 2009 @ 7:11 pm
Great job. I really love the Ode to Joy sleeveless. A perfect complement to the shirt. but what about the lovely fabric you bought to go with Ode to Joy. Will the frock have sleeves to also show off the new vest?
Comment by Sigrun — April 27, 2009 @ 8:04 pm
I love the hotdish story!!
And such ingenuity on the beautiful blouse! I’m proud to know you. *sniff*
Comment by kerry — April 27, 2009 @ 8:53 pm
Beautiful! I love your solution for the sleeves…..fantastic! And your vest is gorgeous….you get the “you go girl award”!!!
Comment by Angela — April 27, 2009 @ 9:52 pm
Great blouse – nicely done!
And combining state fair food with hotdish – did you see the hotdish on a stick last year? Very serious, indeed!
Comment by twinsetellen — April 27, 2009 @ 10:11 pm
I like the end result even better then the original!
Your knitting is fabulous!
Comment by Irina — April 29, 2009 @ 11:07 am
That blouse is beautiful and the edging looks really nice peeking out from under your vest.
Yummmmm — I love tater hotdish! And fortunately, it’s still chilly enough here in Minnesota that having the oven on with a hotdish baking adds to the whole “comfort food” experience.
Comment by RuthieJ — April 29, 2009 @ 4:05 pm
Hi Susan, are you the one that had/has the de Quervain’s tenosynovitis? i’m wondering how it turned out because i have it and i don’t want to stop knitting.
Comment by tina — April 29, 2009 @ 6:08 pm
If you’re interested in a family favorite casserole/”hotdish” made with Cream of Mushroom soup, and that also contains chicken, carrots, celery and onions, served over hot, fluffy white rice, email me!
It’s nice to see your “Ode To Joy: finished, even without sleeves. I was feeling bad, because Candace Eisner Strick’s son is my son’s violin instructor (GREAT guy!), and I really wanted her sweater to work out for you. I met her last April and saw her yarns and sweater samples in person – gorgeous!
Comment by Nancy — April 30, 2009 @ 7:54 am
Your work is amazing — love the cathedral sweater. Bring on your hotdish recipe. Please post it!
Comment by Jen — May 2, 2009 @ 6:52 pm