Namaste! Hello! Bonjour!
Pastlife Seamstress welcomes you with another plain tee make over.
Almost the same time last year, we bought a lot of brocade material in preparation of my wedding trousseau. I played in beautiful brocades then. Bold gold ones, subtle pink ones. Aaah…those times …and here I drift again. π Well the one I’m using here is a part of what was left.
Brocade is a very elegant, very intricate, very rich and generally formally used fabric. It looks very classic and stylish IF cleverly used. But if you’re missing that bold ‘if” then it can make your dress look…errr…a tad too costumey!!
So before you wonder how I combined this chalk (Read : T-shirt) and cheese (Read : Brocade) I’ll get to business.
‘Keep Calm and Read on’.

Plain top from Kenneth Cole bought from New York!
And

Brocade material, scissors, marking pencil, a piece of cardboard and needle& thread
Brocade material as big as a kerchief/pocket square would be enough. And prefer a contrasting bold colour.

Draw a pocket on the cardboard
Prepare a cutout of this pocket.

Cardboard pocket template
Cut a piece of brocade.

Cut the cloth leaving an inch on all sides of cardboard pocket

Fold the material around cardboard pocket, in shape of pocket

Fix the excess material with pearl head pins
I have included the extreme end of brocade material too, which is usually discarded. But it gives it a novel look, so keep it! π

After ironing the pocket
Ironing the brocade (after it is moulded into a pocket) is very important otherwise it will be difficult to sew the pocket. Also the pocket will gape forward without ironing.

Place it on the top, assess and mark the final position.
After marking the place for pocket …

Remove the cardboard cutout

Since this brocade has weaving with maroon thread, I used the same for stitching it.

Patch pocket sewn in place
If you want you can further embellish this patch pocket with beads/pearls/rhinestone etc. I decided against it for the want of wearing jewellery with it.

There you go!!
I completed the look with a multi-strand necklace and a blazer.

What say?

This is one clever way to wear brocade to work π

Carrying a bit of India in my pocket π
There can’t be an easier way to ‘jazzify’ your plain top/tee than this. Super easy. Super stylish. A small patch pocket will speak volumes about your style. So are you going to try it?? Let me know. I’m eagerly waiting to hear from you.
Till I come back, stay in style. Stay crafty and have a fabulous weekend! π
β₯
Credits: Top by Kenneth Cole (bought in New York), Jacket by Topshop (bought in London), Jewellery from flea market in Delhi (bought in India), Photographer (I’m in love with him)
Hey nikita…great going …seems like I missed on lot of your cool crafts…will try to catch up…cheers:-)
Thanks a lot dear! π
super cool, suprrb idea .elegantly presented.
Thank you so very much!! π
lovely brocade and a highly innovative way of using it too:) π loved the credits also!!!!!!
Thanks a lot Neena!! π