From Boxy to Curvy ???

[Rascalrose]

As a big girl, I have a lot of big, boxy blouses.  I love the length and the fact that I can get them over my hips, but I hate that they are so shapeless.  I'd love to alter them somehow to add more shape to the waist and bust of them, but my sewing skills are novice at best.  I was wondering if I could just cut an hour glass shape into them and resew, but haven't been brave enough to try. 


Does anyone have any suggestions?  Links?  Tutorials with pictures?  Videos? 

Thanks a bunch! 

[Feast Your Eyes]

Here's what I would do:
Put the item on inside out.
Pin it at the seams where you'd like to take it in.
Take it off and make sure the seams are the same on both sides.
Use a pencil to taper from the pinned portions out to the original seams, making sure both sides are the same. You may want to come into the original seam with a curve to prevent a point on the other side.
Sew a straight stitch seam along your pencil lines. Sew off the edges and tie knots instead of backstitching for a smoother seam.
Turn it right side out and try it on. If you aren't happy you can always rip the seam out and try again. If you are happy with it, you can leave as-is or trim out the extra fabric. Though if it is a fabric that frays, you may want to sew just inside your new seam with an overlock or zig-zag stitch before trimming.

This is the down-and-dirty way to take in a top. Once you are more confident in sewing and altering your clothes, you may want to try putting in darts or using pin-tucks to take in extra fabric. Sew Subversive has good instructions for pin-tucks. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1561588091/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=156158925X&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0YVJFZ01308GNV6GR3YB

[gannon]

You can nudge the hourglass shape a bit by taking in an inch or less/more from below the bust  down to the natural waist.  I use a large plate and trace a curved line with the largest part of the curve placed where the natural waist falls. 

Always pin or baste first, and adjust until you are happy before sewing the final seam.  I press the curve to one side.  If it is too bulky you can cut tiny v's into it and then press.