Thrifty man’s shirt refashion with a mini tutorial

I made this cute shirt-for-that-meeting-with-HR-I-have-next-week…

…from this big old man’s shirt.

If you’d like to see how I did it pop by my blog, Wipster and say hello!

Beccy

Women's Halter Top with Built In Shelf Bra

Yesterday I figured out how to make this great halter top...

...and how to line it with a shelf bra (made from a recycled t-shirt)

Pop on over here to my blog for the full pattern-free tutorial.


- The Sewing Dork

Using T-Shirts

Jersey is great for the quick fix as it does not require finished edges. I like the raw look. I'm drawn to the organic-ness of it. Plus I feel less inhibited... if I make a "mistake" while trying to save the shirt it will somehow be less noticeable. So far this theory has worked for me. So, here are a few shirts I saved with the use of old T-shirts. This grey shirt had the best long sleeves but also came with a bleach spot along the neckline. I simply cut out some leaf shapes from a scrap t-shirt and sewed them on. Added a few buttons and yay! I've a shirt I will wear out in public again.

Now this brown beauty I found at a bag sale and when home I saw a tiny hole near the lower front and center. Turns out Teo saw it too for he proceeded to stick his finger in it to show me. Something had to be done! Using another scrap t-shirt I cut out leaf shapes and long strips. (Leaf shapes, organic, raw edges... all connected.)

Placement required pinning since I had to use care around the gathers in the neckline and bust. (A dress form would have been helpful, nothing brings on swearing faster than sticking a pin in your boob.) Well, I liked the "vine" look and so I kept it going over the shoulder onto the back. I wear this shirt often and without profanity.

I've also played around with headbands. Now that my hair is growing out I'm wearing them again. My favorite way to make a headband is to recycle a t-shirt sleeve from one of my husband's old t-shirts. Cut off the sleeve and simply sew long strips in a circular pattern around the band letting the raw edges do their thing. (However it won't hide silver hairs.) I've known about them I just didn't notice how noticeable they were. Curly hair hides a lot. Except from above I guess.

It's snowing here today. I dislike it as much as poking myself with pins.

Kimono PJ's and an Appliqued Dino

I managed to finish the pj shorts I was planning for my son. I bought the fabric originally to make him a banner for his birthday. I bought a little extra, but I wasn't sure what I would make out of it. I revisited my kimonos thinking about summer pajamas for my boy. The ties/trim were some bias tape I bought at the thrift store. I used a thrifted pattern for the shorts and cut out the pieces last week. Being the airhead that I can be sometimes, I didn't realize they included pockets (not really important for pj's), so when I went to sew them today, I had to cut the pockets out of an old t-shirt. Plus, I used my serger for the first time! I did pretty well, and now I'm motivated to take it to more adventurous projects. Oh, I used the blind hem stitch for the first time using my regular machine. Stay tuned for some more pj's and a robe, too. (I've started them.)



The dinosaur shirt was a 75cent find at the thrift store. I added the applique. You can see a pretty lame tutorial I did for them here. Fun! And, they're great for covering up spots on your kid's clothing.

Peace, Tamara

Quick Fix!

I love "Bag Sales". Where I live there are two local churches that have rummage sales every spring and fall. All you can fit into a brown paper grocery bag for 3 bucks! Here's a super quick fix I did on a top I found at the sale for my daughter, Ruby. The top was a children's size 10. Ruby wears a size 6. I thought I'd have to do a little cutting and sewing till I realized there was old stretched out elastic in the back. So out with the old, in with the new!

I simply put in a much smaller new piece of elastic which gathered up the extra fabric wonderfully. In the future I'll be able to replace the elastic with longer pieces till Ruby does wear a size 10.

I did angle the straps slightly to prevent them from slipping off her shoulders but that required only a few hand stitches on each strap. I love it and so does Ruby.

Shirt Recon

THis was a dress with a large ruffle on the bottom and long puffy sleeves. It was all a little much going on really, so i whipped off the ruffle and sleeves and bias binded the bottom and sleeve edges, the front is a LITTLE revealing so definitely needs some sort of slip or singlet under it. Kinda cute over jeans i thought. You cant really see by the photos but it has tiny clusters of flowers on it in pinks,mustard andwatermelon with green leaves.

Nanny McPhee Blouse

I had this red top/cardi and after watching Nanny McPhee i decided it needed a little sleeve action! love the look of Maggie Gyllenhaals character, mixing patterns and flowers. a little 1940s and a little country chick!!!, hoping Ewin McGregor will appear over the hill in his army uniform with open arms!!! The sleeves are made from a velvet thats been lined so 'stiffish' and then i lined it with spot fabric aswell.